NBA conference finals

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "redirect hatnote". The NBA conference finals are the Eastern and Western Conference championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[1] The NBA adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[2] The league currently consists of 30 teams, of which 29 are located in the United States and 1 in Canada. Each team plays 82 games in the regular season.Template:Efn-ua After the regular season, eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs. At the end of the playoffs, the top two teams play each other in the conference finals, to determine the conference champions from each side, who then proceed to play in the NBA Finals. Trophies were given to each conference winner starting in 2001. In 2022, the league started naming a conference finals most valuable player (MVP) for each conference.[3]

Overview

Initially, the BAA teams were aligned into the Eastern Division and the Western Division. The Divisional Finals were first played in 1949, the league's third season. The first two seasons used a playoffs format where Eastern and Western Division teams would face each other before the BAA Finals. Hence, there were no divisional finals. In the 1949–50 season, the league realigned itself to three divisions, with the addition of the Central Division. However, the arrangement was only used for one season, and the league returned to the two-division format in 1951. The two divisions' format remained until 1970 when the NBA realigned itself into two conferences with two divisions each, which led to the renaming to conference finals.

The finals were a best-of-3 series from 1949 to 1950, a best-of-5 series from 1951 to 1956, and a best-of-7 series since 1957. The conference finals are currently played in a best-of-7 series like the NBA playoffs and Finals. The two series are played in late May each year after the first and second rounds of the Playoffs and before the Finals. After the conference finals, winners are presented with a silver trophy, caps, and T-shirts and advance to the NBA Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won the most conference titles with 19. They have also made 24 appearances in the conference finals, more than any other team, which included eight consecutive appearances in the Western Conference finals from 1982 to 1989. The Boston Celtics have won 11 conference championships, the second most of any team. 23 of the 30 active franchises have won at least one conference title. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers have each played in at least one conference finals, but have failed to win their respective conference title. Two other franchises, the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, have never appeared in the conference finals.

Conference trophies

The NBA first awarded conference championship trophies in 2001.[4] In 2022, both were redesigned, and named the Bob Cousy Trophy for the Eastern Conference and the Oscar Robertson Trophy for the Western Conference, in honor of two men who were instrumental in developing and advancing the players' labor union, the National Basketball Players Association. The two redesigned trophies each feature a silver basketball with its respective conference finals logo on the underside. The trophies also have a slightly different base for each conference to help distinguish one from the other; the silver basketball on the Eastern Conference trophy sits on three pegs, while the Western Conference trophy has the basketball on intercrossing circular rings. The silver basketball is quartered into four sections, representing the winning team first qualifying for the playoffs and then advancing through the three playoff rounds. In that same year, the NBA began awarding conference finals MVPs to the best-performing player of each conference finals.[5]

Key

NBA champion, winner of the NBA Finals
† Team with the best regular season record, or tie for best

Conference

Eastern Conference Finals

Year Champion Coach Result Runner-up Coach
1971 Baltimore Bullets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1972 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
1973 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1974 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1975 Washington Bullets† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1976 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1977 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort".
1978 Washington Bullets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1979 Washington Bullets† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort".
1980 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1981 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Philadelphia 76ers† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1982 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1983 Philadelphia 76ers† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1984 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1985 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1986 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1987 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort".
1988 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
1989 Detroit Pistons† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort".
1990 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort".
1991 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort".
1992 Chicago Bulls† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1993 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1994 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1995 Orlando Magic Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1996 Chicago Bulls† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Orlando Magic Script error: No such module "Sort".
1997 Chicago Bulls† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort".
1998 Chicago Bulls† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1999 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2000 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort".
2001 Philadelphia 76ers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort".
2002 New Jersey Nets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2003 New Jersey Nets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort".
2004 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Indiana Pacers† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2005 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort".
2006 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Detroit Pistons† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2007 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort".
2008 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Detroit Pistons Script error: No such module "Sort".
2009 Orlando Magic Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Cleveland Cavaliers† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2010 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Orlando Magic Script error: No such module "Sort".
2011 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Chicago Bulls† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2012 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2013 Miami Heat† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2014 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2015 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Atlanta Hawks Script error: No such module "Sort".
2016 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Toronto Raptors Script error: No such module "Sort".
2017 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2018 Cleveland Cavaliers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2019 Toronto Raptors Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Milwaukee Bucks† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2020 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2021 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Atlanta Hawks Script error: No such module "Sort".
2022 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort".
2023 Miami Heat Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Boston Celtics Script error: No such module "Sort".
2024 Boston Celtics† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2025 Indiana Pacers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 New York Knicks Script error: No such module "Sort".

Western Conference Finals

Year Champion Coach Result Runner-up Coach
1971 Milwaukee Bucks† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1972 Los Angeles Lakers† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Milwaukee Bucks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1973 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Golden State Warriors Script error: No such module "Sort".
1974 Milwaukee Bucks† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort".
1975 Golden State Warriors Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Chicago Bulls Script error: No such module "Sort".
1976 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Golden State Warriors† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1977 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1978 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Denver Nuggets Script error: No such module "Sort".
1979 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
1980 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort".
1981 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Kansas City Kings Script error: No such module "Sort".
1982 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort".
1983 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort".
1984 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
1985 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Denver Nuggets Script error: No such module "Sort".
1986 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1987 Los Angeles Lakers† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort".
1988 Los Angeles Lakers† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Dallas Mavericks Script error: No such module "Sort".
1989 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
1990 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
1991 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Portland Trail Blazers† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1992 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Utah Jazz Script error: No such module "Sort".
1993 Phoenix Suns† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort".
1994 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Utah Jazz Script error: No such module "Sort".
1995 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort".
1996 Seattle SuperSonics Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Utah Jazz Script error: No such module "Sort".
1997 Utah Jazz Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort".
1998 Utah Jazz† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort".
1999 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2000 Los Angeles Lakers† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2001 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2002 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Sacramento Kings† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2003 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Dallas Mavericks† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2004 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Minnesota Timberwolves Script error: No such module "Sort".
2005 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Phoenix Suns† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2006 Dallas Mavericks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
2007 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Utah Jazz Script error: No such module "Sort".
2008 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort".
2009 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Denver Nuggets Script error: No such module "Sort".
2010 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort".
2011 Dallas Mavericks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Oklahoma City Thunder Script error: No such module "Sort".
2012 Oklahoma City Thunder Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2013 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Memphis Grizzlies Script error: No such module "Sort".
2014 San Antonio Spurs† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Oklahoma City Thunder Script error: No such module "Sort".
2015 Golden State Warriors† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Houston Rockets Script error: No such module "Sort".
2016 Golden State Warriors† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Oklahoma City Thunder Script error: No such module "Sort".
2017 Golden State Warriors† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 San Antonio Spurs Script error: No such module "Sort".
2018 Golden State Warriors Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–3 Houston Rockets† Script error: No such module "Sort".
2019 Golden State Warriors Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Portland Trail Blazers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2020 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Denver Nuggets Script error: No such module "Sort".
2021 Phoenix Suns Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–2 Los Angeles Clippers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2022 Golden State Warriors Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Dallas Mavericks Script error: No such module "Sort".
2023 Denver Nuggets Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers Script error: No such module "Sort".
2024 Dallas Mavericks Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Minnesota Timberwolves Script error: No such module "Sort".
2025 Oklahoma City Thunder† Script error: No such module "Sort". 4–1 Minnesota Timberwolves Script error: No such module "Sort".

Results by team

Stats updated through June 1, 2025

Total number of appearances

Team East West Total East West Total Total
appearances
Champions Runner-up
Los Angeles Lakers 0 19 19 0 5 5 24
Boston Celtics 11 0 11 12 0 12 23
San Antonio Spurs 0 6 6 1 7 8 14
Chicago Bulls 6 0 6 3 2 5 11
Detroit Pistons 5 0 5 6 0 6 11
Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder 0 5 5 0 6 6 11
Miami Heat 7 0 7 3 0 3 10
Phoenix Suns 0 3 3 0 7 7 10
Indiana Pacers 2 0 2 8 0 8 10
San Francisco / Golden State Warriors 0 7 7 0 2 2 9
New York Knicks 4 0 4 5 0 5 9
Milwaukee Bucks 1 2 3 5 1 6 9
Cleveland Cavaliers 5 0 5 3 0 3 8
Philadelphia 76ers 5 0 5 3 0 3 8
Houston Rockets 0 4 4 1 3 4 8
Portland Trail Blazers 0 3 3 0 4 4 7
Utah Jazz 0 2 2 0 4 4 6
Dallas Mavericks 0 3 3 0 3 3 6
Denver Nuggets 0 1 1 0 4 4 5
Baltimore / Washington Bullets 4 0 4 0 0 0 4
Orlando Magic 2 0 2 2 0 2 4
Minnesota Timberwolves 0 0 0 0 3 3 3
Toronto Raptors 1 0 1 1 0 1 2
Atlanta Hawks 0 0 0 2 0 2 2
New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets 2 0 2 0 0 0 2
Kansas City / Sacramento Kings 0 0 0 0 2 2 2
Memphis Grizzlies 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
Los Angeles Clippers 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Years of appearance

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of appearances, then by number of wins, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning conference finals appearances.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Season(s)
24 Los Angeles Lakers 19 5 Template:Winpct 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2023
23 Boston Celtics 11 12 Template:Winpct 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
14 San Antonio Spurs 6 8 Template:Winpct 1979, 1982, 1983, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
11 Chicago Bulls 6 5 Template:Winpct 1974, 1975, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011
11 Detroit Pistons 5 6 Template:Winpct 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
11 Oklahoma City Thunder 5 6 Template:Winpct 1978, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1993, 1996, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2025
10 Miami Heat 7 3 Template:Winpct 1997, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023
10 Phoenix Suns 3 7 Template:Winpct 1976, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2021
10 Indiana Pacers 2 8 Template:Winpct 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2025
9 Golden State Warriors 7 2 Template:Winpct 1973, 1975, 1976, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
9 New York Knicks 4 5 Template:Winpct 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2025
9 Milwaukee Bucks 3 6 Template:Winpct 1971, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1984, 1986, 2001, 2019, 2021
8 Philadelphia 76ers 5 3 Template:Winpct 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2001
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 5 3 Template:Winpct 1976, 1992, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
8 Houston Rockets 4 4 Template:Winpct 1977, 1981, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2015, 2018
7 Portland Trail Blazers 3 4 Template:Winpct 1977, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2019
6 Dallas Mavericks 3 3 Template:Winpct 1988, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2022, 2024
6 Utah Jazz 2 4 Template:Winpct 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007
5 Denver Nuggets 1 4 Template:Winpct 1978, 1985, 2009, 2020, 2023
4 Washington Wizards 4 0 Template:Winpct 1971, 1975, 1978, 1979
4 Orlando Magic 2 2 Template:Winpct 1995, 1996, 2009, 2010
3 Minnesota Timberwolves 0 3 Template:Winpct 2004, 2024, 2025
2 Brooklyn Nets 2 0 Template:Winpct 2002, 2003
2 Toronto Raptors 1 1 Template:Winpct 2016, 2019
2 Sacramento Kings 0 2 .000 1981, 2002
2 Atlanta Hawks 0 2 .000 2015, 2021
1 Memphis Grizzlies 0 1 Template:Winpct 2013
1 Los Angeles Clippers 0 1 Template:Winpct 2021
0 Charlotte Hornets 0 0 Template:Winpct
0 New Orleans Pelicans 0 0 Template:Winpct

See also

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Notes

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References

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External links

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