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:
“Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears;
Yet slower yet, oh faintly gentle springs:
List to the heavy part the music bears,
“Woe weeps out her division when she sings.”
Droop herbs and flowers;
Fall grief in showers;
“Our beauties are not ours”:
Oh, I could still,
Like melting snow upon some craggy hill,
Drop, drop, drop, drop,
Since nature’s pride is, now, a withered daffodil.”
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637)
“Myths and legends die hard in America. We love them for the extra dimension they provide, the illusion of near-infinite possibility to erase the narrow confines of most men’s reality. Weird heroes and mould-breaking champions exist as living proof to those who need it that the tyranny of “the rat race” is not yet final.”
—Hunter S. Thompson (b. 1939)