Andrew Pace
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the winner. The NBA Finals has a rich history, with legendary franchises like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers dominating the league, and newer powerhouses like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat making their mark. The winners of the semifinals in the Eastern and Western Conferences go on to compete in the NBA Finals, with the Eastern champions currently holding a 41-36 advantage in NBA titles over the Western champions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of franchises that have won the NBA Finals | 21 |
| Team with most NBA titles | Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers (17 each) |
| Team with most NBA titles won in the modern era | Boston Celtics (18) |
| Team with most NBA titles won in the inaugural era | Minneapolis Lakers (5) |
| Team with most NBA titles won in the first decade | Philadelphia Warriors (2) |
| Team that won the inaugural NBA championship in 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| Team that won the inaugural BAA championship in 1946 | Minneapolis Lakers |
| Team that won the 2023 NBA Finals | Denver Nuggets |
| Team that won the 2024 NBA Finals | Boston Celtics |
| Team that won the 2025 NBA Finals | Not mentioned |
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What You'll Learn
Boston Celtics: the most successful NBA team
The Boston Celtics are commonly regarded as the most successful team in the NBA. They have won the most NBA championships—18—and have the most recorded wins of any NBA franchise. The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s, after the team, led by coach Red Auerbach, acquired Bill Russell in 1956, who later became the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Led by Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. Russell, along with a talented supporting cast of future Hall of Famers, led the Celtics to another eight championships over the next decade.
Red Auerbach is the most successful Celtics head coach, having won nine NBA championships with the team. Celtics legend Bill Russell took coaching duties from Auerbach and led them to two NBA championships while playing and coaching at the same time. The other two coaches that won two NBA titles with the team are Tom Heinsohn and K. C. Jones. Bill Fitch and Doc Rivers led the Celtics to one NBA championship apiece, as has current head coach Joe Mazzulla.
The Celtics have had a rich history of success, with their most recent championship coming in 2024. They have consistently been one of the best teams in the NBA, with a historic offence and standout defence. Their final record (regular season and playoffs) of 80-21 ranks as the 13th best mark in NBA history. They have outscored their opponents by an average of 10.7 points per game, a mark that ranks fifth. The Celtics set a record by winning 19 games (17 in the regular season and two in the playoffs) by at least 25 points.
The Celtics have had some memorable matches against the Lakers, with the two teams meeting in the Finals multiple times. The Lakers won the 1985 championship, marking the first time they defeated the Celtics in the Finals. The Celtics got their revenge in 1984, toppling the Lakers 4–3. The final game of this series attracted the largest-ever TV audience for an NBA game. The Lakers, however, came out on top in their next two meetings, winning in 1985 and 1987.
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Lakers: the team with the most NBA finals appearances
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in the NBA, with a long history of appearances in the NBA Finals. The team has won the championship on multiple occasions and has featured some of the biggest names in basketball.
The Lakers joined the NBA in the 1948–49 season, and since then, they have been a dominant force in the league. The team has reached the NBA Finals numerous times, often coming out on top. Their first championship came in 1949, and they have since added many more titles to their name.
In the 2019-2020 season, the Lakers won the NBA Finals, defeating the Miami Heat in six games. This victory marked the team's 17th championship in franchise history. Led by superstar LeBron James, the Lakers overcame challenges and showcased their talent and determination.
The 2023 NBA playoffs saw the Lakers face off against the Golden State Warriors, with the Lakers eliminating the defending champions in six games. This series win held additional significance as it set a new NBA record for LeBron James, who earned his 41st career playoff series win, surpassing Derek Fisher's previous record of 40. However, the Lakers' journey in the 2023 playoffs ended in the Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the Denver Nuggets, who went on to win their first NBA championship.
Despite setbacks and triumphs, the Lakers remain a powerhouse in the NBA, consistently contending for championships and leaving a lasting impact on the league. Their rich history, talented players, and dedicated fanbase contribute to their enduring legacy in the world of basketball.
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NBA format: the rules of the NBA finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is held at the end of the postseason and is played in a best-of-seven format. The NBA Finals sees the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference compete for the title. The current home-and-away format is 2–2–1–1–1, with the team with the better regular season record playing on their home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
The NBA was realigned into three divisions, meaning the team with the best regular season record after the Divisional Finals automatically advanced to the NBA Finals. The other two teams then faced off in the NBA Semifinals to determine the other finalist. The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion. The winner of the series is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which replaced the original Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1976–77.
The NBA was aligned into two conferences with two divisions each before being realigned into three divisions each. The top three seeds were reserved for division champions. The seeding rules remained largely unchanged after the realignment, but the NBA playoffs' preset matchups in the second round meant that the top two teams in a conference may not meet until the Conference Finals.
The first through fourth-ranked teams have home-court advantage in the First Round. The four teams that win the best of seven in each conference move on to the Conference Semifinals, where the best-of-seven format continues, along with the home-court advantage rules. The winners of the Conference Semifinals then compete against each other in the Conference Finals for the conference title and a spot in the NBA Finals.
The NBA Finals is also a best-of-seven format, with the home-court advantage rule applied. The team that reaches four wins first becomes the NBA Champion and wins the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
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2023 NBA playoffs: the Denver Nuggets won their first title
The 2023 NBA playoffs saw the Denver Nuggets win their first championship title in franchise history. The Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in five games to claim the title after 47 seasons in the NBA. Led by Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets overcame a challenging path to the finals, including a sweep by the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 playoffs and a difficult 2021-22 season due to injuries to key players.
In the 2023 playoffs, the Nuggets entered the postseason for the fifth consecutive season and clinched the best record in the Western Conference for the first time. They advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time, facing the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. The Nuggets' success was driven by the outstanding performance of Jokić, who became the first player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. He was awarded the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks.
The Miami Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, had a remarkable run to the finals as well. They became the first play-in team in NBA history to win a playoff series, defeating the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Milwaukee Bucks, in five games. The Heat then faced the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, winning in six games. Butler's leadership and the contributions of undrafted players like Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Duncan Robinson played a crucial role in their success.
In the Western Conference semifinals, the Denver Nuggets faced the Phoenix Suns. After a close series, the Nuggets advanced to the conference finals, where they swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0, marking their first playoff series win against the Lakers. This set the stage for the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, where the Nuggets ultimately prevailed to become champions.
The 2023 NBA playoffs were full of excitement and dramatic moments, with the Denver Nuggets' historic first championship win serving as the highlight. The Nuggets' victory capped off a remarkable season, showcasing the determination and talent of the team.
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Past winners: a look at the history of the NBA
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the end of its postseason. All NBA Finals have been 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, when the league was known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), the playoffs were a three-stage tournament where the two semifinal winners played each other in the finals.
The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which has been awarded since 1977; before this, from 1947 to 1976, the winning team received the Walter A. Brown Trophy. The current home-and-away format in the NBA Finals is 2–2–1–1–1, meaning the team with the better regular-season record gets to play on its home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are tied for the most NBA titles at 17. The Celtics won their 18th championship in 2024, making them the most successful team in the league. The 2023-24 NBA Finals saw the Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1, with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets being named MVP. The Denver Nuggets won their first championship in 2022-23, defeating the Miami Heat 4-1, with Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers being named MVP.
The 2019-2020 NBA season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concluding in October 2020 with a bubble tournament. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 4-2, with Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks being named MVP.
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Frequently asked questions
The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA finals, their first title in franchise history.
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are tied with the most NBA titles. The Celtics won their 18th championship in 2024.
The NBA finals are played in a best-of-seven format between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The winning team receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
The Lakers won three straight finals from 1952 to 1954, becoming the first team to "three-peat". The Bulls later became the third team to do so.
From 1946 to 1949, the league was known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The BAA then merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA.
