List of NBA champions

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The NBA Finals is the annual championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the conclusion of its postseason. All NBA Finals have been played in a best-of-seven format, and are contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference (prior to 1971 it was played between division playoff winners), except in 1950 when the Eastern Division champion faced the winner between the Western and Central Division champions. From 1946 through 1949, when the league was known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), the playoffs were a three-stage tournament where the two semifinal winners played each other in the finals.[1][2][3] The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977 (between 1947 and 1976 the winning team received the Walter A. Brown Trophy).[4]

Champions

The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any NBA team. Shown are the championship banners hanging in their home arena, TD Garden.

The most recent champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008, and their first since 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics. The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any team in the league at 18.[5] As of 2025, the Eastern champions have a 41–38 advantage in NBA titles over the Western champions. The 1949–50 Minneapolis Lakers, who won the NBA Finals, are counted in the Eastern versus Western champions record as they played that sole season in the Central Division before returning to the Western Division.

  • The first parentheses in the Western champions and Eastern champions columns indicate the teams' playoff seed. The second parentheses indicate the number of times that teams have appeared in an NBA Finals as well as each respective team's NBA Finals record to date.
Bold Winning team of the BAA/NBA Finals
Italics Team with home-court advantage
Italics Finals MVP was on losing team
† Only defunct team to win championship
More information Year, Western champion ...
Year Western champion Coach Result Eastern champion Coach Finals MVP[a] Ref
1947Chicago Stags (1) (1, 0–1)Harold Olsen1–4Philadelphia Warriors (2) (1, 1–0)Eddie Gottlieb n/a[6]
1948Baltimore Bullets† (2) (1, 1–0)Buddy Jeannette4–2Philadelphia Warriors (1) (2, 1–1)[7]
1949Minneapolis Lakers (2) (1, 1–0)John Kundla4–2Washington Capitols (1) (1, 0–1)Red Auerbach[8]
1950Minneapolis Lakers (1) [b] (2, 2–0)4–2Syracuse Nationals (1) (1, 0–1)Al Cervi [12][13]
1951Rochester Royals (2) (1, 1–0)Les Harrison4–3New York Knicks (3) (1, 0–1)Joe Lapchick[14]
1952Minneapolis Lakers (2) (3, 3–0)John Kundla4–3New York Knicks (3) (2, 0–2)[15]
1953Minneapolis Lakers (1) (4, 4–0)4–1New York Knicks (1) (3, 0–3)[16]
1954Minneapolis Lakers (1) (5, 5–0)4–3Syracuse Nationals (1) (2, 0–2)Al Cervi[17]
1955Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (1, 0–1)Charles Eckman3–4Syracuse Nationals (1) (3, 1–2)[18]
1956Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (2, 0–2)1–4Philadelphia Warriors (1) (3, 2–1)George Senesky[19]
1957St. Louis Hawks (1) (1, 0–1)Alex Hannum3–4Boston Celtics (1) (1, 1–0)Red Auerbach[20]
1958St. Louis Hawks (1) (2, 1–1)4–2Boston Celtics (1) (2, 1–1)[21]
1959Minneapolis Lakers (2) (6, 5–1)John Kundla0–4Boston Celtics (1) (3, 2–1)[22]
1960St. Louis Hawks (1) (3, 1–2)Ed Macauley3–4Boston Celtics (1) (4, 3–1)[23]
1961St. Louis Hawks (1) (4, 1–3)Paul Seymour1–4Boston Celtics (1) (5, 4–1)[24]
1962Los Angeles Lakers (1) (7, 5–2)Fred Schaus3–4Boston Celtics (1) (6, 5–1)[25]
1963Los Angeles Lakers (1) (8, 5–3)2–4Boston Celtics (1) (7, 6–1)[26]
1964[c]San Francisco Warriors (1) (4, 2–2)Alex Hannum1–4Boston Celtics (1) (8, 7–1)[27]
1965Los Angeles Lakers (1) (9, 5–4)Fred Schaus1–4Boston Celtics (1) (9, 8–1)[28]
1966Los Angeles Lakers (1) (10, 5–5)3–4Boston Celtics (2) (10, 9–1)[29]
1967San Francisco Warriors (1) (5, 2–3)Bill Sharman2–4Philadelphia 76ers (1) (4, 2–2)Alex Hannum[30]
1968Los Angeles Lakers (2) (11, 5–6)Butch van Breda Kolff2–4Boston Celtics (2) (11, 10–1)Bill Russell[31]
1969Los Angeles Lakers (1) (12, 5–7)3–4Boston Celtics (4) (12, 11–1) Jerry West[32]
1970Los Angeles Lakers (2) (13, 5–8)Joe Mullaney3–4New York Knicks (1) (4, 1–3)Red Holzman Willis Reed[33]
1971Milwaukee Bucks (1) (1, 1–0)Larry Costello4–0Baltimore Bullets (1) (1, 0–1)Gene Shue Lew Alcindor[34]
1972Los Angeles Lakers (1) (14, 6–8)Bill Sharman4–1New York Knicks (2) (5, 1–4)Red Holzman Wilt Chamberlain[35]
1973Los Angeles Lakers (2) (15, 6–9)1–4New York Knicks (2) (6, 2–4) Willis Reed[36]
1974Milwaukee Bucks (1) (2, 1–1)Larry Costello3–4Boston Celtics (1) (13, 12–1)Tom Heinsohn John Havlicek[37]
1975Golden State Warriors (1) (6, 3–3)Al Attles4–0Washington Bullets (2) (2, 0–2)K.C. Jones Rick Barry[38]
1976Phoenix Suns (3) (1, 0–1)John MacLeod2–4Boston Celtics (1) (14, 13–1)Tom Heinsohn Jo Jo White[39]
1977[d]Portland Trail Blazers (3) (1, 1–0)Jack Ramsay4–2Philadelphia 76ers (1) (5, 2–3)Gene Shue Bill Walton[42]
1978Seattle SuperSonics (4) (1, 0–1)Lenny Wilkens3–4Washington Bullets (3) (3, 1–2)Dick Motta Wes Unseld[43]
1979Seattle SuperSonics (1) (2, 1–1)4–1Washington Bullets (1) (4, 1–3) Dennis Johnson[44]
1980Los Angeles Lakers (1) (16, 7–9)Paul Westhead4–2Philadelphia 76ers (3) (6, 2–4)Billy Cunningham Magic Johnson[45]
1981Houston Rockets (6) (1, 0–1)Del Harris2–4Boston Celtics (1) (15, 14–1)Bill Fitch Cedric Maxwell[46]
1982Los Angeles Lakers (1) (17, 8–9)Pat Riley4–2Philadelphia 76ers (3) (7, 2–5)Billy Cunningham Magic Johnson[47]
1983Los Angeles Lakers (1) (18, 8–10)0–4Philadelphia 76ers (1) (8, 3–5) Moses Malone[48]
1984[e]Los Angeles Lakers (1) (19, 8–11)3–4Boston Celtics (1) (16, 15–1)K.C. Jones Larry Bird[49]
1985Los Angeles Lakers (1) (20, 9–11)4–2Boston Celtics (1) (17, 15–2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar[50]
1986Houston Rockets (2) (2, 0–2)Bill Fitch2–4Boston Celtics (1) (18, 16–2) Larry Bird[51]
1987Los Angeles Lakers (1) (21, 10–11)Pat Riley4–2Boston Celtics (1) (19, 16–3) Magic Johnson[52]
1988Los Angeles Lakers (1) (22, 11–11)4–3Detroit Pistons (2) (3, 0–3)Chuck Daly James Worthy[53]
1989Los Angeles Lakers (1) (23, 11–12)0–4Detroit Pistons (1) (4, 1–3) Joe Dumars[54]
1990Portland Trail Blazers (3) (2, 1–1)Rick Adelman1–4Detroit Pistons (1) (5, 2–3) Isiah Thomas[55]
1991Los Angeles Lakers (3) (24, 11–13)Mike Dunleavy1–4Chicago Bulls (1) (1, 1–0)Phil Jackson Michael Jordan[56]
1992Portland Trail Blazers (1) (3, 1–2)Rick Adelman2–4Chicago Bulls (1) (2, 2–0)[57]
1993Phoenix Suns (1) (2, 0–2)Paul Westphal2–4Chicago Bulls (2) (3, 3–0)[58]
1994Houston Rockets (2) (3, 1–2)Rudy Tomjanovich4–3New York Knicks (2) (7, 2–5)Pat Riley Hakeem Olajuwon[59]
1995Houston Rockets (6) (4, 2–2)4–0Orlando Magic (1) (1, 0–1)Brian Hill[60]
1996Seattle SuperSonics (1) (3, 1–2)George Karl2–4Chicago Bulls (1) (4, 4–0)Phil Jackson Michael Jordan[61]
1997Utah Jazz (1) (1, 0–1)Jerry Sloan2–4Chicago Bulls (1) (5, 5–0)[62]
1998Utah Jazz (1) (2, 0–2)2–4Chicago Bulls (1) (6, 6–0)[63]
1999[f]San Antonio Spurs (1) (1, 1–0)Gregg Popovich4–1New York Knicks (8) (8, 2–6)Jeff Van Gundy Tim Duncan[65]
2000Los Angeles Lakers (1) (25, 12–13)Phil Jackson4–2Indiana Pacers (1) (1, 0–1)Larry Bird Shaquille O'Neal[66]
2001Los Angeles Lakers (2) (26, 13–13)4–1Philadelphia 76ers (1) (9, 3–6)Larry Brown[67]
2002Los Angeles Lakers (3) (27, 14–13)4–0New Jersey Nets (1) (1, 0–1)Byron Scott[68]
2003San Antonio Spurs (1) (2, 2–0)Gregg Popovich4–2New Jersey Nets (2) (2, 0–2) Tim Duncan[69]
2004Los Angeles Lakers (2) (28, 14–14)Phil Jackson1–4Detroit Pistons (3) (6, 3–3)Larry Brown Chauncey Billups[70]
2005San Antonio Spurs (2) (3, 3–0)Gregg Popovich4–3Detroit Pistons (2) (7, 3–4) Tim Duncan[71]
2006Dallas Mavericks (4) (1, 0–1)Avery Johnson2–4Miami Heat (2) (1, 1–0)Pat Riley Dwyane Wade[72]
2007San Antonio Spurs (3) (4, 4–0)Gregg Popovich4–0Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (1, 0–1)Mike Brown Tony Parker[73]
2008Los Angeles Lakers (1) (29, 14–15)Phil Jackson2–4Boston Celtics (1) (20, 17–3)Doc Rivers Paul Pierce[74]
2009Los Angeles Lakers (1) (30, 15–15)4–1Orlando Magic (3) (2, 0–2)Stan Van Gundy Kobe Bryant[75]
2010Los Angeles Lakers (1) (31, 16–15)4–3Boston Celtics (4) (21, 17–4)Doc Rivers[76]
2011Dallas Mavericks (3) (2, 1–1)Rick Carlisle4–2Miami Heat (2) (2, 1–1)Erik Spoelstra Dirk Nowitzki[77]
2012[g]Oklahoma City Thunder (2) (4, 1–3)Scott Brooks1–4Miami Heat (2) (3, 2–1) LeBron James[80]
2013San Antonio Spurs (2) (5, 4–1)Gregg Popovich3–4Miami Heat (1) (4, 3–1)[81]
2014San Antonio Spurs (1) (6, 5–1)4–1Miami Heat (2) (5, 3–2) Kawhi Leonard[82]
2015Golden State Warriors (1) (7, 4–3)Steve Kerr4–2Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (2, 0–2)David Blatt Andre Iguodala[83]
2016Golden State Warriors (1) (8, 4–4)3–4Cleveland Cavaliers (1) (3, 1–2)Tyronn Lue LeBron James[84]
2017Golden State Warriors (1) (9, 5–4)4–1Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (4, 1–3) Kevin Durant[85]
2018Golden State Warriors (2) (10, 6–4)4–0Cleveland Cavaliers (4) (5, 1–4)[86]
2019Golden State Warriors (1) (11, 6–5)2–4Toronto Raptors (2) (1, 1–0)Nick Nurse Kawhi Leonard[87]
2020[h]Los Angeles Lakers (1) (32, 17–15)Frank Vogel4–2Miami Heat (5) (6, 3–3)Erik Spoelstra LeBron James[89]
2021Phoenix Suns (2) (3, 0–3)Monty Williams2–4Milwaukee Bucks (3) (3, 2–1)Mike Budenholzer Giannis Antetokounmpo[90]
2022Golden State Warriors (3) (12, 7–5)Steve Kerr4–2Boston Celtics (2) (22, 17–5)Ime Udoka Stephen Curry[91]
2023Denver Nuggets (1) (1, 1–0)Michael Malone4–1Miami Heat (8) (7, 3–4)Erik SpoelstraNikola Jokić[92]
2024Dallas Mavericks (5) (3, 1–2)Jason Kidd1–4Boston Celtics (1) (23, 18–5)Joe MazzullaJaylen Brown[93]
2025Oklahoma City Thunder (1) (5, 2–3)Mark Daigneault4–3Indiana Pacers (4) (2, 0–2)Rick CarlisleShai Gilgeous-Alexander[94]
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Records by franchise

More information Team, Win ...
TeamWinLossApps PctYear(s) wonYear(s) lost
Boston Celtics18523 .7831957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 20241958, 1985, 1987, 2010, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers[i]171532 .5311949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 20201959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2004, 2008
Golden State Warriors[ii]7512 .5831947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 20221948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019
Chicago Bulls606 1.0001991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998—
San Antonio Spurs516 .8331999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 20142013
Philadelphia 76ers[iii]369 .3331955, 1967, 19831950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001
Detroit Pistons[iv]347 .4291989, 1990, 20041955, 1956, 1988, 2005
Miami Heat347 .4292006, 2012, 20132011, 2014, 2020, 2023
New York Knicks268 .2501970, 19731951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999
Oklahoma City Thunder[v]235 .4001979, 20251978, 1996, 2012
Houston Rockets224 .5001994, 19951981, 1986
Milwaukee Bucks213 .6671971, 20211974
Cleveland Cavaliers145 .20020162007, 2015, 2017, 2018
Atlanta Hawks[vi]134 .25019581957, 1960, 1961
Washington Wizards[vii]134 .25019781971, 1975, 1979
Portland Trail Blazers123 .33319771990, 1992
Dallas Mavericks123 .33320112006, 2024
Baltimore Bullets (original) (folded in 1954)[viii]101 1.0001948—
Sacramento Kings[ix]101 1.0001951—
Toronto Raptors101 1.0002019—
Denver Nuggets101 1.0002023—
Phoenix Suns033 .000—1976, 1993, 2021
Utah Jazz022 .000—1997, 1998
Brooklyn Nets[x]022 .000—2002, 2003
Orlando Magic022 .000—1995, 2009
Indiana Pacers022 .000—2000, 2025
Chicago Stags (folded in 1950)011 .000—1947
Washington Capitols (folded in 1951)011 .000—1949
Charlotte Hornets——— ———
Los Angeles Clippers——— ———
Memphis Grizzlies——— ———
Minnesota Timberwolves——— ———
New Orleans Pelicans——— ———
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  1. [i]
    Includes record as Minneapolis Lakers
  2. [ii]
    Includes record as Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors
  3. [iii]
    Includes record as Syracuse Nationals
  4. [iv]
    Includes record as Fort Wayne Pistons
  5. [v]
    Includes record as Seattle SuperSonics
  6. [vi]
    Includes record as St. Louis Hawks
  7. [vii]
    Includes record as Baltimore and Washington Bullets
  8. [viii]
    Not affiliated with the present-day Washington Wizards, known as the Baltimore Bullets from 1963 to 1973.
  9. [ix]
    Includes record as Rochester Royals
  10. [x]
    Includes record as New York and New Jersey Nets

Consecutive championships

Eight consecutive

Three consecutive

Two consecutive

Frequent matchups

More information Count, Matchup ...
Count Matchup Record Years
12 Boston Celtics vs Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers Celtics, 9–3 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2010
6 Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers Lakers, 5–1 1950, 1954, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001
5 Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks Lakers, 3–2 1952, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973
4 Boston Celtics vs St. Louis Hawks (Atlanta Hawks) Celtics, 3–1 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961
4 Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Warriors, 3–1 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
3 Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Lakers Pistons, 2–1 1988, 1989, 2004
2 Seattle SuperSonics (Oklahoma City Thunder) vs Washington Bullets (Washington Wizards) Tied, 1–1 1978, 1979
2 Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets Celtics, 2–0 1981, 1986
2 Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz Bulls, 2–0 1997, 1998
2 Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat Tied, 1–1 2006, 2011
2 Miami Heat vs San Antonio Spurs Tied, 1–1 2013, 2014
2 Boston Celtics vs San Francisco/Golden State Warriors Tied, 1–1 1964, 2022
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The Finals MVP Award was first awarded in 1969.
  2. [b]
    Minneapolis was the Central Division (now defunct, no relation to the current Central Division) playoff champion, while the Anderson Packers were the Western Division playoff champion.[9] Due to the NBA's realignment into three divisions,[10][11] the team with the best regular season record after the Divisional Finals advanced automatically to the NBA Finals, while the other two teams faced off in the NBA Semifinals to determine the other finalist. Eastern Division playoff champion Syracuse had the best regular season record among the division playoff champions, causing Minneapolis to face Anderson in the NBA Semifinals.[9][12]
  3. [c]
    The trophy was renamed for Walter A. Brown.
  4. [d]
    The trophy was replaced by a new design.[40][41]
  5. [e]
    The trophy was renamed for Larry O'Brien.
  6. [f]
    After a lockout, the season started on February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[64]
  7. [g]
    After a lockout, the season started on December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[78][79]
  8. [h]
    The conclusion of the 2019–20 NBA season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and finished in October 2020 during the bubble tournament.[88]

References

External links

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