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The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held annually at the end of its postseason. The NBA Finals is contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, in a best-of-seven format. The winner of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977. The NBA Finals is considered the highest level of basketball in the United States and Canada and is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Championship | NBA Finals |
| Other Names | NBA World Championship Series (WCS), BAA Finals, Showdown '83, Showdown '84, The LeBron Games, Michael Jordan Annual Extravaganza |
| Governing Body | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Level | Highest level of basketball in the United States and Canada |
| Format | Best-of-seven |
| Teams | Winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Previous Name of Trophy | Walter A. Brown Trophy |
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What You'll Learn
The NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA Finals wins, with 18 total. The Minneapolis Lakers dominated the early years of the NBA, winning five of the first ten titles. The Philadelphia Warriors won the inaugural championship in 1947 and another in 1956. The Lakers won the first NBA championship in 1950, becoming the first team to repeat as champions. The Boston Celtics won 11 of the 12 NBA Finals they reached during 13 seasons (1956–57 to 1968–69), including eight straight NBA championships from 1959 to 1966.
The 2024 NBA champions were the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks. The 2025 NBA Finals began on June 5, 2025, with Game 1 between the Thunder and the Pacers or Knicks.
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The Larry O'Brien Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the NBA Finals. The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The Larry O'Brien Trophy has been awarded to the winning team since 1977, when it replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy. The trophy was renamed in 1984 to honour former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984.
The NBA playoffs consist of a 16-team bracket, where teams play consecutive best-of-seven-game series in each round. The six teams in each conference (Eastern and Western) with the best regular-season records automatically qualify and are seeded sequentially for the postseason. The final two seeds in each conference are determined by a series of play-in games between the teams with the 7th to 10th best regular-season records.
In recent years, the NBA has actively promoted the O'Brien Trophy to generate more recognition and iconic status for the award. The trophy has been showcased in various cities and toured the state of the winning team. It has also appeared on logos for the NBA Finals and has its own social media accounts.
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The BAA Finals
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) held its inaugural season in 1946, completing it in April 1947. The 1947 BAA Finals was the championship round of playoffs following the BAA's 1946–47 season. The Philadelphia Warriors of the Eastern Division faced the Chicago Stags of the Western Division for the inaugural championship. The Warriors won the series in five games. The Philadelphia Warriors also won multiple championships, including the inaugural title in 1947 and another in 1956.
The 1948 BAA Finals were reached again by the Warriors, but they lost to the now-defunct Baltimore Bullets. The Bullets are the only defunct team to win a championship. In 1948, the Minneapolis Lakers won the championship of the rival National Basketball League (NBL) before joining the BAA.
The 1949 BAA Finals were the championship round following the BAA's 1948–49 season, its third and last. The Minneapolis Lakers, led by future Hall of Famer George Mikan, defeated the Red Auerbach-coached Washington Capitals. The BAA then merged with the NBL to form the National Basketball Association (NBA) before the 1949–50 season. The Lakers won the inaugural NBA championship in 1950, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships.
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The Boston Celtics
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the championship series for the NBA, held at the end of its postseason. The NBA Finals follow a best-of-seven format and are contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
The Celtics are widely regarded as the most successful team in NBA history. They hold the record for the most NBA championships won, with 18, and the most recorded wins of any NBA franchise. The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s after the team acquired Bill Russell in 1956, who became the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Led by Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. The Celtics of the late 1950s and 1960s are considered one of the most dominant teams of all time, winning eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966.
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The Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers began as the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1946. The following year, the team moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was renamed the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America (BAA), where they won the 1949 BAA championship. After the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA in 1949, the Lakers won four of the next five NBA championships.
In the 1960s, the Lakers made the NBA Finals six times but lost every series to the Boston Celtics, beginning a long and storied rivalry. The Lakers acquired four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 and won their sixth NBA title in 1972 under coach Bill Sharman. The team traded for superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after Chamberlain's retirement. In 1979, Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers and drafted Magic Johnson first overall in the NBA draft. The combination of Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar provided the Lakers with superstars to anchor their roster.
The Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987. While the Celtics won in 1984, the Lakers came out on top in 1985 and 1987. The Lakers defended their title in the 1988 NBA Finals, defeating the Detroit Pistons in seven games. The Lakers have continued their success in recent years, winning championships in 2009, 2010, and 2020.
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is held at the conclusion of its postseason. The NBA Finals follow a best-of-seven format and are contested between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences. The winning team receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, awarded since 1977.
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Frequently asked questions
The basketball championship is called the NBA Finals.
The winner of the NBA Finals receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, named after former league commissioner Larry O'Brien.
The NBA Finals is played in a best-of-seven format.
Some teams that have won the NBA Finals include the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers.
The basketball championship was officially called the NBA Finals starting in 1985, although it was commonly referred to as such before then. Prior to that, it was known as the NBA World Championship Series (WCS) or simply the NBA.
