Pacific Division (NBA)

The Pacific Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division was formed in 1970 as part of a league realignment, initially called the Pacific Coast Division. Its name was shortened to the Pacific Division in 1972.

The current alignment consists of five teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Sacramento Kings. Over the years, the division's composition has changed due to expansion, team relocations, and further league realignments. Previous members have included teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder), and the San Jose Warriors (later the Golden State Warriors).

Teams within the Pacific Division compete against each other more frequently than teams in other divisions, although the NBA schedule aims to balance competition as much as possible. The regular season standings within the division contribute to a team's overall record, which determines playoff seeding. Winning the Pacific Division provides automatic qualification for the NBA Playoffs, and a higher seed, potentially granting home-court advantage in the early rounds.

The Pacific Division has historically been one of the NBA's strongest divisions, boasting numerous NBA championships and featuring legendary players and teams. The Los Angeles Lakers, in particular, have dominated the division throughout its history. The competitive landscape of the division frequently shifts, however, based on the talent acquisition and development of each team.