Serious slam dunks, mind-blowing passes, and heart-stopping finishes—can you guess the sport? As someone who is a sports lover, your first guess would be basketball, which is 100% correct! If you are living in the United States or Canada, you must be well aware of the popularity of the NBA.
The NBA, or National Basketball Association, is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world, especially in the US and Canada, since out of 30 teams, 29 are based in the US and one in Canada.
With a rich history dating back to 1946, the NBA wasn't a highly anticipated sport in those days. But how did it become the powerhouse it is today? If you're interested in learning more about the growth of the NBA, continue to scroll on.
You Might Like: NBA History Timeline: Tracing the Evolution of America's Premier Basketball League
List of NBA Champions [1946-2025]
The most NBA championships are won by the Boston Celtics, with a total of 17 championships. However, other teams have also had success in the NBA. These are:
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Results |
| 1946–47 | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Stags | 4–1 |
| 1947–48 | Baltimore Bullets | Philadelphia Warriors | 4–2 |
| 1948–49 | Minneapolis Lakers | Washington Capitols | 4–2 |
| 1949–50 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4–2 |
| 1950–51 | Rochester Royals | New York Knickerbockers | 4–3 |
| 1951–52 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 4–3 |
| 1952–53 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 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 Knickerbockers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
| 1970–71 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Bullets | 4–0 |
| 1971–72 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 4–1 |
| 1972–73 | New York Knickerbockers | 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 Knickerbockers | 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 Knickerbockers | 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 |
| 2024-25 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Indiana Pacers | 4-3 |
In a thrilling conclusion to the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged victorious over the Indiana Pacers with a final score of 103-91 in Game 7, securing the championship with a 4-3 series win.
The Thunder showcased their dominance throughout the decisive game, leading in scoring for three out of the four quarters (25-22, 34-20, 22-23) and ultimately outpacing the Pacers to claim the coveted title.
This hard-fought victory marks a significant achievement for the Oklahoma City Thunder, concluding their season with a championship record of 4-3 in the Finals against the Pacers' 3-4.
So, this was all about the list of NBA champions from 1946 to the present. It's fascinating to see the evolution of the league and the different teams that have achieved success over the years.
The NBA has grown into a global phenomenon, with fans worldwide following their favourite teams and players. The list of champions serves as a reminder of the rich history and legacy of the league.
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