NBA Basketball League (National Basketball Association) History
|
|
|
Basketball Association of America was created in 1946
League name history
1949 until now: National Basketball Association 1949-1950 1950-1951 1951-1952 1952-1953 1953-1954 1954-1955 1955-1956 1956-1957 1957-1958 1958-1959 1959-1960 1960-1961 1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966 1966-1967 1967-1968 1968-1969 1969-1970 1970-1971 1971-1972 1972-1973 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1981 1981-1982 1982-1983 1983-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
League logos
 Until 1949 | 1949-1953 |  1953-1962 |  1962-1969 |  1969-2017 |  Since 2017 |
Title holders
- 1946-47:
Philadelphia Warriors - 1947-48:
Baltimore Bullets - 1948-49:
Minneapolis Lakers - 1949-50: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1950-51:
Rochester Royals - 1951-52:
New York Knicks - 1952-53: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1953-54: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1954-55:
Syracuse Nationals - 1955-56:
Philadelphia Warriors - 1956-57:
Boston Celtics - 1957-58:
St. Louis Hawks - 1958-59: Boston Celtics
- 1959-60:
Boston Celtics - 1960-61:
Boston Celtics - 1961-62: Boston Celtics
- 1962-63: Boston Celtics
- 1963-64: Boston Celtics
- 1964-65:
Los Angeles Lakers - 1965-66: Boston Celtics
- 1966-67:
Philadelphia 76ers - 1967-68: Boston Celtics
- 1968-69:
Boston Celtics - 1969-70: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1970-71:
Milwaukee Bucks - 1971-72: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1972-73: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1973-74: Boston Celtics
- 1974-75: Golden State Warriors
- 1975-76:
Boston Celtics - 1976-77:
Portland Trail Blazers - 1977-78:
Seattle SuperSonics - 1978-79: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1979-80:
Los Angeles Lakers - 1980-81:
Houston Rockets - 1981-82: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1982-83:
Philadelphia 76ers - 1983-84: Boston Celtics
- 1984-85: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1985-86: Boston Celtics
- 1986-87: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1987-88: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1988-89:
Detroit Pistons - 1989-90: Detroit Pistons
- 1990-91: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1991-92:
Chicago Bulls - 1992-93: Chicago Bulls
- 1993-94: Houston Rockets
- 1994-95:
Houston Rockets - 1995-96: Chicago Bulls
- 1996-97: Chicago Bulls
- 1997-98: Chicago Bulls
- 1998-99:
San Antonio Spurs - 1999-00: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000-01: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2001-02: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2002-03:
San Antonio Spurs - 2003-04:
Detroit Pistons - 2004-05: San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06:
Miami Heat - 2006-07: San Antonio Spurs
- 2007-08: Boston Celtics
- 2008-09:
Orlando Magic - 2009-10: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2010-11: Miami Heat
- 2011-12: Miami Heat
- 2012-13: San Antonio Spurs
- 2013-14: Miami Heat
- 2014-15:
Cleveland Cavaliers - 2015-16: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2016-17:
Golden State Warriors - 2017-18: Golden State Warriors
- 2018-19: Golden State Warriors
- 2019-20: Miami Heat
- 2020-21:
Milwaukee Bucks - 2021-22: Boston Celtics
- 2022-23:
Denver Nuggets - 2023-24: Boston Celtics
- 2024-25:
Oklahoma City Thunder
- 1946-47: Philadelphia Warriors
- 1947-48: Baltimore Bullets
- 1948-49: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1949-50: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1950-51: Rochester Royals
- 1951-52: New York Knicks
- 1952-53: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1953-54: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1954-55: Syracuse Nationals
- 1955-56: Philadelphia Warriors
- 1956-57: Boston Celtics
- 1957-58: St. Louis Hawks
- 1958-59: Boston Celtics
- 1959-60: Boston Celtics
- 1960-61: Boston Celtics
- 1961-62: Boston Celtics
- 1962-63: Boston Celtics
- 1963-64: Boston Celtics
- 1964-65: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1965-66: Boston Celtics
- 1966-67: Philadelphia 76ers
- 1967-68: Boston Celtics
- 1968-69: Boston Celtics
- 1969-70: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1970-71: Milwaukee Bucks
- 1971-72: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1972-73: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1973-74: Boston Celtics
- 1974-75: Golden State Warriors
- 1975-76: Boston Celtics
- 1976-77: Portland Trail Blazers
- 1977-78: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1978-79: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1979-80: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1980-81: Houston Rockets
- 1981-82: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1982-83: Philadelphia 76ers
- 1983-84: Boston Celtics
- 1984-85: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1985-86: Boston Celtics
- 1986-87: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1987-88: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1988-89: Detroit Pistons
- 1989-90: Detroit Pistons
- 1990-91: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1991-92: Chicago Bulls
- 1992-93: Chicago Bulls
- 1993-94: Houston Rockets
- 1994-95: Houston Rockets
- 1995-96: Chicago Bulls
- 1996-97: Chicago Bulls
- 1997-98: Chicago Bulls
- 1998-99: San Antonio Spurs
- 1999-00: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000-01: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2001-02: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2002-03: San Antonio Spurs
- 2003-04: Detroit Pistons
- 2004-05: San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06: Miami Heat
- 2006-07: San Antonio Spurs
- 2007-08: Boston Celtics
- 2008-09: Orlando Magic
- 2009-10: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2010-11: Miami Heat
- 2011-12: Miami Heat
- 2012-13: San Antonio Spurs
- 2013-14: Miami Heat
- 2014-15: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2015-16: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2016-17: Golden State Warriors
- 2017-18: Golden State Warriors
- 2018-19: Golden State Warriors
- 2019-20: Miami Heat
- 2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2021-22: Boston Celtics
- 2022-23: Denver Nuggets
- 2023-24: Boston Celtics
- 2024-25: Oklahoma City Thunder
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 20 |  LA Lakers | 2022-23, 2022-23, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1964-65, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1990-91, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2009-10 |
| 18 |  Boston C. | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 1956-57, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1965-66, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1983-84, 1985-86, 2007-08 |
| 8 |  GS Warriors | 2022-23, 2023-24, 1946-47, 1955-56, 1974-75, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 |
| 7 | Chicago B. | 2022-23, 2022-23, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 |
| 8 |  Miami H. | 2022-23, 2023-24, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2019-20, 2024-25 |
| 5 |  San Antonio S. | 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2012-13 |
| 3 |  Houston R. | 1980-81, 1993-94, 1994-95 |
| 3 |  Detroit P. | 1988-89, 1989-90, 2003-04 |
| 3 |  Philadelphia 76 | 1954-55, 1966-67, 1982-83 |
| 3 |  OKC Thunder | 1977-78, 1978-79, 2024-25 |
| 2 |  Cleveland C. | 2014-15, 2015-16 |
| 4 |  Milwaukee B. | 2022-23, 1970-71, 2020-21, 2023-24 |
| 3 |  Atlanta H. | 2022-23, 1957-58, 2024-25 |
| 2 |  Denver N. | 2022-23, 2024-25 |
| 2 |  Portland TB | 1976-77, 2024-25 |
| 10 |  NY Knicks | 2022-23, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2023-24, 1951-52, 2024-25, 2024-25, 2024-25, 2024-25, 2024-25 |
| 1 |  Orlando M. | 2008-09 |
| 1 |  Sacramento K. | 1950-51 |
| 1 | Z*Baltimore B. | 1947-48 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers | 18 | 14 | 32 |
| Boston C. | 17 | 6 | 23 |
| GS Warriors | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Philadelphia 76 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| NY Knicks | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Detroit P. | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Miami H. | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Chicago B. | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| San Antonio S. | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Cleveland C. | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| OKC Thunder | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Atlanta H. | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Houston R. | 3 | 1 | 4 |
 Washington W. | 0 | 4 | 4 |
 Dallas M. | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Milwaukee B. | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Portland TB | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Phoenix S. | 0 | 3 | 3 |
 Utah Jazz | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Brooklyn N. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Orlando M. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Indiana P. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Denver N. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sacramento K. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Toronto R. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Z*Baltimore B. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Z*Washington C. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Z*Chicago S. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers | 18 | 14 | 5 | 5 |
| Boston C. | 17 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| GS Warriors | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Miami H. | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| San Antonio S. | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Philadelphia 76 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| Detroit P. | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| OKC Thunder | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Houston R. | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Milwaukee B. | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| NY Knicks | 1 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Portland TB | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Orlando M. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sacramento K. | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Denver N. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Z*Baltimore B. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington W. | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Phoenix S. | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Indiana P. | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Utah Jazz | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Brooklyn N. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Washington C. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Toronto R. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Chicago S. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Minnesota T. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*St.Louis Bombers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Anderson P. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Memphis G. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| LA Clippers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the NBA Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Russell | 12 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Sam Jones | 11 | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 10 | 1971, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989 |
| LeBron James | 10 | 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 |
| Tom Heinsohn | 9 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
| Elgin Baylor | 9 | 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 |
| Jerry West | 9 | 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973 |
| Magic Johnson | 9 | 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 |
| Frank Ramsey | 8 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| Jim Loscutoff | 8 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
Players with the most NBA titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Russell | 10 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Sam Jones | 9 | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Frank Ramsey | 8 | 1957, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| Tom Heinsohn | 7 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| Jim Loscutoff | 7 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| K.C. Jones | 7 | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966 |
| Tom Sanders | 7 | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| John Havlicek | 7 | 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976 |
| Robert Horry | 7 | 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007 |
| Bob Cousy | 6 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 |
