One of the most common questions basketball fans ask is: How many teams make the NBA playoffs? The answer depends on whether you’re talking about traditional playoff spots or the modern format that includes the NBA Play-In Tournament.

In the current structure, 16 teams officially make the playoffs — eight from each conference. However, since the league introduced the Play-In Tournament in 2021, a total of 20 teams enter postseason contention, with seeds 7 through 10 fighting for the final two spots in each conference.

This article will break down exactly how the format works, who qualifies, and what fans should know about the race to the playoffs in today’s NBA.

🔢 Total Number of NBA Playoff Teams

In total, 16 teams qualify for the NBA Playoffs — 8 teams from the Eastern Conference and 8 teams from the Western Conference. These teams are ranked based on their regular-season records and are seeded 1 through 8 in each conference.

However, thanks to the Play-In Tournament, 20 teams are now eligible for postseason contention. Here’s the breakdown:

Seeds 1–6 in each conference automatically make the playoffs and head directly to the First Round of the postseason.
Seeds 7–10 in each conference must compete in the Play-In Tournament to secure the final two playoff spots in each conference. The winners of the Play-In Tournament games will then face the top seeds in the First Round.

Traditional Playoffs vs. Play-In Format

Traditional Playoffs: Before the 2020-2021 season, only the top 8 teams in each conference made the playoffs, with no Play-In Tournament.
Play-In Tournament: Introduced to increase competition and keep more teams in the hunt for a playoff spot late into the season. The Play-In Tournament determines the final two seeds in each conference.

The introduction of the Play-In Tournament gives more teams a chance to fight for a spot in the playoffs, adding extra excitement and drama to the end of the regular season.

🧩 Breakdown by Seeding

The NBA playoff seeding is crucial to understanding which teams automatically make the playoffs and which teams must compete in the Play-In Tournament. Here’s how the bracket works:

🟩 Seeds 1–6

Automatic qualification: Teams ranked 1 through 6 in each conference automatically qualify for the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.
These teams will face off in a best-of-seven series, with the higher-seeded team (based on regular-season record) enjoying home-court advantage. 🔑 No Play-In required: These teams are safely in the playoffs, avoiding the Play-In Tournament and going straight into the postseason.

🟦 Seeds 7–10

Play-In Tournament: Teams ranked 7 through 10 in each conference must compete in the Play-In Tournament to secure one of the final two spots in the playoffs. The format works as follows:
- Game 1: The 7th seed plays the 8th seed in a single game. The winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed.
- Game 2: The 9th seed plays the 10th seed in a single game. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
- Game 3: The loser of the 7 vs. 8 game plays the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game for the 8th and final playoff spot in the conference.
2 teams per conference from this group advance to the playoffs, filling the remaining 7th and 8th seeds in each conference.

This expanded format increases excitement and gives teams in the 7–10 range one more chance to fight for their playoff hopes!

📊 Quick Comparison: Then vs. Now

Brief History of the Original 16-Team Format (Pre-2020)

Before the 2020 season, the NBA playoffs followed a simple format. Only the top 8 teams from each conference — 16 teams total — made the playoffs, with no Play-In Tournament. This traditional system meant that the 7th and 8th seeds were locked in for the playoffs, while the teams ranked 9th and below were eliminated from postseason contention.

Each conference’s top 8 teams faced off in a best-of-seven series throughout the playoffs. The 1st seed faced the 8th seed, the 2nd seed faced the 7th seed, and so on. This straightforward bracket was easy to follow but limited the number of teams in contention for a playoff berth.

The Play-In Tournament Era (2021–Present)

The Play-In Tournament was introduced by the NBA for the 2020-2021 season as a response to the need for more competitive balance, especially for teams in the middle of the standings. This change was initially implemented to make the end of the regular season more exciting and meaningful for more teams, preventing tanking and giving a greater number of teams a shot at the playoffs.

Visual Timeline of the Play-In Tournament’s Introduction

Season	Format	Number of Teams in Playoffs
Pre-2020	Top 8 teams per conference	16
2020-2021	Play-In Tournament added for 7-10	20
2021-Present	7th-10th seeds must compete for playoff spots	20

📊 Visual Timeline: (A graphical timeline of NBA Playoffs expansion, with milestones showing the evolution of playoff formats and the introduction of the Play-In Tournament in 2021)

Fan and League Response to Expanded Competition

The NBA Play-In Tournament received mixed reactions at first. Some fans and analysts felt that the additional competition would water down the playoff field, while others saw it as an exciting way to involve more teams and keep fan interest alive throughout the final stretch of the regular season.

Positive Reactions:

Increased excitement as teams fight for a chance to make the playoffs, even if they finish with a losing record.
More fanbases remain invested longer into the season as more teams are fighting for the postseason.
It gives “underdog” teams an extra shot at glory.

Negative Reactions:

Some fans believe it waters down the playoff system, allowing teams with a worse record a second chance.
The additional playoff games can sometimes feel unnecessary, especially for top seeds facing teams that don’t deserve to be in the postseason.

Despite mixed reactions, the Play-In has now become a permanent part of the playoff structure, and fans have warmed up to the added excitement.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ How many teams make the NBA playoffs?

A total of 16 teams make the NBA playoffs — 8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference. However, 20 teams are eligible for the postseason due to the Play-In Tournament, which includes seeds 7–10 in each conference.

❓ How does the Play-In Tournament work?

The Play-In Tournament determines the final two playoff spots (7th and 8th seeds) in each conference. Teams ranked 7 through 10 must play in a mini-series to earn their place in the postseason:

Game 1: 7th vs. 8th (Winner is the 7th seed)
Game 2: 9th vs. 10th (Loser is eliminated)
Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Winner is the 8th seed)

❓ What’s the difference between playoff seeding and standings?

NBA standings rank teams based on their win-loss record. Seeding is the process of placing teams into the playoff bracket, with the higher seeds (based on standings) receiving home-court advantage in each round.

❓ Can a team with a losing record make the NBA playoffs?

Yes! Teams ranked 7th–10th in their conference can still qualify for the playoffs by winning in the Play-In Tournament, even if their overall record is losing. The Play-In offers a second chance for these teams to earn a playoff spot.

❓ Why are there 20 teams in the NBA postseason now?

The NBA introduced the Play-In Tournament in 2021 to increase competition and reduce tanking, giving teams ranked 7–10 a shot at playoff contention. This expanded the postseason from 16 teams to 20 teams.

❓ How are teams selected for the Play-In Tournament?

Teams ranked 7 through 10 in each conference are eligible for the Play-In Tournament. The format involves:

7th vs. 8th: The winner is the 7th seed.
9th vs. 10th: The loser is eliminated.
The loser of 7th vs. 8th plays the winner of 9th vs. 10th for the 8th seed.

🏁 Conclusion

Understanding how many teams make the NBA playoffs is essential for any basketball fan. With the introduction of the Play-In Tournament in 2021, 20 teams now have a shot at postseason glory, including the 7th to 10th seeds who must compete for the final two spots. The format adds extra drama and excitement, ensuring more teams remain in the hunt for a playoff spot late into the season.

Whether you’re following your favorite team’s playoff chase or tracking the NBA playoff standings as the regular season winds down, this guide has covered the essentials. Stay tuned to the standings, track your team’s progress, and get ready for the high-stakes action that comes with the NBA Playoffs!

📌 Be sure to bookmark this page and return for the latest updates as the playoff picture unfolds!

How Many Teams Make the NBA Playoffs?