History of NBA Finals in Timeline

The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a best-of-seven series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. The winner is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1976–77 but was still named Walter A. Brown Trophy until 1984. The NBA Finals determines the league champion.

1946: Basketball Association of America founded

In 1946, the Basketball Association of America was founded.

April 1947: Philadelphia Warriors win the 1947 BAA Finals

In April 1947, the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags in the 1947 BAA Finals, marking the end of the Basketball Association of America's inaugural season.

1947: Five franchises to win a championship

From 1947 to 1956, five franchises won a championship.

1948: Minneapolis Lakers win NBL Championship

In 1948, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan, won the championship of the National Basketball League (NBL) before joining the BAA.

1949: Minneapolis Lakers win BAA Championship

In 1949, the Minneapolis Lakers won the third and final BAA championship, defeating the Washington Capitals.

1949: BAA Finals

In 1949, the series was known as the BAA Finals.

1950: Minneapolis Lakers win inaugural NBA Championship

In 1950, the Minneapolis Lakers won the inaugural NBA championship, becoming the first team to repeat as champions after the BAA and NBL merger.

1950: NBA World Championship Series

In 1950, the competition's name changed to NBA World Championship Series.

1951: Rochester Royals defeat New York Knicks in NBA Finals

In 1951, the Rochester Royals defeated the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the only Finals contested between two teams from the same state.

1952: Lakers win NBA Finals

In 1952, The Lakers won the NBA Finals.

1954: Lakers win NBA Finals

In 1954, The Lakers won the NBA Finals.

1956: Five franchises to win a championship

From 1947 to 1956, five franchises won a championship.

1956: Boston Celtics dynasty begins

In 1956, the Boston Celtics began their dynasty, winning 11 of the 12 NBA Finals they reached over 13 seasons.

1956: Philadelphia Warriors win Championship

In 1956, the Philadelphia Warriors won another championship.

1957: Establishment of the Celtics dynasty

In 1957, the Celtics dynasty was established, spearheaded by center Bill Russell, leading to great success for the team.

1959: Boston Celtics dynasty continues

From 1959 through 1966, the Boston Celtics won eight straight NBA championships.

1964: Relocation of teams

By 1964, four of the five franchises that won a championship from 1947-1956 had relocated.

1964: Chamberlain leads Warriors to Western Division championship

In 1964, Wilt Chamberlain led the San Francisco Warriors to a Western Division championship but still failed to conquer the Celtics.

1966: Boston Celtics win eighth straight championship

From 1959 through 1966, the Boston Celtics won eight straight NBA championships.

1966: First Playoff Clash: Celtics vs 76ers

In 1966, the first playoff clash between the Celtics and the 76ers occurred, with Boston winning the series 4–1.

1966: Philadelphia 76ers set wins record

The 1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers had 68 wins

1967: Philadelphia 76ers win the Finals

In 1967, the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Alex Hannum, defeated the Celtics and won the Finals after a tactical change.

1968: Boston Celtics dynasty continues

From 1956-57 to 1968-69, the Boston Celtics won 11 of the 12 NBA Finals they reached.

1968: Boston Celtics overcome 3-1 deficit to win the Finals

In 1968, the Boston Celtics overcame a 3–1 deficit against Philadelphia to reach the Finals and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming NBA champions.

1969: Celtics win NBA Championship against Lakers

In 1969, despite an aging team and injuries, the Celtics qualified for the playoffs and defeated the Lakers in a Game 7 upset, winning their eleventh championship in 13 years.

1969: Last back-to-back NBA Titles

In 1988, the Lakers became the first team to win back-to-back NBA titles since 1969.

1970: New York Knicks win NBA Finals

In 1970, the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals in a classic series against the Lakers, highlighted by Jerry West's 60-foot shot and Willis Reed's inspiring return in Game 7.

1971: Milwaukee Bucks win first title

In 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title.

1974: Celtics win 12th Title

In 1974, the Celtics won their 12th title.

1975: Golden State Warriors sweep the NBA Finals

In 1975, the Golden State Warriors swept the Washington Bullets 4-0 to win the NBA Finals.

1976: Celtics defeat Suns in NBA Finals

In 1976, the Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns in a dramatic Game 5 that went into three overtimes, securing their 13th championship.

1976: Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy replaces Walter A. Brown Trophy

In 1976, the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy as the award given to the NBA champion.

1977: Portland Trail Blazers win first title

In 1977, the Portland Trail Blazers won their first NBA title.

1978: Washington Bullets win first title

In 1978, the Washington Bullets won their first NBA title, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics.

1979: NCAA Championship game between Johnson and Bird

In 1979, the NCAA Championship game between Johnson and Bird had the largest audience for a basketball game.

1979: Seattle SuperSonics win first title

In 1979, the Seattle SuperSonics won their first NBA title, defeating the Washington Bullets in five games.

1980: Lakers win 1980 NBA Finals

In 1980, Rookie Magic Johnson led the Showtime Lakers to victory in the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming the first and only rookie to win the Finals MVP award.

1981: Celtics defeat Rockets in NBA Finals

In 1981, the Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, defeated the Houston Rockets in 6 games to win the NBA Finals.

1982: Lakers defeat 76ers in NBA Finals

In 1982, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by new coach Pat Riley, defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games in the NBA Finals.

1983: 76ers sweep Lakers in NBA Finals

In 1983, the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Moses Malone and Julius Erving, swept the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Finals.

1984: Celtics defeat Lakers in NBA Finals

In 1984, the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 in the NBA Finals, with the final game attracting a large TV audience.

1984: Walter A. Brown Trophy becomes Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy

In 1984, the Walter A. Brown Trophy was renamed the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

1985: Lakers defeat Celtics in NBA Finals

In 1985, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in 6 games to win the NBA Finals, despite losing Game 1 by 34 points.

1985: NBA Finals format change to 2-3-2

In 1985, the NBA Finals format changed to a 2–3–2 format to reduce cross-country travel.

1985: NBA World Championship Series

In 1985, the competition's name was NBA World Championship Series.

1986: NBA Finals

In 1986, the competition's name settled on NBA Finals.

1987: Lakers defeat Celtics in NBA Finals

In 1987, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in 6 games to win the NBA Finals, highlighted by Magic Johnson's hook shot in Game 4.

1988: Lakers win NBA Finals

In 1988, the Los Angeles Lakers defended their title in the NBA Finals, winning the series in 7 games against the Detroit Pistons.

1989: Pistons sweep Lakers in NBA Finals

In 1989, the Detroit Pistons swept the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the previous year's Finals.

1990: Pistons win back-to-back NBA titles

In 1990, the Detroit Pistons won back-to-back NBA titles, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.

1991: Chicago Bulls dynasty begins

In 1991, the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, began their dominance, winning six titles in six Finals appearances until 1998.

1993: Bulls Win Championship After Jordan's 55-Point Game

In 1993, the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, faced Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. Jordan scored 55 points in Game 4, tying Rick Barry for the second-most points in an NBA Finals game. The Bulls clinched the series in Game 6 with a score of 99–98 after John Paxson's three-pointer, marking their third consecutive NBA championship. Following this win in 1993, Jordan retired from basketball.

1994: Houston Rockets Win NBA Title

In 1994, following Jordan's departure, the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, won the NBA title. During 1994, Olajuwon became the only player in history to win the NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season.

1994: Jordan Returns to Basketball Late in the Season

Late in the 1994-95 season, Michael Jordan returned to basketball after his stint in baseball. While he didn't lead the Bulls to the Finals that season, it marked the beginning of his return to pre-retirement form.

1995: Houston Rockets Win NBA Title

In 1995, following Jordan's departure, the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, won the NBA title.

1995: Bulls Dominate, Win Fourth Title

In the 1995–96 season, the Chicago Bulls, with the addition of Dennis Rodman, finished with a regular season record of 72–10. They dominated the playoffs, reaching the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics. After taking a 3–0 lead, the Bulls won Game 6 to secure their fourth NBA title in 1995.

1997: Bulls Defeat Jazz in Finals

In 1997, the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals. Chicago won the sixth game with a winning shot by Steve Kerr, securing the championship.

1998: Chicago Bulls dynasty ends

From 1991 to 1998, The Chicago Bulls won six titles in six Finals appearances.

1998: Bulls Defeat Jazz Again, Win Sixth Championship

In 1998, the Chicago Bulls once again faced the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals. Chicago won the sixth game with a winning shot by Michael Jordan, securing their sixth NBA championship and second three-peat. Following this season in 1998, coach Phil Jackson retired, leading to the departure of key players including Jordan and Pippen.

1999: Spurs Win Championship with Dominant Defense

In 1999, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA championship with a 15–2 playoff record. Their defensive squad allowed only 84.7 points per game in the postseason, the fewest in 30 years. In the Finals, the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks.

2000: Lakers Defeat Pacers in Finals

In 2000, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, which marked the Pacers’ only Finals appearance to date.

2001: Lakers Dominate Playoffs, Win Finals

During their 2001 postseason run, the Los Angeles Lakers swept their first three series and won the NBA Finals against the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers in five games, finishing with an unprecedented 15–1 record.

2002: Hornets Suspend Operations

As a result of the original franchise's relocation to New Orleans, the NBA team in Charlotte suspended operations for the 2002–03 and the 2003–04 seasons.

2002: Lakers Sweep Nets in Finals

In 2002, the Los Angeles Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals.

2003: Hornets Suspend Operations

As a result of the original franchise's relocation to New Orleans, the NBA team in Charlotte suspended operations for the 2002–03 and the 2003–04 seasons.

2003: Spurs Defeat Nets in Finals

In the 2003 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Jersey Nets in six games. In Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals, Tim Duncan nearly recorded a quadruple-double, finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks.

2003: Payton and Malone Sign with Lakers

In the 2003 off-season, veteran stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, joining Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

2004: Bobcats Established

As a result of the original franchise's relocation to New Orleans, the NBA team in Charlotte suspended operations for the 2002–03 and the 2003–04 seasons, before a new team, named the Bobcats, was established for the 2004–05 season.

2004: O'Neal Traded to Heat

Following a fallout with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat in 2004, where he teamed up with Dwyane Wade.

2004: Pistons Defeat Lakers in Finals

In 2004, the Detroit Pistons, coached by Larry Brown, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals, despite the Lakers being heavy favorites.

2005: Spurs Defeat Pistons in Finals

In 2005, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals.

2006: Heat Win Championship

In 2006, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade led the Miami Heat to an NBA championship, defeating the Dallas Mavericks.

2007: Spurs Sweep Cavaliers, Parker Wins MVP

In 2007, the San Antonio Spurs swept the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Tony Parker won the Finals MVP award, becoming the first European-born player to do so in 2007.

2008: Celtics Defeat Lakers in Finals

In 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics, led by Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, defeated the Lakers in six games.

2009: Lakers Win Championship

In 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games.

2010: Heat Form New 'Big Three'

During the 2010 off-season, the Miami Heat re-signed Dwyane Wade and added LeBron James and Chris Bosh via free agency to form a new 'Big Three.'

2010: Lakers Defeat Celtics in Finals

In 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers met the Boston Celtics again in the NBA Finals. The Lakers won the last two games at home to win the series. Head coach Phil Jackson surpassed Red Auerbach's record for most NBA titles of all time with eleven in 2010.

2011: Mavericks Defeat Heat in Finals

In 2011, despite being heavy underdogs, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals.

2013: Heat Repeat as Champions

In 2013, the Miami Heat repeated as NBA champions, defeating the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat staged a comeback in Game 6, which is considered one of the greatest playoff games ever played.

2013: Hornets Renamed Pelicans

In 2013, the original Hornets were renamed the Pelicans and obtained the records during their time in New Orleans and Oklahoma City from 2002 to 2013.

2014: Bobcats Become Charlotte Hornets

In 2014, the Bobcats became the second incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets, and retained the history and records of the Hornets organization from 1988 to 2002.

2014: NBA Finals format reverts to 2-2-1-1-1

In 2014, the NBA Finals format was restored to the original 2–2–1–1–1 format.

2014: Spurs Defeat Heat in Finals

In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in five games in an NBA Finals rematch. This win marked the fifth and final title of Tim Duncan's career.

2014: James Returns to Cavaliers, Forms New 'Big Three'

In the 2014 off-season, LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, teaming up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to form a new 'Big Three'.

2015: Warriors Defeat Cavaliers in Finals

In the 2015 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–2, despite LeBron James' efforts.

2016: Cavaliers Win Championship, End Drought

In the 2016 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, overcame a 3–1 series deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in seven games, ending the city's championship drought. Irving hit a key 3-point shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals.

2017: Warriors Defeat Cavaliers in Finals

In 2017, with the addition of Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors set a playoff record of 15 consecutive wins en route to defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the NBA Finals.

2018: LeBron James Joins Lakers

In 2018, LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers.

2018: YouTube TV Becomes Presenting Sponsor of NBA Finals

In 2018, YouTube TV became the presenting sponsor of the NBA Finals as part of a multiyear partnership.

2018: Warriors Sweep Cavaliers in Finals

In 2018, the Golden State Warriors completed a dominant sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

2018: NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV

Since 2018, the competition has been officially known as the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV due to sponsorship.

2019: Raptors Win First NBA Title

In 2019, the Toronto Raptors, led by Kawhi Leonard, defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games to win their first NBA title. Season-ending injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson impacted the Warriors' performance.

2020: Lakers Win Championship, James Named MVP

In the 2020 NBA Finals, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers against the Miami Heat. The Lakers won the series 4–2, claiming their 17th title. LeBron James was named Finals MVP for the fourth time in his career, becoming the first player to win the award with three different franchises in 2020.

2021: Bucks Defeat Suns in Finals

The 2021 NBA Finals saw the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns in a series that featured no players who had previously won a championship.

2022: Warriors Defeat Celtics in Finals

After missing the playoffs for two years, the Golden State Warriors returned to the 2022 NBA Finals. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games for their fourth championship in eight seasons.

2023: Nuggets Win First NBA Title

In 2023, the Denver Nuggets reached their first NBA Finals in franchise history, defeating the Miami Heat in five games. Nikola Jokić was named Finals MVP.

2024: Celtics Defeat Mavericks in Finals, Win Record 18th Title

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Boston won its record 18th NBA title, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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