Explore our comprehensive, chronological list of NBA Finals matchups by year. Spanning from 1947 to 2023, this list encompasses every NBA Finals matchup within this timeframe. Additionally, discover bonus trivia at the bottom of the page, such as: Who has the most NBA Finals matchups? Who has 6 championship rings? What two teams have played each other the most in the NBA Finals? And more! If you’re seeking a concise and clear-cut chronological list of NBA Finals matchups, your search ends here! Keep reading for all the essential information you’re looking for.
1947: Philadelphia Warriors vs. Chicago Stags
1948: Baltimore Bullets vs. Philadelphia Warriors
1949: Minneapolis Lakers vs. Washington Capitols
1950: Minneapolis Lakers vs. Syracuse Nationals
1951: Rochester Royals vs. New York Knicks
1952: Minneapolis Lakers vs. New York Knicks
1953: Minneapolis Lakers vs. New York Knicks
1954: Minneapolis Lakers vs. Syracuse Nationals
1955: Syracuse Nationals vs. Fort Wayne Pistons
1956: Philadelphia Warriors vs. Fort Wayne Pistons
1957: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
1958: St. Louis Hawks vs. Boston Celtics
1959: Boston Celtics vs. Minneapolis Lakers
1960: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
1961: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
1962: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1963: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1964: Boston Celtics vs. San Francisco Warriors
1965: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1966: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1967: Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Francisco Warriors
1968: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1969: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1970: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1971: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Baltimore Bullets
1972: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks
1973: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1974: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
1975: Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Bullets
1976: Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
1977: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
1978: Washington Bullets vs. Seattle SuperSonics
1979: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Washington Bullets
1980: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
1981: Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
1982: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
1983: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1984: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1985: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
1986: Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
1987: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
1988: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
1989: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1990: Detroit Pistons vs. Portland Trail Blazers
1991: Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
1992: Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers
1993: Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns
1994: Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks
1995: Houston Rockets vs. Orlando Magic
1996: Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle SuperSonics
1997: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
1998: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
1999: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks
2000: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers
2001: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
2002: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Jersey Nets
2003: San Antonio Spurs vs. New Jersey Nets
2004: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers
2005: San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons
2006: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks
2007: San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
2008: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
2009: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic
2010: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
2011: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat
2012: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
2013: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
2014: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat
2015: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
2017: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
2018: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
2019: Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors
2020: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat
2021: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns
2022: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
2023: Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers (12 matchups)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers (6 matchups)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks (5 matchups)
Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers (3 matchups)