(Updated) List of the NBA Champions (1946–2024)

Slam dunks, great passes, nail-biting moves – can you guess what sport this is? As a sports fan, your first guess is basketball, and that’s 100% correct!

If you live in the United States or Canada, you are no doubt well aware of the popularity of the NBA.

NBA, or the National Basketball Association, is considered the world’s top professional basketball league, especially in the United States and Canada, as out of its 30 teams, 29 are based in the United States and 1 is in Canada.

The history of the NBA dates back to 1946, when it was not a highly anticipated sport. But how did it become the powerhouse it is today? If you want to know more about the development of the NBA, keep reading.

How was the NBA created?

The NBA was not yet a thing. In June 1946, at Boston Garden, owner Walter Brown realized that the large ice hockey arena in New York City that sat empty most nights could be used to host basketball games. He founded the Basketball Association of America.

In 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association. Originally competitors, the BAA and NBL eventually decided to join forces to form the NBA, the more unified, competitive basketball league we know today.

However, when something new emerges, it takes time for it to gain popularity and establish itself in the sports world. The same is true for the NBA.

By the early 1980s, the NBA was struggling financially, with low attendance, declining television ratings, and a lack of national visibility.

However, under the leadership of David Stern, who became NBA commissioner in 1984, the NBA achieved a remarkable recovery and developed into a global entertainment giant.

Stern’s strategic approach included aggressive marketing that emphasized star players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and especially Michael Jordan.

Other innovations, including the implementation of a salary cap, lucrative broadcasting deals with networks and cable, and expanded festivities to elevate the All-Star Game, have helped raise the NBA’s profile and solidify its status as a global sports powerhouse.

NBA teams and divisions

NBA has 30 teams, divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference is divided into three divisions: the Atlantic Division, the Central Division and the Southeast Division.

The Western Conference is divided into the Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest divisions. Each division has five teams. The table below describes the teams in each division in more detail.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Atlantic Division

Northwest Division

Boston Celtics

Denver Nuggets

New Jersey Nets

Minnesota Timberwolves

New York Knicks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Philadelphia 76ers

Portland Trail Blazers

Toronto Raptors

Utah Jazz

Central Division

Pacific Division

Chicago Bulls

Golden State Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers

Los Angeles Clippers

Detroit Pistons

Los Angeles Lakers

Indiana Pacers

Phoenix Suns

Milwaukee Bucks

Sacramento Kings

Southeast Division

Southwest Division

Atlanta Hawks

Dallas Mavericks

Charlotte Hornets

Houston Rockets

Miami Heat

Memphis Grizzlies

Orlando Magic

New Orleans Pelicans

Washington Wizards

San Antonio Spurs

NBA Champions List

The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships with 17. However, other teams have also achieved success in the NBA. These teams include:

season

winner

runner up

result

1946–47

Philadelphia Warriors

Chicago Stags

4–1

1947–48

Baltimore Bullets

Philadelphia Warriors

4–2

1948–49

Minneapolis Lakers

Washington Capitol

4–2

1949–50

Minneapolis Lakers

Syracuse Nationals

4–2

1950–51

Rochester Royals

New York Knicks

4–3

1951–52

Minneapolis Lakers

New York Knicks

4–3

1952–53

Minneapolis Lakers

New York Knicks

4–1

1953–54

Minneapolis Lakers

Syracuse Nationals

4–3

1954–55

Syracuse Nationals

Fort Wayne Pistons

4–3

1955–56

Philadelphia Warriors

Fort Wayne Pistons

4–1

1956–57

Boston Celtics

St. Louis Hawks

4–3

1957–58

St. Louis Hawks

Boston Celtics

4–2

1958–59

Boston Celtics

Minneapolis Lakers

4–0

1959–60

Boston Celtics

St. Louis Hawks

4–3

1960–61

Boston Celtics

St. Louis Hawks

4–1

1961–62

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–3

1962–63

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–2

1963–64

Boston Celtics

San Francisco Warriors

4–1

1964–65

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–1

1965–66

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–3

1966–67

Philadelphia 76ers

San Francisco Warriors

4–2

1967–68

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–2

1968–69

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–3

1969–70

New York Knicks

Los Angeles Lakers

4–3

1970–71

Milwaukee Bucks

Baltimore Bullets

4–0

1971–72

Los Angeles Lakers

New York Knicks

4–1

1972–73

New York Knicks

Los Angeles Lakers

4–1

1973–74

Boston Celtics

Milwaukee Bucks

4–3

1974–75

Golden State Warriors

Washington Bullets

4–0

1975–76

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns

4–2

1976–77

Portland Trail Blazers

Philadelphia 76ers

4–2

1977–78

Washington Bullets

Seattle SuperSonics

4–3

1978–79

Seattle SuperSonics

Washington Bullets

4–1

1979–80

Los Angeles Lakers

Philadelphia 76ers

4–2

1980–81

Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets

4–2

1981–82

Los Angeles Lakers

Philadelphia 76ers

4–2

1982–83

Philadelphia 76ers

Los Angeles Lakers

4–0

1983–84

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–3

1984–85

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

4–2

1985–86

Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets

4–2

1986–87

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

4–2

1987–88

Los Angeles Lakers

Detroit Pistons

4–3

1988–89

Detroit Pistons

Los Angeles Lakers

4–0

1989–90

Detroit Pistons

Portland Trail Blazers

4–1

1990–91

Chicago Bulls

Los Angeles Lakers

4–1

1991–92

Chicago Bulls

Portland Trail Blazers

4–2

1992–93

Chicago Bulls

Phoenix Suns

4–2

1993–94

Houston Rockets

New York Knicks

4–3

1994–95

Houston Rockets

Orlando Magic

4–0

1995–96

Chicago Bulls

Seattle SuperSonics

4–2

1996–97

Chicago Bulls

Utah Jazz

4–2

1997–98

Chicago Bulls

Utah Jazz

4–2

1998–99

San Antonio Spurs

New York Knicks

4–1

1999–2000

Los Angeles Lakers

Indiana Pacers

4–2

2000–01

Los Angeles Lakers

Philadelphia 76ers

4–1

2001–02

Los Angeles Lakers

New Jersey Nets

4–0

2002–03

San Antonio Spurs

New Jersey Nets

4–2

2003–04

Detroit Pistons

Los Angeles Lakers

4–1

2004–05

San Antonio Spurs

Detroit Pistons

4–3

2005–06

Miami Heat

Dallas Mavericks

4–2

2006–07

San Antonio Spurs

Cleveland Cavaliers

4–0

2007–08

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

4–2

2008–09

Los Angeles Lakers

Orlando Magic

4–1

2009–10

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

4–3

2010–11

Dallas Mavericks

Miami Heat

4–2

2011–12

Miami Heat

Oklahoma City Thunder

4–1

2012–13

Miami Heat

San Antonio Spurs

4–3

2013–14

San Antonio Spurs

Miami Heat

4–1

2014–15

Golden State Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers

4–2

2015–16

Cleveland Cavaliers

Golden State Warriors

4–3

2016–17

Golden State Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers

4–1

2017–18

Golden State Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers

4–0

2018–19

Toronto Raptors

Golden State Warriors

4–2

2019–20

Los Angeles Lakers

Miami Heat

4–2

2020–21

Milwaukee Bucks

Phoenix Suns

4–2

2021–22

Golden State Warriors

Boston Celtics

4–2

2022–23

Denver Nuggets

Miami Heat

4–1

2023–24

Boston Celtics

Dallas Mavericks

4–1

So, that’s the list of NBA champions from 1946 to present. It’s been fascinating to see the evolution of the league and the different teams that have had success over the years.

The NBA has become a global phenomenon, with fans around the world following their favorite teams and players. The championship roster is a reminder of the league’s rich history and legacy.

Please stay tuned for more NBA information!