Helena Frye
The NBA Finals, the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association, is a highly anticipated event in the basketball calendar. The Eastern and Western Conference champions go head-to-head in a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion, with the winning team awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The NBA Finals have a rich history, with the Boston Celtics holding the most titles to date, and notable appearances from the Lakers, Bulls, and Suns. The 2024-25 NBA season kicked off in October, with the Emirates Cup Finals taking place in December, and the NBA Finals commencing in June 2025, with the Indiana Pacers facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the 2024-25 NBA Finals | June 5, 2025 |
| Teams playing in the 2024-25 NBA Finals | Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Time of the first game of the 2024-25 NBA Finals | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Channel broadcasting the 2024-25 NBA Finals | ABC |
| Number of games in the series | Best-of-seven |
| Number of franchises that have won the NBA Finals | 21 |
| Team with the most wins in the NBA Finals | Boston Celtics (18) |
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What You'll Learn
The NBA Finals schedule
The NBA Finals are the culmination of the NBA Playoffs, which begin shortly after the regular season ends in mid-April. The 2025 NBA Finals will be presented by YouTube TV and will be broadcast exclusively on ABC.
Game 1: Thursday, June 5 – Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: Sunday, June 8 – Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: Wednesday, June 11 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: Friday, June 13 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Monday, June 16 – Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET*
Game 6: Thursday, June 19 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET*
Game 7: Sunday, June 22 – Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. ET*
If necessary
The NBA season schedule includes the regular season, the NBA Cup, the All-Star game, and the Playoffs, which lead to the NBA Finals. The 2024-25 NBA season schedule began on October 22, 2024, and the 2025 Playoffs began on April 19, 2025.
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Boston Celtics: the most successful team
The NBA Finals typically take place in June, with the 2025 NBA Finals kicking off on June 5.
The Boston Celtics are commonly regarded as the most successful team in the history of the NBA. Founded in 1946, the Celtics are one of the league's original eight teams and hold the record for the most NBA championships won, with 18. They also hold the record for the most wins of any NBA franchise.
The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s, after the team acquired Bill Russell in 1956. Led by Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. The Celtics have a notable rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are second in NBA history with 17 championships. The two teams have played each other a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, with the Celtics winning nine of those matchups.
The Celtics' success has been attributed to their talented players and coaches. Red Auerbach, the most successful franchise head coach, won 9 NBA championships with the team. Celtics legend Bill Russell led the team to 2 NBA championships while playing and coaching simultaneously. Additionally, 41 members of the Basketball Hall of Fame have played for the Celtics at least once in their careers, with four players (Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird) winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Despite some setbacks and changes in personnel over the years, the Boston Celtics remain a prominent force in the NBA, with a rich history of success and a dedicated fan base in Boston and beyond.
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The Minneapolis Lakers: the early dominance
The NBA Finals are set to begin on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The games will be televised on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and truTV.
The Minneapolis Lakers, now known as the Los Angeles Lakers, are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. The team was founded in 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and played in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1946–47 season as the Detroit Gems. After finishing last in the league that season, the team was sold to Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen of Minnesota, who relocated it to Minneapolis and renamed it the Lakers, inspired by the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
The Lakers quickly rose to prominence in their new home. In the 1947 dispersal draft, they selected center George Mikan, who became one of the greatest players of his era. With Mikan leading the way, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship. They then joined the rival Basketball Association of America (BAA), where they continued their success by winning the 1949 BAA championship. This marked the beginning of the Lakers' dynasty, as they went on to dominate the early years of professional basketball.
The Minneapolis Lakers were characterized by their strong roster, which included players like Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, and Elgin Baylor. Mikan, in particular, dominated the franchise's early years, leading the team to five championships between 1949 and 1954. During this period, the Lakers established themselves as one of the most successful teams in the NBA, setting the foundation for their long and illustrious history.
Following their initial success, the Lakers continued to be a force to be reckoned with. They remained competitive throughout the 1950s, facing off against rivals like the Boston Celtics. The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics would go on to define much of the NBA's history, with the two teams meeting a record 12 times in the NBA Finals. The Lakers' early dominance in Minneapolis laid the groundwork for their future success, including their championship wins in Los Angeles, where they relocated before the 1960 season due to financial difficulties.
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The format of the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The format of the NBA Finals works as follows:
The Playoffs
The NBA Playoffs consist of the top six teams from each of the two conferences, ranked by winning percentage. These teams automatically advance to the playoffs. Teams ranked seventh through to tenth compete in the NBA play-in tournament for the seventh and eighth seeds.
The Conferences
Each conference has three divisions of five teams each. The winner of each division is guaranteed a top-four playoff seed.
The Series
The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion. The series is played in the 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while their opponent hosts games 3, 4, and 6. Games 5, 6, and 7 are played if needed.
The Finals
The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference champions then play each other in the NBA Finals. The team that wins the series is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
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Where to watch the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals air on a variety of channels and platforms, ensuring that fans have multiple options for watching the games. The official broadcast partners for the NBA Finals include ABC, ESPN, TNT, and truTV, with streaming options available on ESPN+ and MAX. Additionally, the NBA TV app offers access to almost every game during the regular season and playoffs. Local networks in the teams' home cities also broadcast the games due to their broadcast deals with the respective teams.
For those who prefer watching on ABC, the network has been airing the NBA Finals for viewers to easily tune in and catch all the action. ABC is airing Game 1 through Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, providing comprehensive coverage of the series.
Streaming options are also available for viewers who prefer to watch the NBA Finals online. The ESPN App provides streaming access to the games, along with ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes for listeners and Spanish-speaking audiences, respectively. Additionally, the NBA App offers streaming on various devices, including iOS, VisionOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (in select countries), Roku (in select countries), Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick, Hisense, Comcast, PlayStation 4, and 5 (in select countries), and Peloton.
With the variety of broadcasting and streaming options available, fans of the NBA Finals can conveniently choose their preferred method of viewing, ensuring they don't miss out on any of the highly anticipated basketball action.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA Finals typically start in May or June. The 2025 NBA Finals will begin on June 5.
The NBA Finals are an annual event.
The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion.
