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Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (2022)

The Larry O'Brien Trophy, with the updated design introduced in 2022.

This is a list of all the NBA champions. The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the championship series for the NBA held at 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 its home court in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7), which has been used in 19471948, 19501952, 19571970, 19721974, 19761977, 19791984, and 2014–present. It was previously in a 2–3–2 format (the team with the better regular season record plays on its home court in Games 1, 2, 6, and 7) during 1949, 19531955, and 19852013, 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.

As of 2022, the Eastern Conference/Division leads the Western Conference/Division in series won (40–36). 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 76 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 2023, the defending champions are the Denver Nuggets.

Champions[]

National Basketball Association Champions
Season NBA Champions Series Losing Team Most Valuable Player
1947 Philadelphia Warriors logo (1946–1951) Philadelphia Warriors Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Chicago Stags
1948 Defunct Baltimore Bullets logo Baltimore Bullets Western Conference NBA 4–2 Philadelphia Warriors
1949 Minneapolis Lakers logo Minneapolis Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Washington Capitols
1950 Minneapolis Lakers logo Minneapolis Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Syracuse Nationals
1951 Rochester Royals logo Rochester Royals Western Conference NBA 4–3 New York Knicks
1952 Minneapolis Lakers logo Minneapolis Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–3 New York Knicks
1953 Minneapolis Lakers logo Minneapolis Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–1 New York Knicks
1954 Minneapolis Lakers logo Minneapolis Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–3 Syracuse Nationals
1955 Syracuse Nationals logo Syracuse Nationals Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Fort Wayne Pistons
1956 Philadelphia Warriors logo Philadelphia Warriors Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Fort Wayne Pistons
1957 Boston Celtics logo 1950–1960 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 St. Louis Hawks
1958 St St. Louis Hawks Western Conference NBA 4–2 Boston Celtics
1959 Boston Celtics logo 1950–1960 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–0 Minneapolis Lakers
1960 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 St. Louis Hawks
1961 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 St. Louis Hawks
1962 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers
1963 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers
1964 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 San Francisco Warriors
1965 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers
1966 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers
1967 Philadelphia76ers2 Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 San Francisco Warriors
1968 Boston Celtics logo 1960–1968 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers
1969 Boston Celtics logo 1968–1974 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers Jerry West home jersey Lakers Jerry West SG
1970 New York Knicks logo 1964–79 New York Knicks Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers Willis Reed dark jersey Knicks Willis Reed C
1971 Milwaukee Bucks logo 1968–1993 Milwaukee Bucks Western Conference NBA 4–0 Baltimore Bullets Lew Alcindor Bucks jersey Lew Alcindor C
1972 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1960–1976 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–1 New York Knicks Wilt Chamberlain home jersey Lakers Wilt Chamberlain C
1973 New York Knicks logo 1964–79 New York Knicks Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers Willis Reed dark jersey Knicks Willis Reed C
1974 Boston Celtics logo 1968–1974 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Milwaukee Bucks John Havlicek Celtics jersey John Havlicek SF
1975 GoldenStateWarriorslogo197175 Golden State Warriors Western Conference NBA 4–0 Washington Bullets Rick Barry Warriors jersey Rick Barry SF
1976 Boston Celtics logo 1968–1974 Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Phoenix Suns Jo Jo White dark jersey Celtics Jo Jo White PG
1977 Blazers original Portland Trail Blazers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers Bill Walton Trail Blazers jersey Bill Walton C
1978 Washington Bullets logo 1974–1987 Washington Bullets Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Seattle SuperSonics Wes Unseld Bullets jersey Wes Unseld C
1979 Seattle SuperSonics logo 1975–1995 Seattle SuperSonics Western Conference NBA 4–1 Washington Bullets Dennis Johnson SuperSonics jersey Dennis Johnson SG
1980 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers Magic Johnson home jersey Lakers Magic Johnson PG
1981 Boston Celtics logo (1976-1995) Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Houston Rockets Cedric Maxwell dark jersey Celtics Cedric Maxwell PF
1982 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers Magic Johnson home jersey Lakers Magic Johnson PG
1983 Philadelphia 76ers logo Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference NBA 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers Moses Malone 76ers Jersey Moses Malone C
1984 Boston Celtics logo (1976-1995) Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers Larry Bird dark jersey Celtics Larry Bird SF
1985 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Boston Celtics Kareem Abdul-Jabbar home jersey Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar C
1986 Boston Celtics logo (1976-1995) Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Houston Rockets Larry Bird dark jersey Celtics Larry Bird SF
1987 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Boston Celtics Magic Johnson home jersey Lakers Magic Johnson PG
1988 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–3 Detroit Pistons James Worthy home jersey Lakers James Worthy PF
1989 Lgv5ssjmmchyoe66kkvh0tlzd Detroit Pistons Eastern Conference NBA 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers Joe Dumars dark jersey Pistons Joe Dumars SG
1990 Lgv5ssjmmchyoe66kkvh0tlzd Detroit Pistons Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Portland Trail Blazers Isiah Thomas dark jersey Pistons Isiah Thomas PG
1991 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1992 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Portland Trail Blazers Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1993 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Phoenix Suns Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1994 Houston Rockets logo 1972–1995. Houston Rockets Western Conference NBA 4–3 New York Knicks Hakeem Olajuwon dark jersey Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon C
1995 Houston Rockets logo 1972–1995. Houston Rockets Western Conference NBA 4–0 Orlando Magic Hakeem Olajuwon dark jersey Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon C
1996 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Seattle SuperSonics Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1997 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Utah Jazz Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1998 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Utah Jazz Michael Jordan dark jersey Bulls Michael Jordan SG
1999 San Antonio Spurs logo (1989-2002) San Antonio Spurs Western Conference NBA 4–1 New York Knicks Tim Duncan dark jersey Spurs Tim Duncan PF
2000 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Indiana Pacers Shaquille O'Neal home jersey Lakers Shaquille O'Neal C
2001 Los Angeles Lakers logo 1976–2001 Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–1 Philadelphia 76ers Shaquille O'Neal home jersey Lakers Shaquille O'Neal C
2002 Los Angeles Lakers logo Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–0 New Jersey Nets Shaquille O'Neal home jersey Lakers Shaquille O'Neal C
2003 San Antonio Spurs logo San Antonio Spurs Western Conference NBA 4–2 New Jersey Nets Tim Duncan dark jersey Spurs Tim Duncan PF
2004 DetroitPistonsLogo0105 Detroit Pistons Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers Chauncey Billups dark jersey Pistons Chauncey Billups PG
2005 San Antonio Spurs logo San Antonio Spurs Western Conference NBA 4–3 Detroit Pistons Tim Duncan dark jersey Spurs Tim Duncan PF
2006 Miami Heat Miami Heat Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Dallas Mavericks Dwyane Wade dark jersey Heat Dwyane Wade SG
2007 San Antonio Spurs logo San Antonio Spurs Western Conference NBA 4–0 Cleveland Cavaliers Tony Parker dark jersey Spurs Tony Parker PG
2008 Boston Celtics logo Boston Celtics Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers Paul Pierce dark jersey Celtics Paul Pierce SG
2009 Los Angeles Lakers logo Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–1 Orlando Magic Kobe Bryant home jersey Lakers Kobe Bryant SG
2010 Los Angeles Lakers logo Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–3 Boston Celtics Kobe Bryant home jersey Lakers Kobe Bryant SG
2011 Dallas Mavericks logo Dallas Mavericks Western Conference NBA 4–2 Miami Heat Dirk Nowitski home jersey Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki PF
2012 Miami Heat Miami Heat Eastern Conference NBA 4–1 Oklahoma City Thunder LeBron James home jersey Heat LeBron James SF
2013 Miami Heat Miami Heat Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 San Antonio Spurs LeBron James home jersey Heat LeBron James SF
2014 San Antonio Spurs logo San Antonio Spurs Western Conference NBA 4–1 Miami Heat Kawhi Leonard dark jersey Spurs Kawhi Leonard SF
2015 GS Warriors logo 2010–2019 Golden State Warriors Western Conference NBA 4–2 Cleveland Cavaliers Andre Iguodala Warriors Jersey Andre Iguodala SF
2016 Cleveland-Cavaliers-Logo Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference NBA 4–3 Golden State Warriors LeBron James Cavs jersey 2016 LeBron James SF
2017 GS Warriors logo 2010–2019 Golden State Warriors Western Conference NBA 4–1 Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Durant Warriors Jersey Kevin Durant SF
2018 GS Warriors logo 2010–2019 Golden State Warriors Western Conference NBA 4–0 Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Durant Warriors Jersey Kevin Durant SF
2019 TorontoRaptorsnewlogo Toronto Raptors Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Golden State Warriors Kawhi Leonard Raptors Jersey Kawhi Leonard SF
2020 Los Angeles Lakers logo Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference NBA 4–2 Miami Heat LeBron James Lakers Jersey LeBron James SF
2021 MilwaukeeBucksnewlogo Milwaukee Bucks Eastern Conference NBA 4–2 Phoenix Suns Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks Jersey Giannis Antetokounmpo SF/PF
2022 Golden State Warriors logo Golden State Warriors Western Conference NBA 4–2 Boston Celtics Stephen Curry jersey Stephen Curry PG
2023 Denver Nuggets logo Denver Nuggets Western Conference NBA 4–1 Miami Heat Nikola Jokic jersey Nikola Jokić C

Frequent matchups[]

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 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
2 Boston Celtics vs San Francisco/Golden State Warriors Tied, 1–1 1964, 2022
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