Northwest Division (NBA) - Misplaced Pages

Division of the National Basketball Association

Northwest Division
Conference	Western Conference
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
First season	2004–05 season
No. of teams	5
Most recent champion(s)	Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics (7th title)
Most titles	Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics (7 titles)

1000km
620miles

Trail Blazers

Timberwolves

Thunder

Nuggets

Jazz Northwest Division teams' locations

The Northwest Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz. The Northwest Division is by far the most geographically expansive of the six divisions; the Nuggets, Trail Blazers and Jazz are geographically closer to the Pacific Division, the Timberwolves are geographically closer to the Central Division, and the Thunder is geographically closer to the Southwest Division, although in the latter instance that was not the case when the division was formed as the Thunder were still the Seattle SuperSonics.

The division was created at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the league expanded from 29 to 30 teams with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats. In doing so, the league realigned itself from two divisions in each conference to three divisions in each conference. The Northwest Division began with five inaugural members: the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, the Trail Blazers, the SuperSonics and the Jazz. The Trail Blazers and SuperSonics joined from the Pacific Division, while the Nuggets, the Timberwolves and Jazz joined from the now-defunct Midwest Division. The SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City prior to the 2008–09 season and became the Thunder, but remained in the Northwest Division. Other than this franchise re-location, the division's membership has remained unchanged since its creation.

The most recent division champions are the Denver Nuggets, having won a sixth division championship in the 2022–23 NBA season. They along with the SuperSonics-Thunder franchise have won the most Northwest Division titles with six each, while the Jazz have won five, the Trail Blazers have won two, and the Timberwolves have never won the Northwest Division title. In the 2009–10 season, all four teams that qualified for the playoffs each had more than 50 wins, and in 2018–19 all four teams that qualified for the playoffs had at least 49 wins.

Since the 2021–22 season, the Northwest Division champion has received the Sam Jones Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Sam Jones, who notably spent his career playing for the Boston Celtics and did not play for a team currently in the division, though he was assistant coach for the Jazz during their first NBA season in 1974–75 when they were based in New Orleans.

2024–25 standings

Main article: 2024–25 NBA season

Northwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
Oklahoma City Thunder	29	5	.853	–	16‍–‍2	13‍–‍3	5–1	34
Denver Nuggets	20	14	.588	9.0	10‍–‍6	10‍–‍8	4–3	34
Minnesota Timberwolves	17	17	.500	12.0	9‍–‍7	8‍–‍10	2–3	34
Portland Trail Blazers	12	22	.353	17.0	8‍–‍8	4‍–‍14	4–4	34
Utah Jazz	8	25	.242	20.5	2‍–‍12	6‍–‍13	1–5	33

Teams

Team	City	Year	From
Team	City	Joined
Denver Nuggets	Denver, Colorado	2004	Midwest Division
Minnesota Timberwolves	Minneapolis, Minnesota	2004	Midwest Division
Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–present) Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008)	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Seattle, Washington	2004	Pacific Division
Portland Trail Blazers	Portland, Oregon	2004	Pacific Division
Utah Jazz	Salt Lake City, Utah	2004	Midwest Division

Sam Jones Trophy

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, the Northwest Division champion has received the Sam Jones Trophy. As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history. During his playing career from 1957 to 1969, Sam Jones was an integral part of a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 10 NBA championships during that span. The Jones Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.

Division champions

^	Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season

Season	Team	Record	Playoffs result
2004–05	Seattle SuperSonics	52–30 (.634)	Lost conference semifinals
2005–06	Denver Nuggets	44–38 (.537)	Lost First round
2006–07	Utah Jazz	51–31 (.622)	Lost conference finals
2007–08	Utah Jazz	54–28 (.659)	Lost conference semifinals
2008–09	Denver Nuggets	54–28 (.659)	Lost conference finals
2009–10	Denver Nuggets	53–29 (.646)	Lost First round
2010–11	Oklahoma City Thunder	55–27 (.671)	Lost conference finals
2011–12	Oklahoma City Thunder	47–19 (.712)	Lost NBA Finals
2012–13	Oklahoma City Thunder	60–22 (.732)	Lost conference semifinals
2013–14	Oklahoma City Thunder	59–23 (.720)	Lost conference finals
2014–15	Portland Trail Blazers	51–31 (.622)	Lost First round
2015–16	Oklahoma City Thunder	55–27 (.671)	Lost conference finals
2016–17	Utah Jazz	51–31 (.622)	Lost conference semifinals
2017–18	Portland Trail Blazers	49–33 (.598)	Lost First round
2018–19	Denver Nuggets	54–28 (.659)	Lost conference semifinals
2019–20	Denver Nuggets	46–27 (.630)	Lost conference finals
2020–21	Utah Jazz^	52–20 (.722)	Lost conference semifinals
2021–22	Utah Jazz	49–33 (.598)	Lost First round
2022–23	Denver Nuggets	53–29 (.646)	Won NBA Finals
2023–24	Oklahoma City Thunder	57–25 (.695)	Lost conference semifinals

Titles by team

Team	Titles	Season(s) won
Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder	7	2004–05, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2023–24
Denver Nuggets	6	2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23
Utah Jazz	5	2006–07, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2020–21, 2021–22
Portland Trail Blazers	2	2014–15, 2017–18
Minnesota Timberwolves	0

Season results

^	Denotes team that won the NBA championship
	Denotes team that won the Conference finals, but lost the NBA Finals
*	Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs
×	Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament

†	Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
2004: The Northwest Division was formed with five inaugural members. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics joined from the Pacific Division, while the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz joined from the Midwest Division.
2004–05	Seattle* (52–30)	Denver* (49–33)	Minnesota (44–38)	Portland (27–55)	Utah (26–56)
2005–06	Denver* (44–38)	Utah (41–41)	Seattle (35–47)	Minnesota (33–49)	Portland (21–61)
2006–07	Utah* (51–31)	Denver* (45–37)	Portland (32–50)	Minnesota (32–50)	Seattle (31–51)
2007–08	Utah* (54–28)	Denver* (50–32)	Portland (41–41)	Minnesota (22–60)	Seattle (20–62)
2008: The Seattle SuperSonics relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2008–09	Denver* (54–28)	Portland* (54–28)	Utah* (48–34)	Minnesota (24–58)	Oklahoma City (23–59)
2009–10	Denver* (53–29)	Utah* (53–29)	Portland* (50–32)	Oklahoma City* (50–32)	Minnesota (15–67)
2010–11	Oklahoma City* (55–27)	Denver* (50–32)	Portland* (48–34)	Utah (39–43)	Minnesota (17–65)
2011–12	Oklahoma City+ (47–19)	Denver* (38–28)	Utah* (36–30)	Portland (28–38)	Minnesota (26–40)
2012–13	Oklahoma City* (60–22)	Denver* (57–25)	Utah (43–39)	Portland (33–49)	Minnesota (31–51)
2013–14	Oklahoma City* (59–23)	Portland* (54–28)	Minnesota (40–42)	Denver (36–46)	Utah (25–57)
2014–15	Portland* (51–31)	Oklahoma City (45–37)	Utah (38–44)	Denver (30–52)	Minnesota (16–66)
2015–16	Oklahoma City* (55–27)	Portland* (44–38)	Utah (40–42)	Denver (33–49)	Minnesota (29–53)
2016–17	Utah* (51–31)	Oklahoma City* (47–35)	Portland* (41–41)	Denver (40–42)	Minnesota (31–51)
2017–18	Portland* (49–33)	Oklahoma City* (48–34)	Utah* (48–34)	Minnesota* (47–35)	Denver (46–36)
2018–19	Denver* (54–28)	Portland* (53–29)	Utah* (50–32)	Oklahoma City* (49–33)	Minnesota (36–46)
2019–20	Denver* (46–27)	Oklahoma City* (44–28)	Utah* (44–28)	Portland* (35–39)	Minnesota† (19–45)
2020–21	Utah* (52–20)	Denver* (47–25)	Portland* (42–30)	Minnesota (23–49)	Oklahoma City (22–50)
2021–22	Utah* (49–33)	Denver* (48–34)	Minnesota* (46–36)	Portland (27–55)	Oklahoma City (24–58)
2022–23	Denver^ (53–29)	Minnesota* (42–40)	Oklahoma City× (40–42)	Utah (37–45)	Portland (33–49)
2023–24	Oklahoma City* (57–25)	Denver* (57–25)	Minnesota* (56–26)	Utah (31–51)	Portland (21–61)

Notes

Because of a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 82-game regular season schedule was suspended on March 11, 2020. The season was restarted on July 30 under an eight-game seeding format in the 2020 NBA Bubble to conclude the regular season and determine playoff berths. Games were played inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season did not start until December 22, 2020, and all 30 teams played a shortened 72-game regular season schedule.

References

General

"NBA & ABA League Index". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.

Specific

"NBA Approves Realignment for 2004-05 Season". National Basketball Association. November 17, 2003. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
"Expansion Bobcats prompt change". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. November 17, 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
"NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
Conway, Tyler (April 11, 2022). "NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2012.

External links

NBA.com Team Index

National Basketball Association

Eastern
Conference

Atlantic	Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors
Central	Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast	Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards

Western
Conference

Northwest	Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz
Pacific	Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings
Southwest	Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs

Annual events

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

History

Predecessors

BAA

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merger

Walter A. Brown Trophy

Criticisms and controversies

2007 Tim Donaghy betting scandal

Former divisions

Teams

2019–20 suspension and bubble

Records

People

current rosters

first overall draft picks

Awards
and honors

Maurice Podoloff Trophy

NBA awards

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Conference finals MVP

Others

Business

collective bargaining agreement

Culture

Media

v t e Denver Nuggets
Founded in 1967 Formerly the Denver Rockets (1967–1974) Based in Denver, Colorado
Franchise	ABA–NBA merger All-time roster Draft history Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Coliseum McNichols Sports Arena Ball Arena
Personnel	Owner(s) Ann Walton Kroenke President Josh Kroenke General manager Calvin Booth Head coach Michael Malone
G League affiliate	Grand Rapids Gold
Retired numbers	2 12 33 40 44 55 432
NBA championships	2023
Rivalries	Minnesota Timberwolves Utah Jazz
Culture and lore	Alex English Mt. Mutombo The Hey Song "Cartman Finds Love" (South Park) Kansas City (ABA) 1976 ABA All-Star Game Knicks–Nuggets brawl The Joker

v t e Minnesota Timberwolves
Founded in 1989 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history 1989 Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Target Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Glen Taylor President Tim Connelly General manager Tim Connelly Head coach Chris Finch
G League affiliate	Iowa Wolves
Retired numbers	2
Rivalries	Denver Nuggets
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Crunch the Wolf Failed relocation to New Orleans Flip Mayo Clinic Square Timberwolves Brasil Starting 5

v t e Oklahoma City Thunder
Founded in 1967 Formerly the Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008) Based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history 1967 Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Seattle Center Coliseum Kingdome Tacoma Dome Paycom Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Professional Basketball Club (Clay Bennett, chairman) President Vacant General manager Sam Presti Head coach Mark Daigneault
NBA G League affiliate	Oklahoma City Blue
Retired numbers	1 4 10 19 24 32 43
NBA championships	1979
Rivalries	Portland Trail Blazers (I-5 rivalry)
Culture and lore	Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City Howard Schultz Wheedle Squatch Rumble the Bison "It Was a Good Day" Sonicsgate Thunderstruck "Thunder Up" Radio network KWPN-AM WWLS-FM Love's

v t e Portland Trail Blazers
Founded in 1970 Based in Portland, Oregon
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history 1970 Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Memorial Coliseum Moda Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Jody Allen President Dewayne Hankins General manager Joe Cronin Head coach Chauncey Billups
G League affiliate	Rip City Remix
Retired numbers	1 13 14 15 20 22 30 (Gross) 30 (Porter) 32 36 45 77
NBA championships	1977
Rivalries	Seattle SuperSonics (I-5 rivalry)
Culture and lore	Radio network Blazermania Rip City The Breaks of the Game Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs "Duck" Rose Garden arena bankruptcy Larry Weinberg Bill Walton Jack Ramsay Mike Barrett and Mike Rice Clyde the Glide The Schonz Trail Blazers Trumpets Memorial Day Miracle Blaze the Trail Cat Portland Indians Portland Fire Portlandia Dame Time

v t e Utah Jazz
Founded in 1974 Played in New Orleans (1974–1979) Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history 1974 expansion draft Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Loyola Field House New Orleans Municipal Auditorium Louisiana Superdome Salt Palace Delta Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Ryan Smith President Jim Olson CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge General manager Justin Zanik Head coach Will Hardy
NBA G League affiliate	Salt Lake City Stars
Retired numbers	1 4 7 9 12 14 32 35 53 1223
Rivalries	Denver Nuggets Houston Rockets
Culture and lore	Radio network Jazz Bear Team mural Craig Bolerjack Thurl Bailey Hot Rod Hundley Dan Roberts KJZZ-TV Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals Celtic Pride Tiffany Coyne "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II" (The Simpsons episode) "Whatever It Takes" (Imagine Dragons song) Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season Larry H. Miller Gail Miller

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