Ayrton Oneill
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held annually at the end of its postseason. The NBA champions are winners of the annual playoff basketball tournament that takes place after every NBA season. The NBA Finals have always been played in a best-of-seven format, and the winning team receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The Boston Celtics are the most recent champions, having won the 2024 NBA Finals and earning their 18th title, the most of any team in the league.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024 |
| Winner | Boston Celtics |
| Winner's Number of Titles | 18 |
| Loser | Dallas Mavericks |
| Format | Best-of-seven |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Previous Name of Trophy | Walter A. Brown Trophy |
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What You'll Learn
The Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics emerged victorious in the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks and claiming their 18th championship title. This victory broke the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history. Led by the stellar performances of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics dominated the series, winning with a 4-1 margin.
Jayson Tatum, a standout player for the Celtics, led his team with impressive displays of all-around basketball. In the deciding Game 5, Tatum recorded 31 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists, showcasing his versatility and impact on both ends of the court. His performance throughout the series earned him a place alongside elite company in Celtics history. Tatum's leadership and all-around game were pivotal in the Celtics' championship run.
Jaylen Brown, Tatum's fellow star, also rose to the occasion and was crowned the Finals MVP. Embracing the defensive challenge of guarding the opponent's best player, Brown showcased his defensive prowess and versatility. In addition to his stellar defence, Brown contributed significantly on the offensive end, providing crucial scoring and playmaking. His performance in the series, including a 21-point outing in Game 2, solidified his status as a key contributor to the Celtics' triumph.
Jrue Holiday, a consistent performer for the Celtics, played a pivotal role in the team's success. In Game 1, Holiday set the tone for the series with a near-triple-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. His ability to impact the game in various ways stabilised the team and provided a strong supporting presence to Tatum and Brown. Holiday's achievements in the 2024 NBA Finals were duly recognised, triggering a contractual bonus of $1,183,200 for his outstanding contributions.
The Celtics' victory in the 2024 NBA Finals was a testament to their depth, resilience, and ability to overcome challenges. Despite injuries to key players like Kristaps Porzingis, who missed much of the playoffs, the Celtics found a way to prevail. The team's season-long dominance culminated in a well-deserved championship, solidifying their place in NBA history as one of the most successful franchises.
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The 2019-2020 season was impacted by COVID-19
The 2019-2020 NBA season was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 11, 2020, just moments before the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder were about to start their game, a positive COVID-19 test from Jazz center Rudy Gobert abruptly halted the game. The NBA subsequently announced that the league was going on hold "until further notice". The season was suspended, and the games that took place that evening were the final contests of the 2019-2020 NBA regular season.
The NBA season resumed on July 30, 2020, in a bubble environment at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The players lived in isolation under strict protocols, with a hotline in place to allow individuals to anonymously report any breaches. The playoffs began on August 17, and the NBA Finals started on September 30, with no fans in attendance. The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship, beating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the series.
The 2019-2020 season was also impacted by injuries to key players, with several stars suffering long-term injuries. The LA Lakers, who were expected to dominate the Western Conference, saw their campaign take a downward turn after injuries to both Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Brooklyn Nets and the Denver Nuggets also faced challenges due to player injuries and absences.
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect the NBA in the following seasons, with half of the league's teams still playing in empty arenas as of 2021. The 2020-2021 season was described as one of the most arduous campaigns in the NBA's history, with teams facing challenges due to COVID-19, a stacked schedule, and injuries to marquee players.
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The NBA Finals are played in a best-of-seven format
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. The NBA has employed the best-of-seven series format since the 1946-47 season when the Basketball Association of America was the governing body. The NBA Finals have always been played in this format, except in 1950 when the Eastern Division champion faced the winner between the Western and Central Division champions.
The best-of-seven format was first used in the BAA's 1947 and 1948 seasons. In these years, the Eastern and Western Division champions were matched in a best-of-seven series following the regular season, with the winner advancing to the championship round. Meanwhile, the four runners-up played best-of-three series to determine the other finalist.
The NBA adopted the BAA's best-of-seven format in 1949, the same year the National Basketball Association was established through a merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League. The 1949 NBA Finals were contested between the champions of the Eastern and Western Divisions.
The current home-and-away format in the NBA Finals is 2–2–1–1–1, with the team with the better regular season record playing on its home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7. This format has been in place since 2014, after a unanimous vote by NBA team owners to change from the 2–3–2 format.
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The winning team receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the NBA Finals. The trophy was first awarded in 1977 and was originally known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy—named after the original owner of the Celtics—until it was renamed in 1984 in honour of former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984. The inaugural winners of the trophy were the Portland Trail Blazers, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
The current design of the trophy, which depicts a basketball over a hoop and basket, was first awarded in 1977. It was designed by artist Victor Solomon for the NBA's 75th anniversary season and is manufactured by Tiffany & Co. The championship team maintains permanent possession of the trophy, and the year and winning team names are engraved on the trophies, often displayed in the winning team's arena.
In 2022, the Larry O'Brien Trophy was tweaked ahead of the NBA Finals. The trophy's square base was replaced with a pair of circular stacks, and the name of each NBA champion is etched on the bottom disc. The Bill Russell Trophy, given to the Finals MVP, was also finished in gold vermeil to match the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
The Boston Celtics were the most recent winners of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals to claim their 18th NBA title.
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57 players have won both an NCAA and NBA championship
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, adding to their record of 18 NBA titles, the most of any team in the league.
While the NBA has existed since 1946, only 57 players have won both an NCAA championship and an NBA title. This list includes some of the NBA's greatest players, such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan.
Bill Russell was the first player to win an NCAA Tournament and an NBA Championship in back-to-back years. He won back-to-back college titles in 1955 and 1956 with San Francisco and then the 1957 NBA title with the Boston Celtics, kicking off a legendary career in which he won 11 NBA championships as a player, more than anyone else in NBA history.
Magic Johnson, who led Michigan State Spartans to the 1979 NCAA title, won the NBA Championship in his rookie year with the Lakers, filling in for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar went on to win another championship together the following year.
In recent years, a few players have joined the list, including Al Horford, who won his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics last season, and Christian Braun, who won the NCAA championship with Kansas in 2023 and joined the Denver Nuggets, who were one win away from their first NBA title.
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Frequently asked questions
The Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks.
The Boston Celtics have won 18 titles, the most of any team in the league.
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held annually at the end of its postseason.
