The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a great sport to follow, and the current 2022/23 season is showing just why.
While there are lots of divisions you could keep an eye on, the Atlantic division is always worth checking out.
This is because it contains not only some of the most iconic NBA teams but also delivers great action on court. So, which are some of the best NBA teams to follow in this division?
Top Atlantic division teams to follow in NBA
Whether you’re a fan of teams from New York or Boston, there are some great NBA teams to follow in the Atlantic division.
Some of the most talked about NBA teams include the New York Knicks and there are plenty of great players spread out over the division in other teams too.
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors also have their own unique history to look back on.
When it comes to the most successful NBA team from the Atlantic Division, you have to mention the Celtics!
To date, they have won 32 divisional titles and an impressive 17 NBA Championships.
This leaves them as the side with the award of most NBA titles to their name. Although you might think of the LA Lakers when considering which NBA team has the most championships, the Celtics are up there with them!
Boston Celtics
Based in Boston, Massachusetts and founded in 1946, they were one of the original eight teams in the NBA. This helps to explain their rich heritage and a fanbase which considers them the best NBA team.
The team first started to dominate in the NBA during the 1950s, under coach Red Auerbach. A deadline day trade for Celtics legend Bill Russell proved an inspired move and he helped the side win their first championship in 1957.
This led to the team winning eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966 and establishing their status in pro basketball.
Although 1974 and 1976 saw them as NBA winners once more, the Celtics had to wait until the 1980s to really shine again.
It was during this period that Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish played for them. Bird in particular lit up the court in this period and is still regarded as one of the best NBA players ever.
His undeniable skill led the team to three more championship wins in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
After Parish left Boston and Bird/McHale retired, the team endured a quieter spell in the 1990s and early 2000s.
They have enjoyed something of a resurgence since then though and this has left them an exciting, successful side to support again. A 2008 championship win is proof of this, as was their 2022 finals appearance.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are based in New York and have their own rich history to look back on. This combined with their recent form has made them a side in the NBA that lots of people like to watch.
Playing their home games at the Barclays Center, they enjoy a passionate rivalry with the Knicks. Whichever team you support, if you are wanting to test your luck with online betting for the NBA, the Knicks and Nets are the two New York teams to follow.
Originally, the Nets were set up in 1967 in the now-defunct ABA league. This saw them play out of New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans before moving to New York as the New York Nets in the mid-1970s.
After the ABA was merged with the NBA, the team moved to New Jersey again and played as the New Jersey Nets until 2012. A move to Brooklyn in 2012 saw them change their name again to the Brooklyn Nets and find a host of new fans in the borough.
In terms of key moments in their history, much of this revolves around a period in the early 2000s when they were on fire.
Elite-level point guard Jason Kidd is perhaps the standout player here and helped them to two consecutive NBA Finals (2001/02 and 2002/03). Although they lost both, it remains a high point in this team’s history. The early 2000s also saw four divisional titles coming the Nets’ way.
Although they have not reached the finals again as yet, recent years have looked promising. This saw them qualify for the Conference Semi-Finals in 2014 and 2021.
It also sees the best players in the NBA right now at the Nets, such as Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons. This makes the modern Nets a great side to watch and one which has enough talent to win an NBA championship.
New York Knicks
Another top-class NBA team to support from New York is the Knicks. Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden and based in Manhattan, they are one of the NBA’s founding members.
While their early years under coach Joe Lapchick saw them make three NBA Finals, they could just not quite take home the championship. It was not until Red Holzman took over in the late 1960s that the Knicks began to build their legacy.
Two championship wins in 1970 and 1973 are testament to this – with the 4-1 series win in 1973 against a Wilt Chamberlain-led Lakers impressive.
The 1980s saw a period of consistent playoff appearances without any tangible success or star names lighting up the court.
This changed in the 1990s though, when elite-level center Patrick Ewing pulled on a Knicks’ jersey. Known for his playmaking and scoring abilities, Ewing helped the side to NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999.
Recent years have seen the side enjoy something of a resurgence and this has turned them into a great side to follow. 2012/13 saw Carmelo Anthony inspire them to a first divisional title in 19 years, while 2020/21 saw the side make the playoffs.
With RJ Barrett and Julius Randle still on the team, they could well be in for a bright future.