Ayrton Oneill
In the history of the NBA, there have been 77 NBA Finals, with only nine matchups resulting in a sweep—an 11.6% rate. The most recent sweep occurred in 2018 when the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors, led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, swept the LeBron James-led Cavaliers. This was the first sweep since 2007, when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Cavaliers. The Detroit Pistons swept the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, and the Lakers suffered another sweep in 1983 at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Boston Celtics, Minneapolis Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Golden State Warriors are among the other teams to have achieved sweeps in the NBA Finals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sweeps in NBA Finals history | 10 |
| First sweep | 1959 |
| Teams involved in the first sweep | Boston Celtics and Minneapolis Lakers |
| Latest sweep | 2018 |
| Teams involved in the latest sweep | Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers |
| MVP of the latest sweep | Kevin Durant |
| Number of sweeps by the Golden State Warriors | 2 |
| Consecutive sweeps by the Lakers | 3 |
| Year of the Lakers' consecutive sweeps | 2002 |
| Number of sweeps since 1947 | 9 |
| Number of games the Mavericks won against the Celtics in 2024 to avoid being swept | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
The Boston Celtics' historic run
The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, with a history that includes some of the game's all-time greats, such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale. The Celtics have appeared in the NBA Finals an impressive 23 times, winning 17 or 18 of those appearances.
The Celtics enjoyed a period of dominance from the late 1950s through the 1960s, winning 11 titles in 13 seasons, starting with the 1957 Finals and ending with the 1969 Finals. This era, led by Bill Russell, included other talented players such as Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, and Sam Jones, and was coached by the legendary Red Auerbach. The Celtics' success continued into the 1970s and 1980s, with the team making the NBA Finals and taking home the championship on several occasions.
The Celtics have continued to be a force in the NBA into the 21st century, appearing in the NBA Finals five times since 2008 and winning twice, in 2008 and 2024. The Celtics' most recent trip to the NBA Finals was in 2022, when they fell to the Golden State Warriors, led by Stephen Curry.
While the Boston Celtics have never swept the Finals in their history, they came close in 2024 when they took a 3-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Mavericks avoided the sweep by winning the next two games. The Celtics then closed out the series in Game 6 to claim their most recent NBA championship.
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The Lakers' three-peat
The Los Angeles Lakers completed their fifth 'three-peat' in 2002, winning their third consecutive NBA championship. The iconic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the way for the Lakers, dominating the basketball world at the turn of the century. The 2002 championship was the "three-peat" that coach Pat Riley had sought for Los Angeles since he coined the phrase in 1988. The Lakers easily dismantled the New Jersey Nets 4-0 in the 2002 NBA Finals, with O'Neal being named Finals MVP for the third consecutive time.
The dynamic duo of Bryant and O'Neal joined the Lakers in 1996, and it took them several years to reach their full potential. Their partnership lasted eight years, and despite some personal differences, they displayed brilliant performances on the court together. O'Neal was named All-NBA First Team during each championship run, while Bryant was named to the All-NBA Second Team twice and the All-NBA First Team once.
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The Warriors' dynasty
The Golden State Warriors have swept the NBA Finals twice in their history, first in 1975 and then again in 2018. In 1975, the Warriors swept the Washington Bullets, despite the Bullets having a much better record (60-22) than the Warriors (48-34). The 2018 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, was less surprising as the Warriors, with Kevin Durant, were arguably the best team in NBA history.
The 2018 sweep was the Warriors' third consecutive championship, with the team going 16-1 en route to winning the championship in 2017. The 2016-17 Warriors had the highest net rating in the playoffs since the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2018 championship was also the third title in four years for the Warriors, establishing them as a dynasty.
The Warriors dynasty of the 2010s is often referred to as one of the best teams in NBA history. The core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green started their run in 2015, winning the NBA championship and beginning a streak of five consecutive NBA Finals appearances. The addition of Kevin Durant in 2016 created what many considered a superteam, leading to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018.
The 2017 championship was particularly impressive as the Warriors came back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals against the Cavaliers, the first team in NBA history to do so. Curry, Durant, and Green would all go on to make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, celebrating the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
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The Cavaliers' 2016 comeback
The 2016 NBA Finals saw the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, in seven games. This was Cleveland's first NBA championship in franchise history, and it ended a 52-year drought for the city of Cleveland across major sports. The Cavaliers became the first team in history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit in the finals, making it one of the greatest finals series of all time.
The Warriors took an early lead in the series, winning the first two games. However, the Cavaliers fought back and won the next two, taking the series to 2-2. The Warriors then took Game 5, and the Cavaliers Game 6, setting up a decisive Game 7.
In Game 7, the Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving scored a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left, putting Cleveland ahead 92-89. They went on to defend this lead and win the game 93-89, becoming the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the finals.
LeBron James was voted the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his performance, which included a clutch block in Game 7 on Andre Iguodala. This was James' sixth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, and he became the first player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
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The Phoenix Suns' Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley, nicknamed "Sir Charles", "the Bread Truck", and "the Round Mound of Rebound", played for the Phoenix Suns from 1992 to 1996. Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1992 in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang. Despite his shorter stature compared to typical power forwards, Barkley's strength and aggression made him one of the NBA's best rebounders and scorers.
In his first game with the Suns, Barkley showcased his talent with 37 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. During the 1992-93 season, he averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and a career-high 5.1 assists per game, leading the Suns to a remarkable 62-20 record. Barkley's outstanding performance earned him the league's Most Valuable Player Award, and he was selected for his seventh straight All-Star Game.
Barkley's impact extended beyond the court. His signature Nike sneaker line debuted during the 1993-94 season and became a smash hit, with the Phoenix Suns colorways remaining the most popular even decades later.
During the 1993-94 season, Barkley continued to excel despite battling severe back pains. He started the season by winning the 1993 McDonald's Open in Germany and being named the tournament's MVP. In the NBA, he averaged 21.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, earning his eighth consecutive All-Star Game selection. Despite his injuries, the Suns reached the Western Conference Semifinals, showcasing their resilience as a team.
In the 1995-96 season, Barkley led the Suns in scoring, rebounds, and steals, averaging 23.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and a career-high free-throw percentage. This season marked the conclusion of Barkley's time with the Phoenix Suns, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there have been several sweeps in the NBA Finals. The most recent sweep occurred in 2018 when the Warriors, led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There have been nine sweeps in the NBA Finals since the inception of the league in 1946/1947.
The highest number of games a team has won in a row during the NBA Finals is six. The Golden State Warriors achieved this in 2018.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been swept three times in the NBA Finals, in 1959, 1971, and 1989.
Yes, the Dallas Mavericks avoided being swept by the Boston Celtics in 2024. The Mavericks lost the first three games of the series before winning the next four to win the championship.
