NBA Finals: champions year by year
The NBA Finals of every season, from the most recent to the oldest: who won the title, against whom, how the series ended and who was the Finals MVP.
2020s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | KnicksNew York Knicks MVP: Jalen Brunson | 4-1 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs | Jalen Brunson |
| 2024-25 | ThunderOklahoma City Thunder MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 4-3 | PacersIndiana Pacers | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2023-24 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Jaylen Brown | 4-1 | MavericksDallas Mavericks | Jaylen Brown |
| 2022-23 | NuggetsDenver Nuggets MVP: Nikola Jokić | 4-1 | HeatMiami Heat | Nikola Jokić |
| 2021-22 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors MVP: Stephen Curry | 4-2 | CelticsBoston Celtics | Stephen Curry |
| 2020-21 | BucksMilwaukee Bucks MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo | 4-2 | SunsPhoenix Suns | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
2010s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: LeBron James | 4-2 | HeatMiami Heat | LeBron James |
| 2018-19 | RaptorsToronto Raptors MVP: Kawhi Leonard | 4-2 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2017-18 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors MVP: Kevin Durant | 4-0 | CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers | Kevin Durant |
| 2016-17 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors MVP: Kevin Durant | 4-1 | CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers | Kevin Durant |
| 2015-16 | CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers MVP: LeBron James | 4-3 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors | LeBron James |
| 2014-15 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors MVP: Andre Iguodala | 4-2 | CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers | Andre Iguodala |
| 2013-14 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs MVP: Kawhi Leonard | 4-1 | HeatMiami Heat | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2012-13 | HeatMiami Heat MVP: LeBron James | 4-3 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs | LeBron James |
| 2011-12 | HeatMiami Heat MVP: LeBron James | 4-1 | ThunderOklahoma City Thunder | LeBron James |
| 2010-11 | MavericksDallas Mavericks MVP: Dirk Nowitzki | 4-2 | HeatMiami Heat | Dirk Nowitzki |
2000s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Kobe Bryant | 4-3 | CelticsBoston Celtics | Kobe Bryant |
| 2008-09 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Kobe Bryant | 4-1 | MagicOrlando Magic | Kobe Bryant |
| 2007-08 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Paul Pierce | 4-2 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Paul Pierce |
| 2006-07 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs MVP: Tony Parker | 4-0 | CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers | Tony Parker |
| 2005-06 | HeatMiami Heat MVP: Dwyane Wade | 4-2 | MavericksDallas Mavericks | Dwyane Wade |
| 2004-05 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs MVP: Tim Duncan | 4-3 | PistonsDetroit Pistons | Tim Duncan |
| 2003-04 | PistonsDetroit Pistons MVP: Chauncey Billups | 4-1 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Chauncey Billups |
| 2002-03 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs MVP: Tim Duncan | 4-2 | NetsNew Jersey Nets | Tim Duncan |
| 2001-02 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Shaquille O'Neal | 4-0 | NetsNew Jersey Nets | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 2000-01 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Shaquille O'Neal | 4-1 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers | Shaquille O'Neal |
1990s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Shaquille O'Neal | 4-2 | PacersIndiana Pacers | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 1998-99 | SpursSan Antonio Spurs MVP: Tim Duncan | 4-1 | KnicksNew York Knicks | Tim Duncan |
| 1997-98 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-2 | JazzUtah Jazz | Michael Jordan |
| 1996-97 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-2 | JazzUtah Jazz | Michael Jordan |
| 1995-96 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-2 | SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics | Michael Jordan |
| 1994-95 | RocketsHouston Rockets MVP: Hakeem Olajuwon | 4-0 | MagicOrlando Magic | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1993-94 | RocketsHouston Rockets MVP: Hakeem Olajuwon | 4-3 | KnicksNew York Knicks | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1992-93 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-2 | SunsPhoenix Suns | Michael Jordan |
| 1991-92 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-2 | Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers | Michael Jordan |
| 1990-91 | BullsChicago Bulls MVP: Michael Jordan | 4-1 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Michael Jordan |
1980s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-90 | PistonsDetroit Pistons MVP: Isiah Thomas | 4-1 | Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers | Isiah Thomas |
| 1988-89 | PistonsDetroit Pistons MVP: Joe Dumars | 4-0 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Joe Dumars |
| 1987-88 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: James Worthy | 4-3 | PistonsDetroit Pistons | James Worthy |
| 1986-87 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Magic Johnson | 4-2 | CelticsBoston Celtics | Magic Johnson |
| 1985-86 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Larry Bird | 4-2 | RocketsHouston Rockets | Larry Bird |
| 1984-85 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 4-2 | CelticsBoston Celtics | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1983-84 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Larry Bird | 4-3 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Larry Bird |
| 1982-83 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers MVP: Moses Malone | 4-0 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Moses Malone |
| 1981-82 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Magic Johnson | 4-2 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers | Magic Johnson |
| 1980-81 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Cedric Maxwell | 4-2 | RocketsHouston Rockets | Cedric Maxwell |
1970s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Magic Johnson | 4-2 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers | Magic Johnson |
| 1978-79 | SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics MVP: Dennis Johnson | 4-1 | BulletsWashington Bullets | Dennis Johnson |
| 1977-78 | BulletsWashington Bullets MVP: Wes Unseld | 4-3 | SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics | Wes Unseld |
| 1976-77 | Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers MVP: Bill Walton | 4-2 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers | Bill Walton |
| 1975-76 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Jojo White | 4-2 | SunsPhoenix Suns | Jojo White |
| 1974-75 | WarriorsGolden State Warriors MVP: Rick Barry | 4-0 | BulletsWashington Bullets | Rick Barry |
| 1973-74 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: John Havlicek | 4-3 | BucksMilwaukee Bucks | John Havlicek |
| 1972-73 | KnicksNew York Knicks MVP: Willis Reed | 4-1 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Willis Reed |
| 1971-72 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers MVP: Wilt Chamberlain | 4-1 | KnicksNew York Knicks | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1970-71 | BucksMilwaukee Bucks MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 4-0 | BulletsBaltimore Bullets | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
1960s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969-70 | KnicksNew York Knicks MVP: Willis Reed | 4-3 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Willis Reed |
| 1968-69 | CelticsBoston Celtics MVP: Jerry West | 4-3 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | Jerry West |
| 1967-68 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-2 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1966-67 | 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers | 4-2 | WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors | — |
| 1965-66 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-3 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1964-65 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-1 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1963-64 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-1 | WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors | — |
| 1962-63 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-2 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1961-62 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-3 | LakersLos Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1960-61 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-1 | HawksSt. Louis Hawks | — |
1950s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959-60 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-3 | HawksSt. Louis Hawks | — |
| 1958-59 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-0 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | — |
| 1957-58 | HawksSt. Louis Hawks | 4-2 | CelticsBoston Celtics | — |
| 1956-57 | CelticsBoston Celtics | 4-3 | HawksSt. Louis Hawks | — |
| 1955-56 | WarriorsPhiladelphia Warriors | 4-1 | PistonsFort Wayne Pistons | — |
| 1954-55 | NationalsSyracuse Nationals | 4-3 | PistonsFort Wayne Pistons | — |
| 1953-54 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | 4-3 | NationalsSyracuse Nationals | — |
| 1952-53 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | 4-1 | KnicksNew York Knicks | — |
| 1951-52 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | 4-3 | KnicksNew York Knicks | — |
| 1950-51 | RoyalsRochester Royals | 4-3 | KnicksNew York Knicks | — |
1940s
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949-50 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | 4-2 | NationalsSyracuse Nationals | — |
| 1948-49 | LakersMinneapolis Lakers | 4-2 | CapitolsWashington Capitols | — |
| 1947-48 | BulletsBaltimore Bullets | 4-2 | WarriorsPhiladelphia Warriors | — |
| 1946-47 | WarriorsPhiladelphia Warriors | 4-1 | StagsChicago Stags | — |