The battle for the next NBA Championship is set to begin, with teams looking to add their names to the league’s storied history.
The New York Knicks are the reigning champions after ending a 53-year title drought with a 4-1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP as the Knicks secured their third championship in franchise history.
Below is a full rundown of every NBA champion in history, dating back to the first title contested in 1947.
Most recent NBA champions
No team has repeated as NBA champions since the Golden State Warriors won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018, when their dynasty was at its peak. The Warriors won four championships in five years during the mid-to-late 2010s, while LeBron James won three titles in five years with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers before adding another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
- 2026: New York Knicks
- 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2024: Boston Celtics
- 2023: Denver Nuggets
- 2022: Golden State Warriors
- 2021: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2020: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2019: Toronto Raptors
- 2018: Golden State Warriors
- 2017: Golden State Warriors
- 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2015: Golden State Warriors
- 2014: San Antonio Spurs
- 2013: Miami Heat
- 2012: Miami Heat
- 2011: Dallas Mavericks
- 2010: Los Angeles Lakers
The 2000s
The 2000s began with a dominant stretch from the Los Angeles Lakers, who remain the last NBA team to three-peat, winning three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Led by the great Kobe Bryant, the Lakers returned to the top in 2009 to close out the decade with another title. Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs also established themselves as a dominant force during the era, winning three championships.
- 2009: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008: Boston Celtics
- 2007: San Antonio Spurs
- 2006: Miami Heat
- 2005: San Antonio Spurs
- 2004: Detroit Pistons
- 2003: San Antonio Spurs
- 2002: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2001: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000: Los Angeles Lakers
1990s NBA champions
The 1990s are widely regarded as a golden era of basketball, driven in large part by Michael Jordan’s rise to global superstardom. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, winning three in a row before stepping away from basketball to pursue a career in professional baseball. The Houston Rockets also enjoyed a dominant spell, winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
- 1999: San Antonio Spurs
- 1998: Chicago Bulls
- 1997: Chicago Bulls
- 1996: Chicago Bulls
- 1995: Houston Rockets
- 1994: Houston Rockets
- 1993: Chicago Bulls
- 1992: Chicago Bulls
- 1991: Chicago Bulls
- 1990: Detroit Pistons
1980s NBA champions
The 1980s are best remembered for the ‘Showtime Lakers’, led by head coach Pat Riley and the stellar play of Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and company. The Boston Celtics were their main rivals during the decade, winning three championships, while the Lakers claimed five.
- 1989: Detroit Pistons
- 1988: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1987: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1986: Boston Celtics
- 1985: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1984: Boston Celtics
- 1983: Philadelphia 76ers
- 1982: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1981: Boston Celtics
- 1980: Los Angeles Lakers
1970s NBA champions
The 1970s saw eight different teams win the NBA championship, including the now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics. The decade also featured the Portland Trail Blazers’ only championship to date, while the New York Knicks won the title in 1973.
- 1979: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1978: Washington Bullets
- 1977: Portland Trail Blazers
- 1976: Boston Celtics
- 1975: Golden State Warriors
- 1974: Boston Celtics
- 1973: New York Knicks
- 1972: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1971: Milwaukee Bucks
- 1970: New York Knicks
1960s NBA champions
The 1960s were dominated by the Boston Celtics, who won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. The Philadelphia 76ers ended their historic run in 1967, before the Celtics bounced back to win the next two titles in 1968 and 1969.
- 1969: Boston Celtics
- 1968: Boston Celtics
- 1967: Philadelphia 76ers
- 1966: Boston Celtics
- 1965: Boston Celtics
- 1964: Boston Celtics
- 1963: Boston Celtics
- 1962: Boston Celtics
- 1961: Boston Celtics
- 1960: Boston Celtics
1947-1959 NBA champions
The NBA’s formative years saw the Philadelphia Warriors win the inaugural championship. The early 1950s also featured several teams that no longer exist or have since relocated. The Minneapolis Lakers are now known as the Los Angeles Lakers, having relocated to Los Angeles ahead of the 1960-61 season.
- 1959: Boston Celtics
- 1958: St. Louis Hawks
- 1957: Boston Celtics
- 1956: Philadelphia Warriors
- 1955: Syracuse Nationals
- 1954: Syracuse Nationals
- 1953: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1952: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1951: Rochester Royals
- 1950: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1949: Minneapolis Lakers
- 1948: Baltimore Bullets
- 1947: Philadelphia Warriors
The NBA teams with the most championships
The Boston Celtics are the most successful team in NBA history, with the Los Angeles Lakers just behind them, including their early titles as the Minneapolis Lakers. The Golden State Warriors’ recent dynasty has helped them move into third place all-time, overtaking the Chicago Bulls, who have not won another championship since Michael Jordan retired.
- Boston Celtics – 18
- Los Angeles Lakers – 17
- Golden State Warriors – 7
- Chicago Bulls – 6
- San Antonio Spurs – 5
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