Division Champions
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
| Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–71 | Baltimore Bullets | 6999512000000000000 42–40 (.512) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore Bullets | 6999463000000000000 38–44 (.463) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1972–73 | Baltimore Bullets | 6999634000000000000 52–30 (.634) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1973–74 | Capital Bullets | 6999572990000000000 47–35 (.573) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1974–75 | Washington Bullets^ | 6999732000000000000 60–22 (.732) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1975–76 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 6999598000000000000 49–33 (.598) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1976–77 | Houston Rockets | 6999598000000000000 49–33 (.598) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1977–78 | San Antonio Spurs | 6999634000000000000 52–30 (.634) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1978–79 | San Antonio Spurs | 6999585000000000000 48–34 (.585) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1979–80 | Atlanta Hawks | 6999610000000000000 50–32 (.610) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1980–81 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999732000000000000 60–22 (.732) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999671000000000000 55–27 (.671) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999622000000000000 51–31 (.622) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999610000000000000 50–32 (.610) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999720000000000000 59–23 (.720) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999695009999900000 57–25 (.695) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1986–87 | Atlanta Hawks | 6999695009999900000 57–25 (.695) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1987–88 | Detroit Pistons | 6999659000000000000 54–28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1988–89 | Detroit Pistons^ | 6999768000000000000 63–19 (.768) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1989–90 | Detroit Pistons | 6999720000000000000 59–23 (.720) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1990–91 | Chicago Bulls | 6999744000000000000 61–21 (.744) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1991–92 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999817009999900000 67–15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1992–93 | Chicago Bulls | 6999695009999900000 57–25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta Hawks | 6999695009999900000 57–25 (.695) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 1994–95 | Indiana Pacers | 6999634000000000000 52–30 (.634) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1995–96 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999878000000000000 72–10 (.878) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1996–97 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999841000000000000 69–13 (.841) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1997–98 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999756000000000000 62–20 (.756) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1998–99 | Indiana Pacers | 6999660000000000000 33–17 (.660) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1999–00 | Indiana Pacers | 6999683000000000000 56–26 (.683) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee Bucks | 6999634000000000000 52–30 (.634) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2001–02 | Detroit Pistons | 6999610000000000000 50–32 (.610) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2002–03 | Detroit Pistons | 6999610000000000000 50–32 (.610) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2003–04 | Indiana Pacers^ | 6999744000000000000 61–21 (.744) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2004–05 | Detroit Pistons | 6999659000000000000 54–28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2005–06 | Detroit Pistons^ | 6999780000000000000 64–18 (.780) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2006–07 | Detroit Pistons | 6999646000000000000 53–29 (.646) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2007–08 | Detroit Pistons | 6999720000000000000 59–23 (.720) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2008–09 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 6999805000000000000 66–16 (.805) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 6999744000000000000 61–21 (.744) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2010–11 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999756000000000000 62–20 (.756) | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2011–12 | Chicago Bulls^ | 6999758000000000000 50–16 (.758) | Lost First Round |
Read more about this topic: Central Division (NBA)
Famous quotes containing the words division and/or champions:
“The division between the useful arts and the fine arts must not be understood in too absolute a manner. In the humblest work of the craftsmen, if art is there, there is a concern for beauty, through a kind of indirect repercussion that the requirements of the creativity of the spirit exercise upon the production of an object to serve human needs.”
—Jacques Maritain (1882–1973)
“While the Governor, and the Mayor, and countless officers of the Commonwealth are at large, the champions of liberty are imprisoned.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)