The NBA has been through plenty of highs and lows during its 79-year history. Teams have peaked and troughs, franchises have come and gone, and the league’s popularity has fluctuated.
Who are the Current NBA Champions?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the current NBA champions. Led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, though not one of the players with most three pointers in NBA history, the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in the 2025 NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City is the clear sports betting favourites to win the title in 2026.
Who is the Most Successful Team in NBA History?
The Boston Celtics are the most successful team in NBA history with 18 titles. Boston has only won two titles since 1986, however, which came in 2008 and 2024.
Has There Ever Been a 4-0 Sweep in the NBA Finals?
Yes, there have been numerous sweeps in the NBA Finals.
The Finals have been swept on nine occasions. The Warriors are the only franchise to have pulled off more than one sweep in the Finals. Golden State is also the most recent team to sweep the Finals, having won 4-0 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018.
Here is the full list of 4-0 NBA Finals outcomes:
- Celtics over Lakers, 1959
- Bucks over Bullets, 1971
- Warriors over Bullets, 1975
- 76ers over Lakers, 1983
- Pistons over Lakers, 1989
- Rockets over Magic, 1995
- Lakers over Nets, 2002
- Spurs over Cavaliers, 2007
- Warriors over Cavaliers, 2018
What’s the Lowest Seed to Win the NBA Title?
The 1995 Houston Rockets were the sixth seed when they won the title. They are the only team in NBA history to win the title from lower than fourth in their Conference.
Of 78 NBA seasons, 68 titles have been won by the first or second seed. Eight number three seeds have won the title and only one fourth seed.
Houston were defending champions, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, when they completed their incredible run in 1995.
NBA Champions By Year
- 2024-25 – Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2023-24 – Boston Celtics
- 2022-23 – Denver Nuggets
- 2021-22 – Golden State Warriors
- 2020-21 – Milwaukee Bucks
- 2019-20 – Los Angeles Lakers
- 2018-19 – Toronto Raptors
- 2017-18 – Golden State Warriors
- 2016-17 – Golden State Warriors
- 2015-16 – Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2014-15 – Golden State Warriors
- 2013-14 – San Antonio Spurs
- 2012-13 – Miami Heat
- 2011-12 – Miami Heat
- 2010-11 – Dallas Mavericks
- 2009-10 – Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008-09 – Los Angeles Lakers
- 2007-08 – Boston Celtics
- 2006-07 – San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06 – Miami Heat
- 2004-05 – San Antonio Spurs
- 2003-04 – Detroit Pistons
- 2002-03 – San Antonio Spurs
- 2001-02 – Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000-01 – Los Angeles Lakers
- 1999-00 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1998-99 – San Antonio Spurs
- 1997-98 – Chicago Bulls
- 1996-97 – Chicago Bulls
- 1995-96 – Chicago Bulls
- 1994-95 – Houston Rockets
- 1993-94 – Houston Rockets
- 1992-93 – Chicago Bulls
- 1991-92 – Chicago Bulls
- 1990-91 – Chicago Bulls
- 1989-90 – Detroit Pistons
- 1988-89 – Detroit Pistons
- 1987-88 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1986-87 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1985-86 – Boston Celtics
- 1984-85 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1983-84 – Boston Celtics
- 1982-83 – Philadelphia 76ers
- 1981-82 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1980-81 – Boston Celtics
- 1979-80 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1978-79 – Seattle SuperSonics
- 1977-78 – Washington Bullets
- 1976-77 – Portland Trail Blazers
- 1975-76 – Boston Celtics
- 1974-75 – Golden State Warriors
- 1973-74 – Boston Celtics
- 1972-73 – New York Knicks
- 1971-72 - Los Angeles Lakers
- 1970-71 – Milwaukee Bucks
- 1969-70 – New York Knicks
- 1968-69 - Boston Celtics
- 1967-68 - Boston Celtics
- 1966-67 – Philadelphia 76ers
- 1965-66 - Boston Celtics
- 1964-65 - Boston Celtics
- 1963-64 - Boston Celtics
- 1962-63 - Boston Celtics
- 1961-62 - Boston Celtics
- 1960-61 - Boston Celtics
- 1959-60 - Boston Celtics
- 1958-59 - Boston Celtics
- 1957-58 – St. Louis Hawks
- 1956-57 - Boston Celtics
- 1955-56 – Philadelphia Warriors
- 1954-55 – Syracuse Nationals
- 1953-54 – Minneapolis Lakers
- 1952-53 – Minneapolis Lakers
- 1951-52 - Minneapolis Lakers
- 1950-51 – Rochester Royals
- 1949-50 - Minneapolis Lakers
- 1948-49 - Minneapolis Lakers
- 1947-48 – Baltimore Bullets
- 1946-47 – Philadelphia Warriors
