List of NBA champions

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the championship series for the NBA and the conclusion of its postseason. All Finals have been played in a best-of-seven format, and are contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference (formerly Divisions before 1970), 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. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

The current home-and-away format in the NBA Finals is 2–2–1–1–1 (the team with the better regular-season record plays on their home court in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7), which has been used in 1947–1948, 1950–1952, 1957–1970, 1972–1974, 1976–1977, 1979–1984, and 2014–present. It was previously in a 2–3–2 format (the team with the better regular season record plays on their home court in Games 1, 2, 6, and 7) during 1949, 1953–1955, and 1985–2013, in a 1–1–1–1–1–1–1 format during 1956 and 1971, and in a 1–2–2–1–1 format during 1975 and 1978.

The Eastern Conference/Division leads the Western Conference/Division in series won (39–33). The defunct Central Division, in existence during the 1949–50 NBA season when the NBA was divided into three divisions and different from the current Central Division created in 1970 when the then existing Eastern Division was upgraded as a conference, won one championship. The Boston Celtics and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers alone own almost half of the titles, having won a combined 34 of 74 championships (with 17 apiece). The two also have the most Finals meetings with 12; the Celtics own a 9–3 edge over their arch rivals. As of 2020, the defending champions are the Los Angeles Lakers.

Champions

• The first parentheses in the Western finalist/champion and Eastern finalist/champion 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

Year	Western finalist	Coach	Result	Eastern finalist	Coach	Reference
Basketball Association of America (BAA)
1947	Chicago Stags (1) (1, 0–1)	Harold Olsen	1–4	Philadelphia Warriors (2) (1, 1–0)	Eddie Gottlieb
1948	Baltimore Bullets (2) (1, 1–0)	Buddy Jeannette	4–2	Philadelphia Warriors (1) (2, 1–1)	Eddie Gottlieb
1949	Minneapolis Lakers (2) (1, 1–0)	John Kundla	4–2	Washington Capitols (1) (1, 0–1)	Red Auerbach
National Basketball Association (NBA)
1950	Minneapolis Lakers (1)  (2, 2–0)	John Kundla	4–2	Syracuse Nationals (1) (1, 0–1)	Al Cervi
1951	Rochester Royals (2) (1, 1–0)	Les Harrison	4–3	New York Knicks (3) (1, 0–1)	Joe Lapchick
1952	Minneapolis Lakers (2) (3, 3–0)	John Kundla	4–3	New York Knicks (3) (2, 0–2)	Joe Lapchick
1953	Minneapolis Lakers (1) (4, 4–0)	John Kundla	4–1	New York Knicks (1) (3, 0–3)	Joe Lapchick
1954	Minneapolis Lakers (1) (5, 5–0)	John Kundla	4–3	Syracuse Nationals (1) (2, 0–2)	Al Cervi
1955	Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (1, 0–1)	Charles Eckman	3–4	Syracuse Nationals (1) (3, 1–2)	Al Cervi
1956	Fort Wayne Pistons (1) (2, 0–2)	Charles Eckman	1–4	Philadelphia Warriors (1) (3, 2–1)	George Senesky
1957	St. Louis Hawks (1) (1, 0–1)	Alex Hannum	3–4	Boston Celtics (1) (1, 1–0)	Red Auerbach
1958	St. Louis Hawks (1) (2, 1–1)	Alex Hannum	4–2	Boston Celtics (1) (2, 1–1)	Red Auerbach
1959	Minneapolis Lakers (2) (6, 5–1)	John Kundla	0–4	Boston Celtics (1) (3, 2–1)	Red Auerbach
1960	St. Louis Hawks (1) (3, 1–2)	Ed Macauley	3–4	Boston Celtics (1) (4, 3–1)	Red Auerbach
1961	St. Louis Hawks (1) (4, 1–3)	Paul Seymour	1–4	Boston Celtics (1) (5, 4–1)	Red Auerbach
1962	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (7, 5–2)	Fred Schaus	3–4	Boston Celtics (1) (6, 5–1)	Red Auerbach
1963	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (8, 5–3)	Fred Schaus	2–4	Boston Celtics (1) (7, 6–1)	Red Auerbach
1964	San Francisco Warriors (1) (4, 2–2)	Alex Hannum	1–4	Boston Celtics (1) (8, 7–1)	Red Auerbach
1965	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (9, 5–4)	Fred Schaus	1–4	Boston Celtics (1) (9, 8–1)	Red Auerbach
1966	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (10, 5–5)	Fred Schaus	3–4	Boston Celtics (2) (10, 9–1)	Red Auerbach
1967	San Francisco Warriors (1) (5, 2–3)	Bill Sharman	2–4	Philadelphia 76ers (1) (4, 2–2)	Alex Hannum
1968	Los Angeles Lakers (2) (11, 5–6)	Butch van Breda Kolff	2–4	Boston Celtics (2) (11, 10–1)	Bill Russell
1969	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (12, 5–7)	Butch van Breda Kolff	3–4	Boston Celtics (4) (12, 11–1)	Bill Russell
1970	Los Angeles Lakers (2) (13, 5–8)	Joe Mullaney	3–4	New York Knicks (1) (4, 1–3)	Red Holzman
Year	Western champion	Coach	Result	Eastern champion	Coach	Reference
1971	Milwaukee Bucks (1) (1, 1–0)	Larry Costello	4–0	Baltimore Bullets (1) (1, 0–1)	Gene Shue
1972	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (14, 6–8)	Bill Sharman	4–1	New York Knicks (2) (5, 1–4)	Red Holzman
1973	Los Angeles Lakers (2) (15, 6–9)	Bill Sharman	1–4	New York Knicks (2) (6, 2–4)	Red Holzman
1974	Milwaukee Bucks (1) (2, 1–1)	Larry Costello	3–4	Boston Celtics (1) (13, 12–1)	Tom Heinsohn
1975	Golden State Warriors (1) (6, 3–3)	Al Attles	4–0	Washington Bullets (2) (2, 0–2)	K. C. Jones
1976	Phoenix Suns (3) (1, 0–1)	John MacLeod	2–4	Boston Celtics (1) (14, 13–1)	Tom Heinsohn
1977	Portland Trail Blazers (3) (1, 1–0)	Jack Ramsay	4–2	Philadelphia 76ers (1) (5, 2–3)	Gene Shue
1978	Seattle SuperSonics (4) (1, 0–1)	Lenny Wilkens	3–4	Washington Bullets (3) (3, 1–2)	Dick Motta
1979	Seattle SuperSonics (1) (2, 1–1)	Lenny Wilkens	4–1	Washington Bullets (1) (4, 1–3)	Dick Motta
1980	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (16, 7–9)	Paul Westhead	4–2	Philadelphia 76ers (3) (6, 2–4)	Billy Cunningham
1981	Houston Rockets (6) (1, 0–1)	Del Harris	2–4	Boston Celtics (1) (15, 14–1)	Bill Fitch
1982	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (17, 8–9)	Pat Riley	4–2	Philadelphia 76ers (3) (7, 2–5)	Billy Cunningham
1983	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (18, 8–10)	Pat Riley	0–4	Philadelphia 76ers (1) (8, 3–5)	Billy Cunningham
1984	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (19, 8–11)	Pat Riley	3–4	Boston Celtics (1) (16, 15–1)	K. C. Jones
1985	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (20, 9–11)	Pat Riley	4–2	Boston Celtics (1) (17, 15–2)	K. C. Jones
1986	Houston Rockets (2) (2, 0–2)	Bill Fitch	2–4	Boston Celtics (1) (18, 16–2)	K. C. Jones
1987	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (21, 10–11)	Pat Riley	4–2	Boston Celtics (1) (19, 16–3)	K. C. Jones
1988	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (22, 11–11)	Pat Riley	4–3	Detroit Pistons (2) (3, 0–3)	Chuck Daly
1989	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (23, 11–12)	Pat Riley	0–4	Detroit Pistons (1) (4, 1–3)	Chuck Daly
1990	Portland Trail Blazers (3) (2, 1–1)	Rick Adelman	1–4	Detroit Pistons (1) (5, 2–3)	Chuck Daly
1991	Los Angeles Lakers (3) (24, 11–13)	Mike Dunleavy	1–4	Chicago Bulls (1) (1, 1–0)	Phil Jackson
1992	Portland Trail Blazers (1) (3, 1–2)	Rick Adelman	2–4	Chicago Bulls (1) (2, 2–0)	Phil Jackson
1993	Phoenix Suns (1) (2, 0–2)	Paul Westphal	2–4	Chicago Bulls (2) (3, 3–0)	Phil Jackson
1994	Houston Rockets (2) (3, 1–2)	Rudy Tomjanovich	4–3	New York Knicks (2) (7, 2–5)	Pat Riley
1995	Houston Rockets (6) (4, 2–2)	Rudy Tomjanovich	4–0	Orlando Magic (1) (1, 0–1)	Brian Hill
1996	Seattle SuperSonics (1) (3, 1–2)	George Karl	2–4	Chicago Bulls (1) (4, 4–0)	Phil Jackson
1997	Utah Jazz (1) (1, 0–1)	Jerry Sloan	2–4	Chicago Bulls (1) (5, 5–0)	Phil Jackson
1998	Utah Jazz (1) (2, 0–2)	Jerry Sloan	2–4	Chicago Bulls (1) (6, 6–0)	Phil Jackson
1999	San Antonio Spurs (1) (1, 1–0)	Gregg Popovich	4–1	New York Knicks (8) (8, 2–6)	Jeff Van Gundy
2000	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (25, 12–13)	Phil Jackson	4–2	Indiana Pacers (1) (1, 0–1)	Larry Bird
2001	Los Angeles Lakers (2) (26, 13–13)	Phil Jackson	4–1	Philadelphia 76ers (1) (9, 3–6)	Larry Brown
2002	Los Angeles Lakers (3) (27, 14–13)	Phil Jackson	4–0	New Jersey Nets (1) (1, 0–1)	Byron Scott
2003	San Antonio Spurs (1) (2, 2–0)	Gregg Popovich	4–2	New Jersey Nets (2) (2, 0–2)	Byron Scott
2004	Los Angeles Lakers (2) (28, 14–14)	Phil Jackson	1–4	Detroit Pistons (3) (6, 3–3)	Larry Brown
2005	San Antonio Spurs (2) (3, 3–0)	Gregg Popovich	4–3	Detroit Pistons (2) (7, 3–4)	Larry Brown
2006	Dallas Mavericks (4) (1, 0–1)	Avery Johnson	2–4	Miami Heat (2) (1, 1–0)	Pat Riley
2007	San Antonio Spurs (3) (4, 4–0)	Gregg Popovich	4–0	Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (1, 0–1)	Mike Brown
2008	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (29, 14–15)	Phil Jackson	2–4	Boston Celtics (1) (20, 17–3)	Doc Rivers
2009	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (30, 15–15)	Phil Jackson	4–1	Orlando Magic (3) (2, 0–2)	Stan Van Gundy
2010	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (31, 16–15)	Phil Jackson	4–3	Boston Celtics (4) (21, 17–4)	Doc Rivers
2011	Dallas Mavericks (3) (2, 1–1)	Rick Carlisle	4–2	Miami Heat (2) (2, 1–1)	Erik Spoelstra
2012	Oklahoma City Thunder (2) (4, 1–3)	Scott Brooks	1–4	Miami Heat (2) (3, 2–1)	Erik Spoelstra
2013	San Antonio Spurs (2) (5, 4–1)	Gregg Popovich	3–4	Miami Heat (1) (4, 3–1)	Erik Spoelstra
2014	San Antonio Spurs (1) (6, 5–1)	Gregg Popovich	4–1	Miami Heat (2) (5, 3–2)	Erik Spoelstra
2015	Golden State Warriors (1) (7, 4–3)	Steve Kerr	4–2	Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (2, 0–2)	David Blatt
2016	Golden State Warriors (1) (8, 4–4)	Steve Kerr	3–4	Cleveland Cavaliers (1) (3, 1–2)	Tyronn Lue
2017	Golden State Warriors (1) (9, 5–4)	Steve Kerr	4–1	Cleveland Cavaliers (2) (4, 1–3)	Tyronn Lue
2018	Golden State Warriors (2) (10, 6–4)	Steve Kerr	4–0	Cleveland Cavaliers (4) (5, 1–4)	Tyronn Lue
2019	Golden State Warriors (1) (11, 6–5)	Steve Kerr	2–4	Toronto Raptors (2) (1, 1–0)	Nick Nurse
2020	Los Angeles Lakers (1) (32, 17–15)	Frank Vogel	4–2	Miami Heat (5) (6, 3–3)	Erik Spoelstra

Results by teams

Teams	Win	Loss	Total	Year(s) won	Year(s) lost
Los Angeles Lakers	17	15	32	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
Boston Celtics	17	4	21	1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008	1958, 1985, 1987, 2010
Golden State Warriors	6	5	11	1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018	1948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019
Chicago Bulls	6	0	6	1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998	—
San Antonio Spurs	5	1	6	1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014	2013
Philadelphia 76ers	3	6	9	1955, 1967, 1983	1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001
Detroit Pistons	3	4	7	1989, 1990, 2004	1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
Miami Heat	3	3	6	2006, 2012, 2013	2011, 2014, 2020
New York Knicks	2	6	8	1970, 1973	1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999
Houston Rockets	2	2	4	1994, 1995	1981, 1986
Cleveland Cavaliers	1	4	5	2016	2007, 2015, 2017, 2018
Atlanta Hawks	1	3	4	1958	1957, 1960, 1961
Washington Wizards	1	3	4	1978	1971, 1975, 1979
Oklahoma City Thunder	1	3	4	1979	1978, 1996, 2012
Portland Trail Blazers	1	2	3	1977	1990, 1992
Milwaukee Bucks	1	1	2	1971	1974
Dallas Mavericks	1	1	2	2011	2006
Baltimore Bullets (original)(folded in 1954)	1	0	1	1948	—
Sacramento Kings	1	0	1	1951	—
Toronto Raptors	1	0	1	2019	—
Phoenix Suns	0	2	2	—	1976, 1993
Utah Jazz	0	2	2	—	1997, 1998
Brooklyn Nets	0	2	2	—	2002, 2003
Orlando Magic	0	2	2	—	1995, 2009
Chicago Stags (folded in 1950)	0	1	1	—	1947
Washington Capitols (foldedin 1951)	0	1	1	—	1949
Indiana Pacers	0	1	1	—	2000
Charlotte Hornets	—	—	—
Denver Nuggets	—	—	—
Los Angeles Clippers	—	—	—
Memphis Grizzlies	—	—	—
Minnesota Timberwolves	—	—	—
New Orleans Pelicans	—	—	—

Frequent matchups

Count	Matchup	Record	Years
12	Boston Celtics vs Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers	Celtics, 9–3	1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2010
6	Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers vs Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers	Lakers, 5–1	1950, 1954, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001
5	Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks	Lakers, 3–2	1952, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973
4	St. Louis Hawks (Atlanta Hawks) vs Boston Celtics	Celtics, 3–1	1957, 1958, 1960, 1961
4	Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors	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