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Atlantic

The Atlantic Division: History, Legacy, and Today

The Atlantic Division has long been one of the NBA’s most iconic and competitive divisions. Formed in 1970 as part of the Eastern Conference realignment, it originally included the Boston Celtics, Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. Over time, the division evolved to include the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn), solidifying itself as a hub of history, talent, and high-profile rivalries.

A Legacy of Champions

No other division in NBA history boasts the banners like the Atlantic:

  • Boston Celtics: The crown jewel of the division, with 17 NBA championships, tied for the most in league history. From the Bill Russell era of the 1960s to the Paul Pierce–Kevin Garnett–Ray Allen “Big Three” in 2008, the Celtics have long defined the Atlantic’s identity.
  • Philadelphia 76ers: With 3 titles (1955, 1967, 1983) and legends like Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, and currently Joel Embiid, Philly has always been a contender.
  • Toronto Raptors: Entered the division in 1995 as part of the NBA’s Canadian expansion. The Raptors claimed their first NBA title in 2019 under Kawhi Leonard, giving the Atlantic a modern champion outside Boston and Philly.
  • New York Knicks & Brooklyn Nets: While historically less dominant in championships, the Knicks had two NBA titles (1970, 1973), and Brooklyn has become a major player in the 2010s with stars like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and now a rebuild in progress.

Rivalries That Define the Atlantic

  • Celtics vs. 76ers: Arguably the NBA’s most storied rivalry. From Larry Bird vs. Julius Erving to today’s Tatum vs. Embiid, this matchup often determines the division winner.
  • Knicks vs. Nets: The New York City rivalry has grown in intensity since the Nets’ Brooklyn move in 2012, especially during playoff battles.
  • Raptors vs. Celtics/76ers: Toronto has historically been the “outsider” but became a title contender in 2019, shaking up the division hierarchy.

Historical Notes & Fun Facts

  1. Most Titles in the Division: Boston Celtics (17), followed by 76ers (3).
  2. Longest Playoff Streak: Celtics had a 19-year consecutive playoff streak (1950s–1960s).
  3. Notable Draft Picks in Atlantic: Jayson Tatum (#3, 2017) and Joel Embiid (#3, 2014)
  4. Hall of Famers: Bird, Russell, Erving, Garnett, Iverson, and Malone (who briefly played in division teams).

The Top 3 Players in The Atlantic Division

Ranking the top 5 players in the Atlantic Division. This list is updated every week, if you have any tips to improve the list, DM me on X here.

boston celtics 2026 preview
76ers have more injuries

#1: Jaylen Brown (29.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.7 RPG)

After Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles and the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals by the New York Knicks last year, no one has been more locked in then Jaylen Brown. Averaging a career high 29.8 Points per game (Top 5 in the NBA), Brown has been the only piece holding Boston together, and he’s doing a damn good job at that. The Boston Celtics are 26-16 this season, 1st in the Atlantic Division and 2nd in the entire Eastern Conference.

Without Tatum, the scoring has been very lobsided to Brown, and with Derrick White (17.7 PPG) being the 2nd option instead of Brown, the scoring for the team has dropped to 116.7 PPG, 13th in the NBA. Last season when Tatum was healthy, they ranked 8th with 116.3 PPG, and the year before, when they won the Championship was even higher at 120.6 PPG, 2nd in the NBA.

#2: Tyrese Maxey (30.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.7 APG)

This pick with Maxey at 2nd to me isn’t right. He is having a career season just like Brown, but something feels different with Maxey. Averaging an insane 30.2 Points per game, Maxey has elevated his game in the 2025-26 season, ranking 3rd in the NBA in PPG and is 2nd behind SGA in total points with 1,179. To go along with his 4.4 RPG, 6.7 APG (15th in the NBA) and impressive defensive stats (2.1 SPG, a career high for Maxey and 2nd in the NBA, and 1 BPG, also a career high and makes him 1 of 2 Guards (The other being Derrick White) to average 1+ BPG and 1+ SPG).

These stats individually look good, until you realise that the Philadelphia 76ers are 23-18, 5th in the East and 4th in the Atlantic Division. Tyrese Maxey has no real help, with the 2nd highest scorer being Joel Embiid and Paul George, averaging 24.2 PPG and 15.9 PPG respectfully, but availability wins games, and these 2 former stars don’t have the knees for it.

#3: Jalen Brunson (28.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.1 APG)

It’s so crazy that when the NBA gets this deep, some of the best players in the world fall in the rankings. Jalen Brunson has averaged 28.1 Points per game and 6.1 APG, ten years ago, numbers like that and the team success the Knicks are having would rank you top 3 in the MVP voting!

Jalen Brunson is shooting 47.8% from the field and 38.6% from the 3. With New York sitting at 25-18, 3rd in the East, Jalen Brunson has been the core of that. The Knicks rank 8th in Points, 5th in Rebounds, 5th in 3 Pointers made, 8th in Attempts, 37.5% from 3, which is 3rd in the NBA. With his 2nd option, Karl Anthony Towns, averaging 21 PPG, 11.6 RPG (2nd in the NBA) and Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby averaging 15.8 each, the Knicks look scary.

From Earlier Possessions