Andrew Pace
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held annually after the postseason. The NBA playoffs consist of a 16-team bracket wherein the teams play consecutive best-of-seven-game series in each round. The Boston Celtics currently hold the most NBA titles with 18, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers with 17. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has won the most NCAA Division I men's basketball championships with 11 titles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Championship series full name | National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals |
| Format | Best-of-seven |
| Teams | Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference |
| Current champions | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Most recent championship year | 2024-25 |
| Team with most championships | Boston Celtics (18) |
| Player with most championship rings | Bill Russell (11) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The NBA Finals
The first NBA championship was won by the Lakers in 1950, who became the first team to repeat as champions. The Boston Celtics dominated the NBA's early years, winning 11 of the 12 NBA Finals they reached from 1956 to 1969, including eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. The Celtics' dynasty was interrupted only by the Philadelphia Warriors, who won the inaugural NBA Finals in 1947 and again in 1956.
More recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals, becoming the second-youngest team to win an NBA championship. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the Finals MVP, the Thunder defeated the Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series.
The Official High School Basketball Rulebook: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Larry O'Brien Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is awarded annually by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the winner of the NBA Finals. The trophy depicts a basketball over a hoop and basket. It was first awarded in 1977 and was then known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy, after its predecessor. The name of the trophy was changed in 1984 to honour former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984. Before joining the NBA, O'Brien was the United States postmaster general under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965 to 1968.
The design of the Larry O'Brien Trophy has undergone some changes over the years. The inaugural winners of the trophy, then known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy, were the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. The Boston Celtics were the first team to win the trophy after it was renamed in 1984, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. In 2023, the trophy design was changed again as part of the NBA's 75th-anniversary season. The new design featured two discs replacing the square foundation of the previous design, which was considered awkward to hold.
Babolat Badminton Rackets: Are They Worth the Hype?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Eastern Conference vs Western Conference
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The NBA Finals are played in a best-of-seven format and are contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. From 1946 to 1949, the league was known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), and the playoffs were a three-stage tournament where the two semifinal winners played each other in the finals.
The Eastern Conference and the Western Conference were formerly known as Divisions before 1970. In 1950, the Eastern Division champion faced the winner between the Western and Central Division champions. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977. From 1947 to 1976, the winning team was awarded the Walter A. Brown Trophy.
As of 2025, the Eastern champions have a 41–38 advantage in NBA titles over the Western champions. The most recent champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won their first championship since 1979 when they were known as the Seattle Supersonics. Oklahoma City is the second-youngest team to win an NBA championship, behind the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.
The NBA Standings for the 2024-25 season show that teams seeded 7-10 in each conference will compete in a play-in tournament at the end of the regular season.
The Ideal Mesh Size for Basketball Nets
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Minneapolis Lakers
The Lakers played in the National Basketball League (NBL) and, in their first season, had the worst record in the league. However, this gave them the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to select George Mikan, who became one of the greatest centres of his time. With Mikan on the team, the Lakers went on to enjoy a successful period, finishing first in the 1947-48 season with a 43-17 record. They finished second in the 1948-49 season, before winning the NBA Finals in 1949-50. This was the only time that the Lakers won the NBA championship while based in Minneapolis, although they did finish first in their division in several subsequent seasons.
In 1957, the team was nearly sold to a group of businessmen from St. Louis, but local interests were able to keep the team in Minneapolis. However, in 1958, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, becoming the NBA's first West Coast team. Minneapolis was left without an NBA franchise until the debut of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989.
Since their relocation to Los Angeles, the Lakers have become one of the most successful NBA franchises, winning 17 NBA championships, second only to the Boston Celtics. They hold the record for most NBA Finals appearances with 32.
Appalachian State: Basketball School or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder is the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues based in the state of Oklahoma. The team was originally established as the Seattle SuperSonics, an expansion team that joined the NBA for the 1967–68 season. The SuperSonics relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City and were rebranded as the Thunder on July 3, 2008. The Thunder participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League, featuring their second-year players, potential free agents, and rookies.
In the 2009–10 season, the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth. They won their first division title as the Thunder in the 2010–11 season and their first Western Conference championship as the Thunder in the 2011–12 season. They appeared in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since 1996 when the team was based in Seattle. However, they lost the series to the Miami Heat, 4–1.
In the 2024–25 season, the Thunder had a record-breaking season. On March 27, 2025, they set a franchise record for total wins in a season at 61, beating their previous record of 60 wins. They finished the season with the top spot in the league with 68 wins. On May 8, they broke the record for most points in the first half of an NBA playoff game with 87 points. The Thunder advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City. This was also the franchise's second championship, with the first one won in 1979 when the team was still based in Seattle.
The Thunder's success in the 2024–25 season was largely due to their young and talented roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team's star player, was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player and was also named to the All-NBA first team. Jalen Williams also had an impressive season, making the All-NBA third team. The Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, also contributed to the team's success, providing a platform for the development of young players and potential free agents.
Scraping Basketball Reference: Legal or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
All NBA Finals are played in a best-of-seven format.
The NBA Finals are held annually at the conclusion of the postseason.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the current NBA champions as of 2025.
The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
As of 2025, the Eastern champions have won 41 NBA titles, while the Western champions have won 38.
