NBA Champions by Year: Complete List of NBA Finals Winners

The NBA The finale is packed with history and iconic moments. We’ve seen legendary franchises like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers dominate the league, but also newer powerhouses like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.

That season, the Heat lost to the Denver Nuggets, who won their first ring in franchise history.

Let’s take a look back at the full list of NBA Finals winners.

List of NBA champions

2023: Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat (4-1)
2022: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics (4-2)
2021: Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns (4-2)
2020: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Miami Heat (4-2)
2019: The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors (4-2)
2018: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)
2017: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1)
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors (4-3)
2015: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-2)
2014: San Antonio Spurs defeated Miami Heat (4-1)
2013: Miami Heat def. San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
2012: Miami Heat defeated Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1)
2011: Dallas Mavericks defeated Miami Heat (4-2)
2010: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics (4-3)
2009: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Orlando Magic (4-1)
2008: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
2007: San Antonio Spurs defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)
2006: Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks (4-2)
2005: San Antonio Spurs def. Detroit Pistons (4-3)
2004: Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
2003: San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Jersey Nets (4-2)
2002: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets (4-0)
2001: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (4-1)
2000: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers (4-2)
1999: San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks (4-1)
1998: Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz (4-2)
1997: Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz (4-2)
1996: The Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics (4-2)
1995: Houston Rockets defeated Orlando Magic (4-0)
1994: Houston Rockets def. New York Knicks (4-3)
1993: Chicago Bulls def. Phoenix Suns (4-2)
1992: Chicago Bulls def. Portland Trail Blazers (4-2)
1991: The Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1990: Detroit Pistons def. Portland Trail Blazers (4-1)
1989: Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0)
1988: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons (4-3)
1987: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics (4-2)
1986: Boston Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets (4-2)
1985: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics (4-2)
1984: Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1983: The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0)
1982: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1981: Boston Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets (4-2)
1980: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1979: Seattle SuperSonics def. Washington Bullets (4-1)
1978: Washington Bullets def. Seattle SuperSonics (4-3)
1977: Portland Trail Blazers def. Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1976: Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns (4-2)
1975: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Bullets (4-0)
1974: Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks (4-3)
1973: The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1972: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New York Knicks (4-1)
1971: Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Baltimore Bullets (4-0)
1970: The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1969: Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1968: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
1967: The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the San Francisco Warriors (4-2)
1966: Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1965: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1964: Boston Celtics defeated the San Francisco Warriors (4-1)
1963: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
1962: Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1961: Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks (4-1)
1960: Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks (4-3)
1959: Boston Celtics defeated the Minneapolis Lakers (4-0)
1958: St. Louis Hawks defeated Boston Celtics (4-2)
1957: Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks (4-3)
1956: Philadelphia Warriors def. Fort Wayne Pistons (4-1)
1955: Syracuse Nationals def. Fort Wayne Pistons (4-3)
1954: The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Syracuse Nationals (4-3)
1953: The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the New York Knicks (4-1)
1952: The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the New York Knicks (4-3)
1951: Rochester Royals defeated the New York Knicks (4-3)
1950: The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Syracuse Nationals (4-2)
1949: Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Washington Capitols (4-2)

Which teams have won the most NBA championships?

The Celtics and Lakers have the most NBA titles with 17. Here is a list of teams that have won at least three NBA championships:

• Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles)
• Boston Celtics (17)
• Golden State Warriors (7)
• Chicago Bulls (6)
• San Antonio Spurs (5)
• Philly 76ers (3)
• Detroit Pistons (3)
• Miami Heat (3)

Which players have won the most NBA championships?

Bill Russell holds the record for most NBA rings with 11. Here is a list of NBA players with six or more titles:

• Bill Russell (11 championships)
• Sam Jones (10)
• K.C. Jones (8)
• Satch grinders (8)
• John Havlicek (8)
• Jim Locutoff (7)
• Frank Ramsey (7)
• Robert Horry (7)
• Bob Cousy (6)
• Kareem Abdul Jabbar (6)
• Michael Jordan (6)
• Scottie Pippen (6)

Which teams have never won an NBA championship?

Twelve teams have never won an NBA Finals.

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