Update (June 15, 2026): The article has been updated with details from the 2026 NBA Finals.
The previous 10 years of the NBA Finals were constantly filled with generational talent and team dynasties. Let’s check out the previous 10 NBA Final Champions and select highlights from the series, including those from recent winners like the New York Knicks, OKC Thunder, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.
2025–26 NBA Finals Champions: New York Knicks
The New York Knicks, en route to ending their 53-year championship drought, put together a magical run in the 2026 postseason. As a No. 3 seed in the playoffs, New York went down 2-1 in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks. From there, the Knicks won their next 11 games, which included ending the Hawks’ season, followed by back-to-back sweeps of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals. New York then won the first two games of the NBA Finals on the road against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs to stretch the winning streak to 13 games, which is the second-longest streak by any team in NBA playoff history. After losing Game 3 of the series at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks made history in Game 4, erasing a 29-point deficit — good for the largest comeback in NBA Finals history — to win the game, 107-106, on a tip-in by OG Anunoby with under two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. New York came out slow in Game 5 on the Spurs’ home court at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, and fell behind by 16 points in the first half. But behind a historic night by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks came all the way back, outscored the Spurs 29-18 in the fourth quarter, and won their first NBA title since 1973. Brunson, who was named NBA Finals MVP, scored 45-points in the championship clincher on the road, becoming only the second player to achieve that feat. The other is Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
2024–25 NBA Finals Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder
Behind the play of league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win their second championship in franchise history — and first since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma in 2008. With the best record in the regular season at 68-14, OKC had the home court edge against Indiana, and as such were the favorites to win it all. The Pacers put up a fierce fight, including in Game One of the series when they won a buzzer beater. But in Game Seven, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton went down with an Achilles tendon injury and OKC went on to coast to a 12-point win for the title. Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP, and became just the fourth player ever to win league MVP, Finals MVP, and a scoring title in a single season.
2023–24 NBA Finals Champions: Boston Celtics
After going a league-best 64-18 in the regular season, the Boston Celtics entered the postseason as favorites to win the championship. They lived up to the hype. Boston lost only two games en route to making the NBA Finals, where they faced the Dallas Mavericks. The upstart Mavericks became just the second No. 5 seed to ever make the NBA finals, but the Celtics, led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, proved too much to handle. The Boston Celtics only lost one game to Dallas: Game 4, which the Mavericks won, 122-84. On June 17, 2024, Boston won their NBA-record 18th title with a 106-88 victory in Game 5. Brown was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists in the series.
2022–23 NBA Finals Champions: Denver Nuggets
Led by superstar center Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets battled their way through a tough Western Conference to reach the NBA Finals, where they faced off against the Miami Heat, winning the title 4 games to 1. Winning the fifth game, 94-89, after a second-half comeback, Denver hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy on June 12, 2023 for the first time in franchise history. Nikola Jokic was unanimously named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
2021–22 NBA Finals Champions: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics, 4–2, to win the 2021–22 NBA Finals. The final game was played at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 16, 2022, with the Warriors winning, 103–90. Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors received the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award for the first time in his career. This was the Warriors’ fourth championship in eight years.
2020–21 NBA Finals Champions: Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks became NBA Finals Champions when they defeated the Phoenix Suns, 4–2, at home at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 20, 2021. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6, 105–98. This was the second championship win for the Bucks and their first since 1971. This was also the first championship since 2010 that did not feature NBA superstars LeBron James or Steph Curry.
2019–20 NBA Finals Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, defeated the Miami Heat to win the 2020 NBA Finals, 4–2, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida, on October 11, 2020, with a Game 6 score of 106–93. This was the first NBA Finals matchup between Los Angeles and Miami. James was the recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award, his first while playing for Los Angeles. (James also later won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with Los Angeles.) With a season stoppage in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season resumed in July, pushing the NBA Finals back to September/October. During the 2020 NBA Playoffs, teams resided in an NBA bubble behind closed doors, with all games being played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
2018–19 NBA Finals Champions: Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors, 4–2, on June 13, 2019, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The final score of Game 6 was 114–110. This was the fifth consecutive time the Golden State Warriors appeared in the NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors was named the Finals MVP. This was also the first NBA Finals to not include LeBron James since 2010.
2017–18 NBA Finals Champions: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–0, to become the NBA Finals Champions on June 8, 2018, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the Warriors’ second consecutive NBA Finals victory. LeBron James of the Cavaliers scored an astounding 51 points in the first game only, for the Cavs to lose 107–106. Kevin Durant of the Warriors won the Finals MVP for the second consecutive year. The Warriors’ Steph Curry also had a terrific NBA Finals performance, averaging 27.5 points during the series.
2016–17 NBA Finals Champions: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–1, to become the 2017 NBA Finals Champions on June 12, 2017, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. This was the first NBA Finals to feature the same two teams for the third consecutive year. The Warriors were the first team in the history of the NBA to enter the Finals with a 12–0 playoff record.
Previous NBA Finals Champions
| Year | Result | Western Champion | Eastern Champion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3-1 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks | ||
| 2025 | 4-3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Indiana Pacers | ||
| 2024 | 4-1 | Dallas Mavericks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 2023 | 4-1 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | ||
| 2022 | 4–2 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | ||
| 2021 | 2–4 | Phoenix Suns | Milwaukee Bucks | ||
| 2020 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | ||
| 2019 | 2–4 | Golden State Warriors | Toronto Raptors | ||
| 2018 | 4–0 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| 2017 | 4–1 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| 2016 | 3–4 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| 2015 | 4–2 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| 2014 | 4–1 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | ||
| 2013 | 3–4 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | ||
| 2012 | 1–4 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Miami Heat | ||
| 2011 | 4–2 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat | ||
| 2010 | 4–3 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 2009 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic | ||
| 2008 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 2007 | 4–0 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||
| 2006 | 2–4 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat | ||
| 2005 | 4–3 | San Antonio Spurs | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 2004 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 2003 | 4–2 | San Antonio Spurs | New Jersey Nets | ||
| 2002 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Jersey Nets | ||
| 2001 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 2000 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers | ||
| 1999 | 4–1 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks | ||
| 1998 | 2–4 | Utah Jazz | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1997 | 2–4 | Utah Jazz | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1996 | 2–4 | Seattle SuperSonics | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1995 | 4–0 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic | ||
| 1994 | 4–3 | Houston Rockets | New York Knicks | ||
| 1993 | 2–4 | Phoenix Suns | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1992 | 2–4 | Portland Trail Blazers | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1991 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Chicago Bulls | ||
| 1990 | 1–4 | Portland Trail Blazers | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 1989 | 0–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 1988 | 4–3 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 1987 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1986 | 2–4 | Houston Rockets | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1985 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1984 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1983 | 0–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 1982 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 1981 | 2–4 | Houston Rockets | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1980 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 1979 | 4–1 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets | ||
| 1978 | 3–4 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets | ||
| 1977 | 4–2 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 1976 | 2–4 | Phoenix Suns | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1975 | 4–0 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Bullets | ||
| 1974 | 3–4 | Milwaukee Bucks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1973 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | ||
| 1972 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | ||
| 1971 | 4–0 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Bullets | ||
| 1970 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | ||
| 1969 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1968 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1967 | 2–4 | San Francisco Warriors | Philadelphia 76ers | ||
| 1966 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1965 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1964 | 1–4 | San Francisco Warriors | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1963 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1962 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1961 | 1–4 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1960 | 3–4 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1959 | 0–4 | Minneapolis Lakers | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1958 | 4–2 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1957 | 3–4 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | ||
| 1956 | 1–4 | Fort Wayne Pistons | Philadelphia Warriors | ||
| 1955 | 3–4 | Fort Wayne Pistons | Syracuse Nationals | ||
| 1954 | 4–3 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | ||
| 1953 | 4–1 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | ||
| 1952 | 4–3 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | ||
| 1951 | 4–3 | Rochester Royals | New York Knicks | ||
| 1950 | 4–2 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals |
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