NBA Finals facts for kids

Quick facts for kids NBA Finals
Status	Active
Genre	Sporting event
Date(s)	Late May–June
Frequency	Annual
Country	United States Canada
Inaugurated	1947 (1947)
Sponsor	YouTube TV (2018–present)
Most titles	Boston Celtics (18 titles)

The NBA Finals is the exciting championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It happens every year. The best teams from the Eastern and Western Conference play each other. They compete in a "best-of-seven" series. This means the first team to win four games becomes the champion!

The winning team gets the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. This trophy replaced an older one in 1976. The series had different names before. It was first called the BAA Finals. Then it became the NBA World Championship Series. Since 1986, it's been known as the NBA Finals. Sometimes, it includes a sponsor's name, like NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.

The game schedule has changed a few times. It used to be 2–2–1–1–1. This means the home team played two games, then the away team two, then they alternated. In 1985, it changed to 2–3–2 to make travel easier. The team with the better record played the first two and last two games at home. But in 2014, they went back to the 2–2–1–1–1 format. The team with the best regular season record hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if needed). The other team hosts games 3, 4, and 6 (if needed).

So far, 21 different teams have won the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics won the most recent title in 2024. They hold the record for most championships with 18 wins! The Celtics also won eight titles in a row from 1959 to 1966. The Los Angeles Lakers have played in the Finals the most times, with 32 appearances. Teams from the Eastern Conference have won more titles overall.

History of the NBA Finals

NBA Finals logo from 1986 to 1995.

NBA Finals logo in 2003.

NBA Finals logo from 2004 to 2017.

NBA Finals logo from 2018 to 2021.

Early Days: 1946–1956

The first years of professional basketball were mostly ruled by the Minneapolis Lakers. They won half of the first ten championships! The Philadelphia Warriors also won a couple of titles. They won the very first one in 1947 and another in 1956.

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) started in 1946. In April 1947, the Philadelphia Warriors beat the Chicago Stags to win the first BAA Finals. The next year, the Warriors made it to the Finals again. But they lost to the Baltimore Bullets. The Baltimore Bullets are the only team that won a championship and then stopped playing.

In 1948, the Minneapolis Lakers won a championship in a different league. Then they joined the BAA. With star player George Mikan, the Lakers won the last BAA championship in 1949. The BAA then joined with another league to form the NBA. The Lakers won the first NBA championship in 1950. They were the first team to win two championships in a row!

In 1951, the Rochester Royals beat the New York Knicks. This was the only time two teams from the same state played in the Finals. The Knicks lost three Finals in a row to the Lakers from 1951 to 1953. The Lakers won again in 1954. This made them the first team to win three championships in a row! This was the Lakers' fifth title in six years. It was their last win while they were still in Minneapolis. In 1955, the Syracuse Nationals won their only title. They later became the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1956, the Warriors won their second title in Philadelphia. They later moved to California.

The Celtics' Amazing Run: 1957–1969

Bill Russell (off ball) was a member of one of the first dynasties in the NBA, winning eight straight titles while playing against Wilt Chamberlain (on ball).

The Boston Celtics had an incredible run in the NBA Finals. They won 11 out of 12 Finals they played in over 13 seasons! This included an amazing eight championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. During this time, the St. Louis Hawks won their only title. The Philadelphia 76ers won their first title after moving from Syracuse. The Lakers and Warriors also reached the Finals for the first time as California teams.

The Celtics' success started in 1957. Their star player was center Bill Russell. They were very successful, even when playing against teams led by Wilt Chamberlain. The Celtics and Russell usually found a way to win against Chamberlain's teams.

In 1964, Chamberlain's team, the San Francisco Warriors, won their division. But they still couldn't beat the Celtics. The next season, Chamberlain joined the Philadelphia 76ers. This team used to be the Syracuse Nationals. In 1966, the Celtics beat Chamberlain's team 4–1 in the playoffs.

In 1967, the 76ers' coach, Alex Hannum, told Chamberlain to focus more on teamwork. This helped the team win a record 68 games that season. They also beat the Celtics before winning the 1967 Finals. In 1968, Boston came back from being down 3–1 to beat Philadelphia. They then defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals to win another championship.

In 1969, the Celtics were an older team with many injuries. They barely made the playoffs. The Lakers, who had added Chamberlain to their stars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, were expected to win. The series was tied 3–3 going into Game 7 in Los Angeles. The Lakers' owner even hung balloons in the arena, expecting a win! But the Celtics, led by Russell, won a close game 108–106. They won their eleventh championship in 13 years. This win is seen as the end of the Celtics' amazing dynasty.

A Decade of Different Winners: 1970–1979

The 1970s were a time when many different teams won. Ten different teams reached the Finals, and eight different teams won a championship! The Celtics and New York Knicks each won twice.

In 1970, the Knicks played the Lakers in a classic Finals. In Game 3, Jerry West made a famous shot from 60 feet away to tie the game. But the Knicks won in overtime and went on to win the series 4–3. They were the first team to win an NBA championship after the Celtics' dynasty. The Milwaukee Bucks also won their first title in 1971.

Two seasons after losing in the Finals, the Lakers had an amazing 33-game winning streak. This is the longest streak in NBA history! They also set a record for most wins in a season with 69. They then won the championship for the first time since moving to Los Angeles. They beat the New York Knicks. The Knicks won the Finals again a year later, in 1973.

In 1974, the championship went back to the Celtics. The 1970s also saw many Western teams become champions. In 1975, the Golden State Warriors swept the Washington Bullets 4–0 in the Finals. In 1976, the Phoenix Suns had a great comeback season. They beat the Seattle SuperSonics and the Warriors. Then they faced Boston in the Finals. Game 5 went into three overtimes, with Boston winning 128–126. The Celtics then won their 13th championship in Game 6.

Other teams that won their first titles in the 1970s included the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. The Washington Bullets beat the SuperSonics in 1978. But the SuperSonics got their revenge the next year. They won their first title in 1979.

Rivalries and "Bad Boys": 1980–1990

The 1980s saw a renewal in the rivalry between the Boston Celtics (green) and the Los Angeles Lakers (gold), combining to win eight titles.

The 1980s were famous for the big rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Together, they won eight championships in this decade! This rivalry started in a college championship game in 1979. It featured Magic Johnson's team against Larry Bird's team. Millions of people watched it on TV. Bird and Johnson both joined the NBA in 1979. They led their teams to great success.

As a rookie, Magic Johnson led the Lakers to the 1980 NBA Finals. They played against the 76ers, led by Julius Erving. The Lakers were up 3–2, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured for Game 6. Johnson, who usually played point guard, played every position on the court! He scored 42 points and helped the Lakers win his first championship. He was the first and only rookie to win the Finals MVP award.

Boston reached the 1981 NBA Finals with their "Big Three" stars: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. They are considered one of the best groups of players ever. They played the Houston Rockets in the Finals. The Rockets had upset the Lakers. The Celtics, who had the best record in the NBA, won the Finals in 6 games.

The Lakers returned to the NBA Finals in 1982. This time, they were led by new coach Pat Riley. They played the 76ers again. The 76ers had beaten the Celtics in a tough 7-game series. But the Lakers beat them in 6 games, and Johnson was named Finals MVP. The 76ers wanted to win a championship. So, in 1982, they traded for Moses Malone, who was the league's MVP. With Malone and Erving, the 76ers won the 1983 NBA Finals. They lost only one game in the entire playoffs, even sweeping the Lakers!

The 1984 NBA Finals was a big one. The Celtics and Lakers played each other for the first time since 1969. Larry Bird played amazingly, and the Celtics beat the Lakers 4–3. The last game of this series had the most TV viewers ever for an NBA game. It was the last Finals played in the 2–2–1–1–1 format until 2014.

In the 1985 NBA Finals, the Lakers got their revenge. They beat the Celtics in six games. Even though the Lakers lost Game 1 badly, they won 4 of the next 5 games. These Finals were the first to use the 2–3–2 format. This was suggested to reduce travel between Boston and Los Angeles.

The 1986 NBA Finals saw the Celtics play the Rockets. Boston won in six games, getting their 16th title. Bird won Finals MVP again. In 1987, the Lakers and Celtics met again. The Lakers won the first two games. In Game 4, Johnson made a famous hook shot with two seconds left to win the game. The Lakers won the series in Game 6. They had a 2–1 record against the Celtics in the Finals. Johnson won his third Finals MVP award.

In the next two seasons, the older Celtics didn't make the Finals. The Detroit Pistons became the new strong team. The Lakers won their second title in a row in the 1988 NBA Finals. They beat the Pistons in 7 games. They were the first team to win back-to-back NBA titles since 1969. In 1989, the Lakers hoped to win three in a row. But the Pistons swept them in a rematch of the previous year's Finals. In 1990, the Pistons won back-to-back titles. They beat the Clyde Drexler-led Portland Trail Blazers. The Pistons were called the "Bad Boys" because of their tough, physical style of play. They had Hall of Fame players like Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas, and tough players like Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer.

The Bulls' Golden Era: 1991–1998

Michael Jordan became known as the greatest player ever, winning six NBA championships with Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson.

Most of the 1990s belonged to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls, led by coach Phil Jackson and star players Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, won six championships in six Finals appearances. This happened from 1991 to 1998. The only other team to win a title during this time was the Houston Rockets. They won in 1994 and 1995.

The Bulls' first championship came against the Los Angeles Lakers. This was also the last Finals appearance for Magic Johnson. People called it a battle between the older Johnson and the rising star Jordan. The Lakers won the first game. But for the rest of the series, Pippen guarded Johnson. This let Jordan focus on scoring. Chicago won the next four games. The Bulls returned to the Finals the next year. They played against Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers. Jordan and Drexler were the best players in their conferences. Many people wanted to see them play each other. Chicago won Game 1 by 33 points. Jordan set a record for most three-pointers in a first half with six. Game 2 went into overtime, and Portland won. Games 3 and 4 were split. But the Bulls won the last two games, getting their second championship.

In 1993, Jordan played against his good friend Charles Barkley. Barkley was the league's MVP for the Phoenix Suns. The Bulls won the first two games in Phoenix. The Suns won Game 3 in Chicago in triple overtime. The Bulls won Game 4 with Jordan scoring 55 points. This tied him for the second-most points in an NBA Finals game. The Suns won Game 5, sending the series back to Phoenix. Chicago won the series in Game 6 with a three-pointer by John Paxson. The Bulls became the third team in history to win three championships in a row! After this win, Jordan retired from basketball to play baseball.

After Jordan left, the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, won the 1994 and 1995 NBA titles. Olajuwon became the only player to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. In 1994, the Rockets played the New York Knicks. The Rockets won Game 7. This stopped New York from winning both the NBA and NHL titles in the same year. After trading for Clyde Drexler, the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Finals. The Magic had stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Olajuwon was Finals MVP again. The Rockets became the fifth team to win back-to-back titles. They were also the first 6th-seeded team to win the title without having home-court advantage in any playoff series.

Jordan came back to basketball late in the 1994–95 season. He didn't lead the Bulls to the Finals that season. But the next season, he was back to his old self. The team also got Dennis Rodman, a great rebounder. The 1995–96 Bulls had the best regular season record in NBA history at the time, with 72 wins and 10 losses. They were amazing in the playoffs. They swept one series and lost only one game in another. Then they faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA Finals. The Bulls took a 3–0 lead. But Seattle won the next two games after their point guard, Gary Payton, started guarding Jordan. Jordan adjusted his game, and the Bulls won Game 6 to get their fourth title.

In 1997 and 1998, the Bulls played the Utah Jazz in the Finals twice. The Jazz had Dream Team Olympians John Stockton and Karl Malone. But the Bulls beat them in both Finals in six games. In both series, Chicago won with a game-winning shot in Game 6. Steve Kerr made the shot in 1997. Jordan made the shot in 1998. This gave Chicago their sixth NBA championship and their second three-peat. After this, coach Jackson retired. This led to most of the team, including Jordan and Pippen, leaving the Bulls. The Bulls then struggled for several seasons.

Spurs and Lakers Rule: 1999–2010

Kobe Bryant was a key member of the Los Angeles Lakers that won five NBA championships from 2000 to 2010.

The 2000s were mostly dominated by the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. They appeared in 11 Finals combined and won nine championships in 12 seasons!

Between 1999 and 2010, the Spurs won four championships: in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007. In the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Spurs had a great defensive team with David Robinson and Tim Duncan. They allowed the fewest points per game in the playoffs in 30 years. In the Finals that year, the Spurs played the New York Knicks. The Knicks were the first 8th-seeded team to reach the Finals. The Spurs kept them to very low scores. In the 2003 NBA Finals, the Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets in 6 games. This was the first championship between two former ABA teams. In Game 6, Duncan almost had a "quadruple-double" (double digits in four stats). He had 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks! The Spurs also beat the Detroit Pistons 4–3 in 2005. They swept the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007. Duncan won Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005. Tony Parker won in 2007, becoming the first European-born player to do so.

The Lakers won five championships in the same period. This included winning three in a row from 2000 to 2002. They were led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Their first championship was against the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers won in 6 games. In their 2001 playoff run, the Lakers swept their first three series. They won the Finals against the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games. They had an amazing 15–1 record in the playoffs, the best at the time! In 2002, the Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets. O'Neal won Finals MVP honors all three times during the Lakers' three-peat.

In 2003, veteran stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone joined the Lakers. With Bryant and O'Neal, many thought they would be one of the best teams ever. They were favorites to win in 2004. However, the Detroit Pistons, coached by Larry Brown, beat the Lakers in 5 games. Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP. The Pistons became a strong team in the East. They returned to the NBA Finals the next year but lost to the Spurs in seven games.

Tim Duncan won five championships with the San Antonio Spurs from 1999 to 2014.

After some disagreements, O'Neal was traded from the Lakers to the Miami Heat in 2004. He joined young star Dwyane Wade. Together, they led the Heat to the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks won the first two games. But Miami won the next four straight games, thanks to amazing comebacks led by Wade. Wade won the Finals MVP award.

The Lakers returned to the Finals in 2008 against the Boston Celtics. This renewed their famous rivalry. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4–2. They were led by their "Big Three" stars: Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Finals MVP Paul Pierce. The Lakers bounced back and returned to the Finals in 2009. They beat the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic in five games. The Lakers met the Celtics again in 2010. The Lakers were down 3–2 but won the last two games at home. This was the first time the Celtics lost a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP both years. Coach Phil Jackson also broke the record for most NBA titles with eleven.

LeBron James and the Warriors: 2011–2022

LeBron James (left) and Chris Bosh (right) joined Dwyane Wade (center) on the Miami Heat to form the Big Three.

The 2010s were known for the amazing play of superstar LeBron James. He played in nine NBA Finals in 10 seasons with three different teams! He won four championships. This decade also saw the rise of the Golden State Warriors. They became a powerful team in the Western Conference. They used a new "small-ball" strategy and lots of three-point shooting. This was led by coach Steve Kerr and point guard Stephen Curry. They also won four titles.

In 2010, the Miami Heat signed free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh. They joined team captain Dwyane Wade to form a new "Big Three." Many thought the Heat would easily win titles. They appeared in the next four Finals. In 2011, they played the Dallas Mavericks again. The Mavericks were not expected to win, but they beat the Heat 4–2. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP. The Heat returned to the Finals the next year. They played a young Oklahoma City Thunder team with future MVPs Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. Miami won the series in five games. James won his first championship and Finals MVP award. The Heat won again in 2013, beating the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat's comeback in Game 6 is one of the greatest playoff games ever! James won Finals MVP for the second year in a row. Miami tried to win three in a row in 2014 against the Spurs. But this time, San Antonio won in five games. This was the fifth and final title of Duncan's career. Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP. He was the third-youngest Finals MVP ever.

Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to 4 championships between 2015 and 2022.

In 2014, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He teamed up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to form a new "Big Three." The Cavaliers played in the next four Finals in a row against the Golden State Warriors. They were the first two teams to play in more than two straight Finals against each other. The Warriors won first in the 2015 NBA Finals. They came back from being down 2–1 to win in six games. Andre Iguodala won Finals MVP for his defense on LeBron James. The next season, the Warriors broke the record for most regular season wins with 73–9. Curry won his second MVP award. The Warriors took a 3–1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals. But James and Irving led the Cavaliers to two straight wins to force Game 7. In Game 7, LeBron James made a famous "chase-down block" on Iguodala. Irving then hit a three-pointer to take the lead. Cleveland won the title, ending the city's long championship drought. James earned his third Finals MVP award. After that season, the Warriors got Kevin Durant as a free agent. Many thought they were one of the greatest teams ever. In 2017, the Warriors set a playoff record with 15 wins in a row. They beat the Cavs in five games. They then swept the Cavs in 2018. Kevin Durant won Finals MVP both years.

LeBron James appeared in ten NBA Finals and won 4 titles with three different franchises.

In 2018, James left the Cavaliers and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Without James, the Cavaliers struggled. In 2019, the Warriors reached their fifth straight Finals. This was a historic achievement for a Western Conference team. But after injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, the Warriors lost to the Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors 4–2. This was the first NBA title for a team outside the United States. Toronto's Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP. He was the first player to win the award with teams from both conferences.

The 2019–20 NBA season was stopped in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It started again in July 2020 in the "NBA Bubble" in Orlando, Florida. LeBron James returned to his tenth Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers. They played the Miami Heat. This was the first time two teams that missed the playoffs the year before met in the Finals. The Lakers won the series 4–2. They claimed their 17th title, tying the Boston Celtics' record. LeBron James was named Finals MVP for the fourth time. He was the first player to win the award with three different teams.

The 2021 NBA Finals saw the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns. This was the first Finals since 1971 where no players had won a championship before. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo earned Finals MVP honors.

After missing the playoffs for two years, the Warriors returned to the 2022 Finals. This was their sixth appearance in eight seasons. They beat the Boston Celtics in six games for their fourth championship in eight seasons. Curry won his first NBA Finals MVP award.

Recent Champions: 2023–Present

The Denver Nuggets reached their first Finals ever in 2023. They beat the Miami Heat in five games. They became the second team from the ABA league to win the championship. Nikola Jokić was named Finals MVP. He was the lowest-drafted player (41st overall) to win the award.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. This was the sixth year in a row with a different championship team. This is the longest streak of different winners since the 1970s. Boston won their record 18th NBA title. They broke the tie with their longtime rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP.

Sponsorship

Since 2018, the internet TV service YouTube TV has been the official sponsor of the NBA Finals. This means the series is sometimes called the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.

Team Records

Finals Appearances

This table shows how many times teams have played in the Finals, and how many times they won or lost the series.

Active Teams with No Finals Appearances

(*) The original Charlotte team moved to New Orleans. A new team, the Bobcats, started in Charlotte in 2004. In 2013, the New Orleans team became the Pelicans and kept the records from 2002-2013. In 2014, the Bobcats became the Charlotte Hornets again and kept the history from 1988-2002.

Individual Game Records

Player Records

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Finales de la NBA para niños

• List of NBA champions
• List of NBA players with most championships
• List of NBA championship head coaches
• NBA G League Finals