Helena Frye
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is an American professional basketball league formed in 1949. The NBA Finals is the championship series for the 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 and Western Conferences. The winner of the series is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The Boston Celtics are the most dominant team in NBA history, having won 18 titles, including the 2024 championship. The 2019-2020 season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concluding in October 2020 with a bubble tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| Champion | Boston Celtics |
| Number of Titles | 18 |
| Format | Best-of-seven |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
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What You'll Learn
Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics have won the most recent NBA championship, claiming their 18th title in the 2024 NBA Finals. This win adds to the Celtics' impressive record, having won 11 of 13 titles from 1956-57 to 1968-69.
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The series is played in a best-of-seven format and sees the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences face off. The Boston Celtics, as the 2024 Eastern Conference champions, faced the Western Conference champions to win the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Celtics' victory in the 2024 NBA Finals further cements their position as one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. With this win, they now hold the record for the most NBA titles of any team in the Eastern Conference.
The Boston Celtics have a rich history in the NBA, with their success spanning several decades. Their early dominance in the 1950s and 1960s was led by centre Bill Russell, who played a pivotal role in securing 11 championships during that era. The Celtics' success continued into the 1980s, with Larry Bird leading the team to three NBA titles during that decade.
The Celtics' victory in the 2024 NBA Finals adds another chapter to their illustrious history, solidifying their status as one of the greatest NBA franchises of all time.
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The 2019-2020 season was delayed due to COVID-19
The 2019-2020 NBA season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season, which normally takes place during the fall and winter months, was pushed back to finish in October 2020 with a bubble tournament. This delay meant that the season extended into what is usually the offseason for players, impacting their rest and recovery time.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to sports leagues worldwide, and the NBA was no exception. The league was faced with the challenge of completing the season while prioritizing the health and safety of players, staff, and fans. The NBA implemented strict health and safety protocols, including social distancing, mask-wearing, and regular testing.
The 2019-2020 season was particularly challenging for the Los Angeles Lakers, who struggled with injuries and roster changes. Despite starting the season slowly, the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić, who helped the team surge to 50 wins and the West's third seed. However, they were ultimately eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves, causing an early end to their playoff run.
The Lakers' early exit came as a surprise to many, as they were favored to win the Finals by bettors and sportsbooks alike. The team's general manager, Rob Pelinka, faced criticism for the early exit, particularly regarding the lack of a starting center on the roster. Despite this, the season was still considered a success for Pelinka and the front office, who had navigated a challenging period for the league.
The 2019-2020 NBA season, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, showcased the resilience of the league and its players. Despite the challenges, the season concluded successfully, and the NBA continued to thrive in the following years.
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The NBA formed in 1949
The NBA was formed on August 3, 1949, after the rival Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) merged. The BAA was founded in 1946 by owners of major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The BAA played its games in large major-market arenas such as the Boston Garden and New York City's Madison Square Garden. By the 1948-49 season, the BAA had attracted some of the country's best players, and four NBL franchises—Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Rochester—moved to the BAA, bringing their star players with them.
The new NBA was made up of 17 teams that represented both small towns and large cities across the country. The NBA later adopted the BAA's history and considers its founding on June 6, 1946, as its own. The NBA did not, however, adopt the records and statistics of the NBL.
In 1953, the NBA signed a contract with DuMont Television Network, marking the first year the NBA had a national television broadcaster. In 1954, NBC took over the rights from DuMont, and fan support grew. The league expanded throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and today, the NBA attracts players and millions of fans from around the world.
In 1976, the NBA merged with the American Basketball Association (ABA), adding four franchises to the league. The NBA has since become the second-wealthiest professional sports league in the world by revenue, with players being the world's highest-paid athletes by average annual salary per player as of 2020.
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The NBA signed a TV contract in 1953
The 2024 NBA season concluded with the Dallas Mavericks winning the championship. This was the Mavericks' first NBA championship win.
The NBA's First TV Contract
In 1953, the NBA signed a contract with DuMont Television Network, marking its first-ever national television contract. The deal was worth $39,000, and it covered the NBA's eighth season, 1953-54. At the time, the NBA was in its infancy, having been founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. The league changed its name to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and played its first season in its new avatar in 1949.
The DuMont Television Network deal was a significant step for the NBA, as it gave the league a national platform to showcase its games. However, DuMont struggled financially, and the rights were taken over by NBC from the 1954-55 season until April 1962. NBC's coverage of the NBA was the first of two tenures with the league, with the network regaining the rights in 1990.
The NBA's contract with DuMont was a pioneering move, and it set the league on a path of growth and expansion. Over the years, the league has continued to evolve, with teams relocating, new franchises joining, and the introduction of the three-point field goal in 1979. The NBA has also seen the rise of international players and the growth of fan interest, with the league and its stars becoming a global phenomenon.
Today, the NBA has a vast broadcasting reach, with games televised nationally in the United States and on multiple local channels and regional sports networks. The league has also embraced streaming services, with Amazon Prime Video set to play a significant role in the league's future broadcasting landscape. The NBA's next broadcasting contract is expected to be worth close to $100 billion, a testament to the league's enduring popularity and cultural influence.
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The Minneapolis Lakers won the NBA Finals in 1949-50
The Minneapolis Lakers won the inaugural NBA Finals in 1949-50. This was the first of five consecutive BAA/NBA championship titles for the team, with the others coming in 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. The Lakers moved from the National Basketball League (NBL) to the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1948, winning the BAA championship in 1948 and 1949. The BAA and the NBL then merged to form the NBA in 1949.
The 1949-50 NBA Finals were contested between the Lakers and the Syracuse Nationals. The Lakers won the series 4-2, with the deciding game finishing 110-95. The Lakers' success was largely down to the scoring prowess of George Mikan, who led the league in scoring during the regular season with 27.4 points per game. Mikan's scoring average increased to 31.3 points per game in the playoffs, including a 40-foot buzzer-beater by guard Bob Harrison to secure a two-point victory in the first game of the series.
The Minneapolis Lakers' 1949-50 NBA championship is not counted in the Eastern versus Western champions record as they played in the Central Division. The Lakers later moved to Los Angeles, becoming the Los Angeles Lakers, and remain one of the most successful teams in NBA history, with 17 NBA championships, the second-most in the league behind the Boston Celtics.
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Frequently asked questions
The Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals, claiming their 18th title.
All NBA Finals have been played in a best-of-seven format between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
