So, this time of year, everyone wants to look up who the NBA finals winners were in the past. We have all of the champions listed by year for you from 1947 through the 2023 NBA Finals. We also give you the overall series result so that you can see how many games each series took. While most fans (and the league) would love to have a seven game NBA Finals every year, when you look at the results, you will see that we actually don’t get a full series that often. When we do…well it’s special.
Recent NBA Champions
So, when it’s NBA Playoffs time, everyone wants to look at the recent NBA champions. See how they did. If they are tracking to compete again this year or not (injuries play a huge role as you can imagine), and more. For example, the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship. While they are a #2 seed in the NBA bracket for 2024, they are still one of the favorites to win the 2024 NBA Finals.
One team we won’t see in this year’s playoffs is Golden State. They lost in the Play-In to Sacramento. We also have the Celtics and Bucks lurking out there, so we’ll see if any past NBA finals winners can add to their total championships this year. You can never discount the Bucks, Cavs, Lakers, Knicks, Mavs, etc. There are a lot of teams who can get hot and go the distance. That’s one of the best things about watching the NBA Playoffs.
What is the Bracket Format for the NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven game series. The matchup features the Eastern Conference winner vs the Western Conference. The NBA Playoffs start out with 20 teams now-a-days. They hold the Play-In tournament that takes this from 20 to 16 teams. These teams face off in best-of-seven series in single-elimination format along the way until we get to the finals. First team to win four games in any series (and the finals) wins.
List of NBA Finals Winners (2000-2023)
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2024 | Celtics | Mavericks | 4-1 |
| 2023 | Nuggets | Heat | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Warriors | Celtics | 4-2 |
| 2021 | Bucks | Suns | 4-2 |
| 2020 | Lakers | Heat | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Raptors | Warriors | 4-2 |
| 2018 | Warriors | Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Warriors | Cavaliers | 4-1 |
| 2016 | Cavaliers | Warriors | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Warriors | Cavaliers | 4-2 |
| 2014 | Spurs | Heat | 4-1 |
| 2013 | Heat | Spurs | 4-3 |
| 2012 | Heat | Thunder | 4-1 |
| 2011 | Mavericks | Heat | 4-2 |
| 2010 | Lakers | Celtics | 4-3 |
| 2009 | Lakers | Magic | 4-1 |
| 2008 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-2 |
| 2007 | Spurs | Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2006 | Heat | Mavericks | 4-2 |
| 2005 | Spurs | Pistons | 4-3 |
| 2004 | Pistons | Lakers | 4-1 |
| 2003 | Spurs | Nets | 4-2 |
| 2002 | Lakers | Nets | 4-0 |
| 2001 | Lakers | 76ers | 4-1 |
| 2000 | Lakers | Pacers | 4-2 |
List of NBA Finals Winners (1971-1999)
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1999 | Spurs | Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1998 | Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 |
| 1997 | Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 |
| 1996 | Bulls | Supersonics | 4-2 |
| 1995 | Rockets | Magic | 4-0 |
| 1994 | Rockets | Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1993 | Bulls | Suns | 4-2 |
| 1992 | Bulls | Trail Blazers | 4-2 |
| 1991 | Bulls | Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1990 | Pistons | Trail Blazers | 4-1 |
| 1989 | Pistons | Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1988 | Lakers | Pistons | 4-3 |
| 1987 | Lakers | Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1986 | Celtics | Rockets | 4-2 |
| 1985 | Lakers | Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1984 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1983 | 76ers | Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1982 | Lakers | 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1981 | Celtics | Rockets | 4-2 |
| 1980 | Lakers | 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1979 | Supersonics | Bullets | 4-1 |
| 1978 | Bullets | Supersonics | 4-3 |
| 1977 | Trail Blazers | 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1976 | Celtics | Suns | 4-2 |
| 1975 | Warriors | Bullets | 4-0 |
| 1974 | Celtics | Bucks | 4-3 |
| 1973 | Knicks | Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1972 | Lakers | Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1971 | Bucks | Bulles | 4-0 |
List of NBA Finals Winners (1947-1970)
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1970 | Knicks | Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1969 | Boston Celtis | Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1968 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1967 | 76ers | Warriors | 4-2 |
| 1966 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1965 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1964 | Celtics | Warriors | 4-1 |
| 1963 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1962 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1961 | Celtics | Hawks | 4-1 |
| 1960 | Celtics | Hawks | 4-3 |
| 1959 | Celtics | Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1958 | Hawks | Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1957 | Celtics | Hawks | 4-3 |
| 1956 | Warrios | Pistons | 4-3 |
| 1955 | Nationals | Pistons | 4-3 |
| 1954 | Lakers | Nationals | 4-3 |
| 1953 | Lakers | Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1952 | Lakers | Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1951 | Royals | Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1950 | Lakers | Nationals | 4-2 |
| 1949 | Lakers | Capitols | 4-2 |
| 1948 | Bullets | Warriors | 4-2 |
| 1947 | Warriors | Stags | 4-1 |
Every NBA Finals MVP in History (Highlights)
We haven’t had NBA Finals MVPs forever. But we’ve had the award for a while. This video has highlights of all of the MVPs for you to enjoy.
