Helena Frye
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference compete in a best-of-seven format to determine the NBA champion. The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any team in the league, with 18 wins. The Philadelphia Warriors won the inaugural NBA championship in 1947, and the Lakers became the first team to repeat as champions in 1950. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the most recent champions, winning their first championship in 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Format | Single-elimination tournament with four rounds |
| Seeding | Based on regular season records |
| Top Seeds | Top six seeds get byes in the first round |
| Champion | Winner receives the Big 12 Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament |
| Location | Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri |
| Timing | Early March, every year since 1997 |
| Past Winners | Kansas (2023), Baylor (2022), Kansas (2021), Houston (2025) |
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What You'll Learn
- The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series
- The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference champions play each other
- The team with the better regular season record gets home-court advantage
- The winners are awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
- The NBA Finals was initially structured in a 2-2-1-1-1 format
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series
The NBA Finals was initially structured in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, where the first two and last two games of the series were played at the arena of the team with the better regular-season record, giving them home-court advantage. This format was changed to a 2–3–2 format in 1985 to reduce travel. However, in 2014, the NBA reverted to the original 2–2–1–1–1 format.
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships of any team, with 18 titles. They won 11 of the 12 NBA Finals they reached between the 1956–57 and 1968–69 seasons, including eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. The Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers have also been a dominant force in the NBA, winning the inaugural championship in 1950 and becoming the first team to three-peat from 1952 to 1954.
The most recent NBA champions as of 2025 are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first championship since 1979. The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to claim the 2025 NBA Finals and take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
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The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference champions play each other
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is held at the end of the postseason and is played in a best-of-seven format. The NBA Finals sees the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference play against each other. The winners of this series receive the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977.
The NBA was first founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The BAA teams were initially divided into the Eastern Division and the Western Division. The first BAA Finals took place in April 1947, with the Philadelphia Warriors defeating the Chicago Stags. The following season, the Warriors returned to the Finals but were defeated by the Baltimore Bullets.
In 1949, the BAA realigned itself into three divisions, adding the Central Division. However, this format was short-lived, and the league reverted to the two-division format in 1951. This format remained until 1970 when the NBA transitioned into a structure consisting of two conferences, each comprising two divisions. The winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences then competed in the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics have been the most successful team in the NBA, having won 18 championships. The Lakers have also been dominant, winning the inaugural NBA championship in 1950 and going on to secure multiple titles. The most recent NBA champions as of 2025 are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first championship since 1979.
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The team with the better regular season record gets home-court advantage
Home-court advantage is a well-known concept in basketball, and teams compete fiercely during the regular season to attain this advantage for the playoffs. The team with the better regular-season record gets home-court advantage, which can significantly impact the outcome of a series. Playing in a familiar environment, having the support of loyal fans, and avoiding travel fatigue are all factors that contribute to enhanced player performance.
Historically, the NBA's home team won 60% of its regular-season games from 2000-2013, clearly illustrating the significance of home-court advantage. While the percentage has dipped in recent years, with road teams improving their winning percentages, home-court advantage still plays a crucial role in the game. In a 7-game series, the team with home-court advantage gets to host Game 7, which can be a decisive factor. Over the past decade, teams with home-court advantage have won 75% of 7-game series, demonstrating the impact of playing in front of a home crowd in crucial games.
The benefits of home-court advantage extend beyond the game itself. The psychological impact of playing at home cannot be understated, as players believe that it gives them an edge. This self-sustaining placebo effect can influence player performance and further tilt the odds in favour of the home team. Additionally, the home team enjoys the comforts of home-cooked meals, sleeping in their own beds, and other advantages that come with playing in familiar surroundings.
While the importance of home-court advantage has been questioned in recent years, particularly with the rise of 3-point shooting and its impact on game dynamics, it remains a significant factor in the NBA. Teams still strive to improve their regular-season records to attain home-court advantage during the playoffs. In conclusion, the team with the better regular-season record gains a strategic advantage by securing home-court advantage, which can enhance their chances of winning a series or even the entire postseason.
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The winners are awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference compete in a best-of-seven format to determine the champion. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, first awarded in 1977. The trophy was originally named the Walter A. Brown Trophy and was renamed in 1984 to honour former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984. The Boston Celtics were the inaugural winners of the renamed trophy, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games in the 1984 NBA Finals.
The Larry O'Brien Trophy has undergone several design changes over the years. The current design, created by artist Victor Solomon for the NBA's 75th anniversary season, features two discs as its base, replacing the previous square foundation. The championship team maintains permanent possession of the trophy, and the year and winning team names are engraved on it. The trophy is often displayed prominently in the winning team's arena.
The NBA has actively promoted the O'Brien Trophy in recent years to increase its recognition and iconic status. The trophy has been featured on logos, toured around the states of winning teams, and showcased in various cities during the NBA Legends Tour. The Larry O'Brien Trophy has also made international appearances, such as during the NBA Madness Asia Tour in Hong Kong in 2007.
The most recent NBA champions as of 2025 are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first championship since 1979. The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships, with 18 titles.
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The NBA Finals was initially structured in a 2-2-1-1-1 format
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. All NBA Finals are played in a best-of-seven format and contested between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences.
In 1985, to reduce the amount of cross-country travel, the format was changed to 2-3-2. However, in 2014, the 2-2-1-1-1 format was restored and remains in place today.
In the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged victorious, defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven games. This was the Thunder's first championship since 1979, when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven format and is contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The team with the better regular-season record hosts the first two games and the other team hosts the next two games. If needed, the remaining three are played at each team's home arena alternately, starting with the arena of the team with the better regular-season record.
The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977.
The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any team in the league, with 18 wins.
The Lakers won the inaugural NBA championship in 1950.
