Sports
NBA Tier List Maker
Rank all 30 NBA teams, from championship contenders to your least favorite franchise.
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Drag items into a tier — or tap an item, then tap a tier.
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Meet every team (30)
These 30 teams load into the maker above. Each write-up covers what the team is and what to weigh when you rank it. Facts were last checked on .
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Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks play in the Southeast Division at State Farm Arena. The team's origins can be traced to the Buffalo Bisons, established in 1946 in Buffalo, New York.
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Boston Celtics
Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the Celtics play in the Atlantic Division at TD Garden, an arena they share with the NHL's Boston Bruins.
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Brooklyn Nets
One of two NBA teams in New York City, the other being the Knicks. The Nets play in the Atlantic Division at Barclays Center in the borough of Brooklyn.
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Charlotte Hornets
A Southeast Division team that plays at the Spectrum Center. The franchise was established in 1988 as an expansion team owned by George Shinn.
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Chicago Bulls
Founded on January 16, 1966, the Bulls played their first game in the 1966–67 season. They play in the Central Division and share their arena with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Often called the Cavs, they began play as an expansion team in 1970, along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves. They compete in the Central Division.
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Dallas Mavericks
Often called the Mavs, a Southwest Division team that plays at the American Airlines Center, which it shares with the NHL's Dallas Stars.
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Denver Nuggets
The team was originally founded as the Denver Larks in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, but changed its name to the Rockets before the first season.
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Detroit Pistons
One of the NBA's "Original Eight" charter teams, founded as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons. They play in the Central Division at Little Caesars Arena in Midtown Detroit.
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Golden State Warriors
Founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 and took the city's name before switching to "Golden State" in 1971. A Pacific Division team.
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Houston Rockets
A Southwest Division team that plays at Toyota Center in downtown Houston. The franchise has a long history that includes championships and Western Conference titles.
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Indiana Pacers
Founded in 1967 as an original member of the American Basketball Association, the Pacers became an NBA team in 1976 as a result of the ABA–NBA merger. They are based in Indianapolis.
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LA Clippers
A Pacific Division team that has played at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, since the 2024–25 season. Previously, the Clippers played their home games at the Staples Center.
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Los Angeles Lakers
A Pacific Division team that plays at Crypto.com Arena, an arena they share with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings.
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Memphis Grizzlies
Referred to locally as the Grizz, a Southwest Division team that plays at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. They are the only team in their sport in the city.
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Miami Heat
Began play in the 1988–89 season as an expansion team and plays in the Southeast Division at Kaseya Center. After a period of mediocrity, the team gained prominence.
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Milwaukee Bucks
Founded in 1968 as an expansion team and playing at Fiserv Forum. Former U.S. senator Herb Kohl was the long-time owner, until a group led by new owners bought the team on April 16, 2014.
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Often called the Wolves or T-Wolves, founded during the league expansion in 1989. They have played their home games at Target Center in Minneapolis since 1990.
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New Orleans Pelicans
Established as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002–03 season, when George Shinn, then owner of the Charlotte Hornets, moved the team. They play at Smoothie King Center.
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New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, commonly called the Knicks, are based in Manhattan and play at Madison Square Garden, an arena they share with the NHL's New York Rangers.
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Oklahoma City Thunder
A Northwest Division team that plays at Paycom Center. Their NBA G League affiliate is the Oklahoma City Blue, which they own, and the Thunder are the only team in the major professional leagues in their city.
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Orlando Magic
Established in 1989 as an expansion franchise. Stars such as Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard have all played for the Magic.
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Philadelphia 76ers
Known colloquially as the Sixers, they play in the Atlantic Division at Xfinity Mobile Arena in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
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Phoenix Suns
The only team in the Pacific Division not based in California. The Suns began play in 1968 as an expansion team and play at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
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Portland Trail Blazers
Colloquially the Blazers. They played in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to Moda Center in 1995, called the Rose Garden until 2013.
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Sacramento Kings
The oldest team in the NBA, and the first team in the major professional North American leagues located in Sacramento, California. They play in the Pacific Division.
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San Antonio Spurs
A Southwest Division team at Frost Bank Center, and one of four former ABA teams that stayed intact in the NBA after the 1976 ABA–NBA merger.
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Toronto Raptors
A Canadian team in the Atlantic Division that plays at Scotiabank Arena, shared with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. Founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada.
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Utah Jazz
Based in Salt Lake City, the Jazz have played at the Delta Center since the 1991–92 season, an arena they share with the NHL's Utah Mammoth.
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Washington Wizards
A Southeast Division team that plays at Capital One Arena in Washington's Chinatown neighborhood, which it shares with the NHL's Washington Capitals.
NBA tier list questions
Why are NBA championship counts left out?
Championship totals change every season and go stale quickly, so the write-ups use founding history, divisions and arenas. You can check current records on NBA.com or Basketball Reference.
Why is the team called the LA Clippers, not the Los Angeles Clippers?
The NBA lists the team as the LA Clippers, and this list follows that name, while the Lakers are listed as the Los Angeles Lakers.
How should I rank NBA teams?
Common criteria include history, current roster, arena atmosphere, uniforms and fan base. Many fans rank by how entertaining the team is to watch, or rank only the teams they follow.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these references on .