Join The Roar
Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
Login and get Roaring
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
The NBA Finals series is culmination of the NBA season. It is the equivalent of a grand final series that decides the winner of the NBA season, played over seven games.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the reigning NBA champions, after they defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 finals.
The regular season traditionally ends in mid-April, with the playoffs starting just days later. The NBA Finals, following the playoffs, traditionally commence in June.
To qualify for the NBA Finals, teams must finish in the top eight places of their respective conference, and win their way through conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals to become conference champions.
To date, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have the most NBA titles with 17 each. The Chicago Bulls are equal-third, but have the distinction of having never lost an NBA finals series – being the only team to do so while having played more than one series.
Recent NBA champions | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Champions | Runners-up |
2020-21 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns |
2019-20 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat |
2018-19 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors |
2017-18 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2016-17 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2015-16 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors |
2014-15 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2013-14 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat |
2012-13 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs |
2011-12 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder |