The division consists of five teams: the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards.
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.
The Southeast Division began with five inaugural members, the Hawks, the Bobcats, the Heat, the Magic and the Wizards.
As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history.
Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game, debuting for the Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950.