List of NBA champions
The NBA Finals are where basketball legends are forged, and legacies are defined, marking the pinnacle of professional basketball each year. For decades, this best-of-seven showdown has crowned champions, etching unforgettable moments into sports history. Join us as we explore the teams, dynasties, and rivalries that have shaped this iconic competition. The NBA Finals have evolved significantly from its early days, establishing a consistent best-of-seven format and two iconic trophies. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers stand as the most dominant franchises, though several other teams have established their own historic dynasties. Throughout its history, the Finals have showcased intense rivalries and incredible consecutive championship runs, shaping the narratives of basketball's greatest teams.
AI Summary
The NBA Finals are where basketball legends are forged, and legacies are defined, marking the pinnacle of professional basketball each year. For decades, this best-of-seven showdown has crowned champions, etching unforgettable moments into sports history. Join us as we explore the teams, dynasties, and rivalries that have shaped this iconic competition.
- The NBA Finals have evolved significantly from its early days, establishing a consistent best-of-seven format and two iconic trophies.
- The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers stand as the most dominant franchises, though several other teams have established their own historic dynasties.
- Throughout its history, the Finals have showcased intense rivalries and incredible consecutive championship runs, shaping the narratives of basketball's greatest teams.
The Ultimate Basketball Showdown
Every year, the culmination of the NBA season arrives with a roar: the NBA Finals. This highly anticipated championship series pits the best team from the Eastern Conference against the best from the Western Conference in a thrilling, best-of-seven battle for basketball supremacy.
But the league wasn't always called the NBA. When it first tipped off in 1946, it was known as the Basketball Association of America, or BAA. It wasn't until 1949, after merging with the National Basketball League, that it officially became the National Basketball Association we know today.
The Symbols of Victory
Over the decades, two distinct trophies have symbolized ultimate victory. From 1947 to 1976, champions hoisted the Walter A. Brown Trophy. Since 1977, the iconic Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, with its distinctive basketball-shaped top, has been the prize every team dreams of raising.
Recent Glory
As of the 2025 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have recently claimed their second championship, a historic win since their relocation from Seattle. This marks a significant moment for the franchise, previously known as the Seattle SuperSonics, securing their first title since 1979.
When we talk about sheer dominance, one team immediately springs to mind: the Boston Celtics. With a staggering 18 championships, including their latest triumph in 2024, they hold the record for the most titles in league history. Their iconic green banners are a testament to unparalleled success.
East vs. West - A Shifting Balance
The competition between the Eastern and Western Conferences has always been fierce. Historically, the Eastern Conference champions have held a slight advantage in total titles, currently leading 41–38 as of 2025. This balance of power constantly shifts, making every Finals matchup a fresh chapter in basketball lore.
Decoding the Champions List
To appreciate the full history of the NBA Finals, it helps to understand how these championship runs are often recorded in historical summaries. Key details like a team's playoff seeding and their overall Finals appearance record are often noted in parentheses, providing deeper context to each victory and defeat.
The Dawn of Dynasties
In the very early days of the league, when it was still forming its identity, the Minneapolis Lakers emerged as the NBA's first true dynasty. Led by the towering George Mikan, they captured five championships in six years during the late 1940s and early 1950s, setting a gold standard for excellence.
Then came the unparalleled run of the Boston Celtics. Under the leadership of legendary coach Red Auerbach and superstar center Bill Russell, the Celtics dominated the late 1950s and 1960s, winning an astonishing eight consecutive championships—a feat unmatched in professional sports.
The 1980s ushered in a golden era defined by the intense rivalry between Magic Johnson's "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird's Boston Celtics. These two titans squared off multiple times in the Finals, captivating fans and pushing the sport to new heights of popularity and drama.
The 1990s belonged to one man: Michael Jordan. Alongside Scottie Pippen and under the guidance of coach Phil Jackson, the Chicago Bulls achieved two separate "three-peats," winning six championships in eight years. Their blend of athleticism, skill, and sheer will to win created one of the most memorable dynasties ever seen.
More recently, we've seen other dominant teams leave their mark. The San Antonio Spurs built a consistent winner around Tim Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich, while LeBron James led the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers to multiple titles. The Golden State Warriors, with their revolutionary style of play, also cemented a modern dynasty with four championships in eight years.
Elite Franchise Records
Examining the full breadth of NBA Finals history reveals which franchises have built the most enduring legacies.
Team Win(s) Loss(es) Apps Pct Year(s) won Year(s) lost Boston Celtics 18 5 23 .783 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024 1958, 1985, 1987, 2010, 2022 Los Angeles Lakers 17 15 32 .531 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2004, 2008 Golden State Warriors 7 5 12 .583 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 1948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019 Chicago Bulls 6 0 6 1.000 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 — San Antonio Spurs 5 1 6 .833 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 2013 Philadelphia 76ers 3 6 9 .333 1955, 1967, 1983 1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001 Detroit Pistons 3 4 7 .429 1989, 1990, 2004 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005 Miami Heat 3 4 7 .429 2006, 2012, 2013 2011, 2014, 2020, 2023 New York Knicks 2 6 8 .250 1970, 1973 1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999 Oklahoma City Thunder 2 3 5 .400 1979, 2025 1978, 1996, 2012 Houston Rockets 2 2 4 .500 1994, 1995 1981, 1986 Milwaukee Bucks 2 1 3 .667 1971, 2021 1974 Cleveland Cavaliers 1 4 5 .200 2016 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018 Atlanta Hawks 1 3 4 .250 1958 1957, 1960, 1961 Washington Wizards 1 3 4 .250 1978 1971, 1975, 1979 Portland Trail Blazers 1 2 3 .333 1977 1990, 1992 Dallas Mavericks 1 2 3 .333 2011 2006, 2024 Baltimore Bullets (original) (folded in 1954) 1 0 1 1.000 1948 — Sacramento Kings 1 0 1 1.000 1951 — Toronto Raptors 1 0 1 1.000 2019 — Denver Nuggets 1 0 1 1.000 2023 — Phoenix Suns 0 3 3 .000 — 1976, 1993, 2021 Utah Jazz 0 2 2 .000 — 1997, 1998 Brooklyn Nets 0 2 2 .000 — 2002, 2003 Orlando Magic 0 2 2 .000 — 1995, 2009 Indiana Pacers 0 2 2 .000 — 2000, 2025 Chicago Stags (folded in 1950) 0 1 1 .000 — 1947 Washington Capitols (folded in 1951) 0 1 1 .000 — 1949 Charlotte Hornets — — — — — — Los Angeles Clippers — — — — — — Memphis Grizzlies — — — — — — Minnesota Timberwolves — — — — — — New Orleans Pelicans — — — — — —
Consecutive Championship Streaks
True dominance is often measured by a team's ability to win consistently—sometimes, year after year. The NBA has seen several incredible streaks of consecutive championships, a testament to sustained excellence and powerful rosters that could withstand the pressures of defending their title.
The Legendary Three-Peats
Achieving a "three-peat" — winning three championships in a row — is one of the rarest feats in sports. Only a handful of teams have managed this extraordinary accomplishment, cementing their place in history as truly unstoppable forces.
Team Years Minneapolis Lakers 1952–1954 Chicago Bulls 1991–1993 Chicago Bulls 1996–1998 Los Angeles Lakers 2000–2002
Back-to-Back Greatness
While less rare than a three-peat, winning consecutive championships is still incredibly difficult, requiring immense talent and resilience. These teams displayed a rare combination of skill, chemistry, and mental fortitude to defend their titles successfully, proving their sustained excellence.
Team Years Minneapolis Lakers 1949–1950 Boston Celtics 1968–1969 Los Angeles Lakers 1987–1988 Detroit Pistons 1989–1990 Houston Rockets 1994–1995 Los Angeles Lakers 2009–2010 Miami Heat 2012–2013 Golden State Warriors 2017–2018
Storied Rivalries
Some of the most memorable Finals have come from repeated clashes between legendary franchises. These frequent matchups have fueled fan passions, created iconic moments, and written some of the most exciting chapters in NBA history, defining eras of basketball.
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
Article
List of NBA champions
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 (/wiki/1950NBAFinals) 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. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since (/wiki/1977NBAFinals) (between (/wiki/1947BAAFinals) and (/wiki/1976NBAFinals) the winning team received the Walter A. Brown Trophy).
Champions
List of NBA 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 New York Knicks, who won their first championship since (/wiki/1973NBAFinals). The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any team in the league at 18. As of 2026, the Eastern champions have a 42–38 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.
<table><thead><tr><th>Bold</th><th>Winning team of the BAA/NBA Finals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Italics</td><td>Team with home-court advantage</td></tr><tr><td>Italics</td><td>Finals MVP was on losing team</td></tr><tr><td>†</td><td>Only defunct team to win championship</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Western champion</th><th>Coach</th><th>Result</th><th>Eastern champion</th><th>Coach</th><th>Finals MVP</th><th>Ref</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1947</td><td>Chicago Stags (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Harold Olsen</td><td>1–4</td><td>Philadelphia Warriors (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td rowspan="2">Eddie Gottlieb</td><td rowspan="22">n/a</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1948</td><td>Baltimore Bullets† (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Buddy Jeannette</td><td>4–2</td><td>Philadelphia Warriors (1) (2, 1–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1949</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td rowspan="2">John Kundla</td><td>4–2</td><td>Washington Capitols (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Red Auerbach</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1950</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (1) (2, 2–0)</td><td>4–2</td><td>Syracuse Nationals (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Al Cervi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1951</td><td>Rochester Royals (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Les Harrison</td><td>4–3</td><td>New York Knicks (3) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="3">Joe Lapchick</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1952</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (2) (3, 3–0)</td><td rowspan="3">John Kundla</td><td>4–3</td><td>New York Knicks (3) (2, 0–2)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1953</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (1) (4, 4–0)</td><td>4–1</td><td>New York Knicks (1) (3, 0–3)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1954</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (1) (5, 5–0)</td><td>4–3</td><td>Syracuse Nationals (1) (2, 0–2)</td><td rowspan="2">Al Cervi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1955</td><td>Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Charles Eckman</td><td>3–4</td><td>Syracuse Nationals (1) (3, 1–2)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1956</td><td>Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (2, 0–2)</td><td>1–4</td><td>Philadelphia Warriors (1) (3, 2–1)</td><td>George Senesky</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1957</td><td>St. Louis Hawks (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Alex Hannum</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (1, 1–0)</td><td rowspan="10">Red Auerbach</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1958</td><td>St. Louis Hawks (1) (2, 1–1)</td><td>4–2</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (2, 1–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1959</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers (2) (6, 5–1)</td><td>John Kundla</td><td>0–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (3, 2–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1960</td><td>St. Louis Hawks (1) (3, 1–2)</td><td>Ed Macauley</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (4, 3–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1961</td><td>St. Louis Hawks (1) (4, 1–3)</td><td>Paul Seymour</td><td>1–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (5, 4–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1962</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (7, 5–2)</td><td rowspan="2">Fred Schaus</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (6, 5–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1963</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (8, 5–3)</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (7, 6–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1964</td><td>San Francisco Warriors (1) (4, 2–2)</td><td>Alex Hannum</td><td>1–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (8, 7–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1965</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (9, 5–4)</td><td rowspan="2">Fred Schaus</td><td>1–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (9, 8–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1966</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (10, 5–5)</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (2) (10, 9–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1967</td><td>San Francisco Warriors (1) (5, 2–3)</td><td>Bill Sharman</td><td>2–4</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (1) (4, 2–2)</td><td>Alex Hannum</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1968</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (2) (11, 5–6)</td><td rowspan="2">Butch van Breda Kolff</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (2) (11, 10–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Bill Russell</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1969</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (12, 5–7)</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (4) (12, 11–1)</td><td>Jerry West</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1970</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (2) (13, 5–8)</td><td>Joe Mullaney</td><td>3–4</td><td>New York Knicks (1) (4, 1–3)</td><td>Red Holzman</td><td>Willis Reed</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1971</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks (1) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Larry Costello</td><td>4–0</td><td>Baltimore Bullets (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Gene Shue</td><td>Lew Alcindor</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1972</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (14, 6–8)</td><td rowspan="2">Bill Sharman</td><td>4–1</td><td>New York Knicks (2) (5, 1–4)</td><td rowspan="2">Red Holzman</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1973</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (2) (15, 6–9)</td><td>1–4</td><td>New York Knicks (2) (6, 2–4)</td><td>Willis Reed</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks (1) (2, 1–1)</td><td>Larry Costello</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (13, 12–1)</td><td>Tom Heinsohn</td><td>John Havlicek</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1975</td><td>Golden State Warriors (1) (6, 3–3)</td><td>Al Attles</td><td>4–0</td><td>Washington Bullets (2) (2, 0–2)</td><td>K.C. Jones</td><td>Rick Barry</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1976</td><td>Phoenix Suns (3) (1, 0–1)</td><td>John MacLeod</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (14, 13–1)</td><td>Tom Heinsohn</td><td>Jo Jo White</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1977</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers (3) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Jack Ramsay</td><td>4–2</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (1) (5, 2–3)</td><td>Gene Shue</td><td>Bill Walton</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1978</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics (4) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Lenny Wilkens</td><td>3–4</td><td>Washington Bullets (3) (3, 1–2)</td><td rowspan="2">Dick Motta</td><td>Wes Unseld</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1979</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics (1) (2, 1–1)</td><td>4–1</td><td>Washington Bullets (1) (4, 1–3)</td><td>Dennis Johnson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1980</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (16, 7–9)</td><td>Paul Westhead</td><td>4–2</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (3) (6, 2–4)</td><td>Billy Cunningham</td><td>Magic Johnson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1981</td><td>Houston Rockets (6) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Del Harris</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (15, 14–1)</td><td>Bill Fitch</td><td>Cedric Maxwell</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1982</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (17, 8–9)</td><td rowspan="4">Pat Riley</td><td>4–2</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (3) (7, 2–5)</td><td rowspan="2">Billy Cunningham</td><td>Magic Johnson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1983</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (18, 8–10)</td><td>0–4</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (1) (8, 3–5)</td><td>Moses Malone</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1984</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (19, 8–11)</td><td>3–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (16, 15–1)</td><td rowspan="4">K.C. Jones</td><td>Larry Bird</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1985</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (20, 9–11)</td><td>4–2</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (17, 15–2)</td><td>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1986</td><td>Houston Rockets (2) (2, 0–2)</td><td>Bill Fitch</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (18, 16–2)</td><td>Larry Bird</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1987</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (21, 10–11)</td><td rowspan="3">Pat Riley</td><td>4–2</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (19, 16–3)</td><td>Magic Johnson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (22, 11–11)</td><td>4–3</td><td>Detroit Pistons (2) (3, 0–3)</td><td rowspan="3">Chuck Daly</td><td>James Worthy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1989</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (23, 11–12)</td><td>0–4</td><td>Detroit Pistons (1) (4, 1–3)</td><td>Joe Dumars</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers (3) (2, 1–1)</td><td>Rick Adelman</td><td>1–4</td><td>Detroit Pistons (1) (5, 2–3)</td><td>Isiah Thomas</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1991</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (3) (24, 11–13)</td><td>Mike Dunleavy</td><td>1–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (1) (1, 1–0)</td><td rowspan="3">Phil Jackson</td><td rowspan="3">Michael Jordan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers (1) (3, 1–2)</td><td>Rick Adelman</td><td>2–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (1) (2, 2–0)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>Phoenix Suns (1) (2, 0–2)</td><td>Paul Westphal</td><td>2–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (2) (3, 3–0)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>Houston Rockets (2) (3, 1–2)</td><td rowspan="2">Rudy Tomjanovich</td><td>4–3</td><td>New York Knicks (2) (7, 2–5)</td><td>Pat Riley</td><td rowspan="2">Hakeem Olajuwon</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>Houston Rockets (6) (4, 2–2)</td><td>4–0</td><td>Orlando Magic (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Brian Hill</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics (1) (3, 1–2)</td><td>George Karl</td><td>2–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (1) (4, 4–0)</td><td rowspan="3">Phil Jackson</td><td rowspan="3">Michael Jordan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>Utah Jazz (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Jerry Sloan</td><td>2–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (1) (5, 5–0)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td>Utah Jazz (1) (2, 0–2)</td><td>2–4</td><td>Chicago Bulls (1) (6, 6–0)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (1) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Gregg Popovich</td><td>4–1</td><td>New York Knicks (8) (8, 2–6)</td><td>Jeff Van Gundy</td><td>Tim Duncan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (25, 12–13)</td><td rowspan="3">Phil Jackson</td><td>4–2</td><td>Indiana Pacers (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Larry Bird</td><td rowspan="3">Shaquille O'Neal</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (2) (26, 13–13)</td><td>4–1</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (1) (9, 3–6)</td><td>Larry Brown</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (3) (27, 14–13)</td><td>4–0</td><td>New Jersey Nets (1) (1, 0–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Byron Scott</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (1) (2, 2–0)</td><td>Gregg Popovich</td><td>4–2</td><td>New Jersey Nets (2) (2, 0–2)</td><td>Tim Duncan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (2) (28, 14–14)</td><td>Phil Jackson</td><td>1–4</td><td>Detroit Pistons (3) (6, 3–3)</td><td rowspan="2">Larry Brown</td><td>Chauncey Billups</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (2) (3, 3–0)</td><td>Gregg Popovich</td><td>4–3</td><td>Detroit Pistons (2) (7, 3–4)</td><td>Tim Duncan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>Dallas Mavericks (4) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Avery Johnson</td><td>2–4</td><td>Miami Heat (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Pat Riley</td><td>Dwyane Wade</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (3) (4, 4–0)</td><td>Gregg Popovich</td><td>4–0</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (1, 0–1)</td><td>Mike Brown</td><td>Tony Parker</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (29, 14–15)</td><td rowspan="3">Phil Jackson</td><td>2–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (20, 17–3)</td><td>Doc Rivers</td><td>Paul Pierce</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (30, 15–15)</td><td>4–1</td><td>Orlando Magic (3) (2, 0–2)</td><td>Stan Van Gundy</td><td rowspan="2">Kobe Bryant</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (31, 16–15)</td><td>4–3</td><td>Boston Celtics (4) (21, 17–4)</td><td>Doc Rivers</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Dallas Mavericks (3) (2, 1–1)</td><td>Rick Carlisle</td><td>4–2</td><td>Miami Heat (2) (2, 1–1)</td><td rowspan="4">Erik Spoelstra</td><td>Dirk Nowitzki</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder (2) (4, 1–3)</td><td>Scott Brooks</td><td>1–4</td><td>Miami Heat (2) (3, 2–1)</td><td rowspan="2">LeBron James</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (2) (5, 4–1)</td><td rowspan="2">Gregg Popovich</td><td>3–4</td><td>Miami Heat (1) (4, 3–1)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (1) (6, 5–1)</td><td>4–1</td><td>Miami Heat (2) (5, 3–2)</td><td>Kawhi Leonard</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Golden State Warriors (1) (7, 4–3)</td><td rowspan="5">Steve Kerr</td><td>4–2</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (2, 0–2)</td><td>David Blatt</td><td>Andre Iguodala</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Golden State Warriors (1) (8, 4–4)</td><td>3–4</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (1) (3, 1–2)</td><td rowspan="3">Tyronn Lue</td><td>LeBron James</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Golden State Warriors (1) (9, 5–4)</td><td>4–1</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (4, 1–3)</td><td rowspan="2">Kevin Durant</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Golden State Warriors (2) (10, 6–4)</td><td>4–0</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (4) (5, 1–4)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Golden State Warriors (1) (11, 6–5)</td><td>2–4</td><td>Toronto Raptors (2) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Nick Nurse</td><td>Kawhi Leonard</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (1) (32, 17–15)</td><td>Frank Vogel</td><td>4–2</td><td>Miami Heat (5) (6, 3–3)</td><td>Erik Spoelstra</td><td>LeBron James</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Phoenix Suns (2) (3, 0–3)</td><td>Monty Williams</td><td>2–4</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks (3) (3, 2–1)</td><td>Mike Budenholzer</td><td>Giannis Antetokounmpo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Golden State Warriors (3) (12, 7–5)</td><td>Steve Kerr</td><td>4–2</td><td>Boston Celtics (2) (22, 17–5)</td><td>Ime Udoka</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Denver Nuggets (1) (1, 1–0)</td><td>Michael Malone</td><td>4–1</td><td>Miami Heat (8) (7, 3–4)</td><td>Erik Spoelstra</td><td>Nikola Jokić</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Dallas Mavericks (5) (3, 1–2)</td><td>Jason Kidd</td><td>1–4</td><td>Boston Celtics (1) (23, 18–5)</td><td>Joe Mazzulla</td><td>Jaylen Brown</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder (1) (5, 2–3)</td><td>Mark Daigneault</td><td>4–3</td><td>Indiana Pacers (4) (2, 0–2)</td><td>Rick Carlisle</td><td>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (2) (7, 5–2)</td><td>Mitch Johnson</td><td>1–4</td><td>New York Knicks (3) (9, 3–6)</td><td>Mike Brown</td><td>Jalen Brunson</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Records by franchise
List of NBA champions
<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Wins</th><th>Losses</th><th>Apps</th><th>Pct</th><th>Year(s) won</th><th>Year(s) lost</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>18</td><td>5</td><td>23</td><td>.783</td><td>1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024</td><td>1958, 1985, 1987, 2010, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>17</td><td>15</td><td>32</td><td>.531</td><td>1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020</td><td>1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2004, 2008</td></tr><tr><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>12</td><td>.583</td><td>1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022</td><td>1948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>1.000</td><td>1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>.714</td><td>1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014</td><td>2013, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>9</td><td>.333</td><td>1955, 1967, 1983</td><td>1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>9</td><td>.333</td><td>1970, 1973, 2026</td><td>1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999</td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>.429</td><td>1989, 1990, 2004</td><td>1955, 1956, 1988, 2005</td></tr><tr><td>Miami Heat</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>.429</td><td>2006, 2012, 2013</td><td>2011, 2014, 2020, 2023</td></tr><tr><td>Oklahoma City Thunder</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>.400</td><td>1979, 2025</td><td>1978, 1996, 2012</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>.500</td><td>1994, 1995</td><td>1981, 1986</td></tr><tr><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>.667</td><td>1971, 2021</td><td>1974</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>.200</td><td>2016</td><td>2007, 2015, 2017, 2018</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>.250</td><td>1958</td><td>1957, 1960, 1961</td></tr><tr><td>Washington Wizards</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>.250</td><td>1978</td><td>1971, 1975, 1979</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>.333</td><td>1977</td><td>1990, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>.333</td><td>2011</td><td>2006, 2024</td></tr><tr><td>Baltimore Bullets (original) (folded in 1954)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1.000</td><td>1948</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1.000</td><td>1951</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1.000</td><td>2019</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1.000</td><td>2023</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>1976, 1993, 2021</td></tr><tr><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>1997, 1998</td></tr><tr><td>Brooklyn Nets</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>2002, 2003</td></tr><tr><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>1995, 2009</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>2000, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stags (folded in 1950)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>1947</td></tr><tr><td>Washington Capitols (folded in 1951)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>.000</td><td>—</td><td>1949</td></tr></tbody></table>
Consecutive championships
List of NBA champions
• Boston Celtics ((/wiki/1959NBAFinals)–(/wiki/1966NBAFinals))
• Minneapolis Lakers ((/wiki/1952NBAFinals)–(/wiki/1954NBAFinals)) • Chicago Bulls ((/wiki/1991NBAFinals)–(/wiki/1993NBAFinals)) • Chicago Bulls ((/wiki/1996NBAFinals)–(/wiki/1998NBAFinals)) • Los Angeles Lakers ((/wiki/2000NBAFinals)–(/wiki/2002NBAFinals))
• Minneapolis Lakers ((/wiki/1949NBAFinals), (/wiki/1950NBAFinals)) • Boston Celtics ((/wiki/1968NBAFinals), (/wiki/1969NBAFinals)) • Los Angeles Lakers ((/wiki/1987NBAFinals), (/wiki/1988NBAFinals)) • Detroit Pistons ((/wiki/1989NBAFinals), (/wiki/1990NBAFinals)) • Houston Rockets ((/wiki/1994NBAFinals), (/wiki/1995NBAFinals)) • Los Angeles Lakers ((/wiki/2009NBAFinals), (/wiki/2010NBAFinals)) • Miami Heat ((/wiki/2012NBAFinals), (/wiki/2013NBAFinals)) • Golden State Warriors ((/wiki/2017NBAFinals), (/wiki/2018NBAFinals))
Frequent matchups
List of NBA champions
<table><thead><tr><th>Count</th><th>Matchup</th><th>Record</th><th>Years</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>12</td><td>Boston Celtics vs Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Celtics, 9–3</td><td>1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2010</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Lakers, 5–1</td><td>1950, 1954, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks</td><td>Lakers, 3–2</td><td>1952, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Boston Celtics vs St. Louis Hawks (Atlanta Hawks)</td><td>Celtics, 3–1</td><td>1957, 1958, 1960, 1961</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>Warriors, 3–1</td><td>2015, 2016, 2017, 2018</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Pistons, 2–1</td><td>1988, 1989, 2004</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics (Oklahoma City Thunder) vs Washington Bullets (Washington Wizards)</td><td>Tied, 1–1</td><td>1978, 1979</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets</td><td>Celtics, 2–0</td><td>1981, 1986</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz</td><td>Bulls, 2–0</td><td>1997, 1998</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat</td><td>Tied, 1–1</td><td>2006, 2011</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Miami Heat vs San Antonio Spurs</td><td>Tied, 1–1</td><td>2013, 2014</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Boston Celtics vs San Francisco/Golden State Warriors</td><td>Tied, 1–1</td><td>1964, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks</td><td>Tied, 1–1</td><td>1999, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>