NBA Conference Finals

The National Basketball Association Conference finals are the Eastern and Western championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a major 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.[upper-alpha 1] 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, they named them the Bob Cousy Trophy for the Eastern Conference and the Oscar Robertson Trophy for the Western Conference. Also that year, the league started naming an NBA Conference finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for each conference.[3]

Overview

Initially, the BAA teams were aligned into two divisions, 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 went back into two divisions 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 was 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. Currently, the conference finals are 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. At the conclusion of the conference finals, winners are presented with a silver trophy, caps, and T-shirts, and advance to the NBA Finals. The trophies 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 sitting on intercrossing circular rings.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won the most conference titles with 19. They have also made 23 appearances in the conference finals, more than any other team. The Boston Celtics have won 10 Conference titles, the second most of any team. Twenty-two 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 (Atlanta and Sacramento have played in two), but they have each 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 started awarding conference championship trophies in 2001.[4] In 2022, both were redesigned, with the Eastern and Western Conference trophies being renamed after Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson, respectively, 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 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: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. The MVP trophies follow a design similar to that of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy, only the ball on each trophy will be silver and would be smaller versions of the Conference Championship trophies in how they sit on the base.[5]

Key

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

Conference

Eastern Conference finals

YearChampionCoachResultRunner-upCoach
1971Baltimore BulletsGene Shue4–3New York KnicksRed Holzman
1972New York KnicksRed Holzman4–1Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn
1973New York KnicksRed Holzman4–3Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn
1974Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn4–1New York KnicksRed Holzman
1975Washington BulletsK. C. Jones4–2Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn
1976Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn4–2Cleveland CavaliersBill Fitch
1977Philadelphia 76ersGene Shue4–2Houston RocketsTom Nissalke
1978Washington BulletsDick Motta4–2Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham
1979Washington BulletsDick Motta4–3San Antonio SpursDoug Moe
1980Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham4–1Boston CelticsBill Fitch
1981Boston CelticsBill Fitch4–3Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham
1982Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham4–3Boston CelticsBill Fitch
1983Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham4–1Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1984Boston CelticsK. C. Jones4–1Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1985Boston CelticsK. C. Jones4–1Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham
1986Boston CelticsK. C. Jones4–0Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1987Boston CelticsK. C. Jones4–3Detroit PistonsChuck Daly
1988Detroit PistonsChuck Daly4–2Boston CelticsK. C. Jones
1989Detroit PistonsChuck Daly4–2Chicago BullsDoug Collins
1990Detroit PistonsChuck Daly4–3Chicago BullsPhil Jackson
1991Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–0Detroit PistonsChuck Daly
1992Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–2Cleveland CavaliersLenny Wilkens
1993Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–2New York KnicksPat Riley
1994New York KnicksPat Riley4–3Indiana PacersLarry Brown
1995Orlando MagicBrian Hill4–3Indiana PacersLarry Brown
1996Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–0Orlando MagicBrian Hill
1997Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–1Miami HeatPat Riley
1998Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–3Indiana PacersLarry Bird
1999New York KnicksJeff Van Gundy4–2Indiana PacersLarry Bird
2000Indiana PacersLarry Bird4–2New York KnicksJeff Van Gundy
2001Philadelphia 76ersLarry Brown4–3Milwaukee BucksGeorge Karl
2002New Jersey NetsByron Scott4–2Boston CelticsJim O'Brien
2003New Jersey NetsByron Scott4–0Detroit PistonsRick Carlisle
2004Detroit PistonsLarry Brown4–2Indiana PacersRick Carlisle
2005Detroit PistonsLarry Brown4–3Miami HeatStan Van Gundy
2006Miami HeatPat Riley4–2Detroit PistonsFlip Saunders
2007Cleveland CavaliersMike Brown4–2Detroit PistonsFlip Saunders
2008Boston CelticsDoc Rivers4–2Detroit PistonsFlip Saunders
2009Orlando MagicStan Van Gundy4–2Cleveland CavaliersMike Brown
2010Boston CelticsDoc Rivers4–2Orlando MagicStan Van Gundy
2011Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–1Chicago BullsTom Thibodeau
2012Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–3Boston CelticsDoc Rivers
2013Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–3Indiana PacersFrank Vogel
2014Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–2Indiana PacersFrank Vogel
2015Cleveland CavaliersDavid Blatt4–0Atlanta HawksMike Budenholzer
2016Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–2Toronto RaptorsDwane Casey
2017Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–1Boston CelticsBrad Stevens
2018Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–3Boston CelticsBrad Stevens
2019Toronto RaptorsNick Nurse4–2Milwaukee BucksMike Budenholzer
2020Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–2Boston CelticsBrad Stevens
2021Milwaukee BucksMike Budenholzer4–2Atlanta HawksNate McMillan
2022Boston CelticsIme Udoka4–3Miami HeatErik Spoelstra
2023Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–3Boston CelticsJoe Mazzulla

Western Conference finals

YearChampionCoachResultRunner-upCoach
1971Milwaukee BucksLarry Costello4–1Los Angeles LakersJoe Mullaney
1972Los Angeles LakersBill Sharman4–2Milwaukee BucksLarry Costello
1973Los Angeles LakersBill Sharman4–1Golden State WarriorsAl Attles
1974Milwaukee BucksLarry Costello4–0Chicago BullsDick Motta
1975Golden State WarriorsAl Attles4–3Chicago BullsDick Motta
1976Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod4–3Golden State WarriorsAl Attles
1977Portland Trail BlazersJack Ramsay4–0Los Angeles LakersJerry West
1978Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens4–2Denver NuggetsLarry Brown
1979Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens4–3Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod
1980Los Angeles LakersPaul Westhead4–1Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens
1981Houston RocketsDel Harris4–1Kansas City KingsCotton Fitzsimmons
1982Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–0San Antonio SpursStan Albeck
1983Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–2San Antonio SpursStan Albeck
1984Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–2Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod
1985Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–1Denver NuggetsDoug Moe
1986Houston RocketsBill Fitch4–1Los Angeles LakersPat Riley
1987Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–0Seattle SuperSonicsBernie Bickerstaff
1988Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–3Dallas MavericksJohn MacLeod
1989Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–0Phoenix SunsCotton Fitzsimmons
1990Portland Trail BlazersRick Adelman4–2Phoenix SunsCotton Fitzsimmons
1991Los Angeles LakersMike Dunleavy4–2Portland Trail BlazersRick Adelman
1992Portland Trail BlazersRick Adelman4–2Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1993Phoenix SunsPaul Westphal4–3Seattle SuperSonicsGeorge Karl
1994Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich4–1Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1995Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich4–2San Antonio SpursBob Hill
1996Seattle SuperSonicsGeorge Karl4–3Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1997Utah JazzJerry Sloan4–2Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich
1998Utah JazzJerry Sloan4–0Los Angeles LakersDel Harris
1999San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–0Portland Trail BlazersMike Dunleavy
2000Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–3Portland Trail BlazersMike Dunleavy
2001Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–0San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2002Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–3Sacramento KingsRick Adelman
2003San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–2Dallas MavericksDon Nelson
2004Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Minnesota TimberwolvesFlip Saunders
2005San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–1Phoenix SunsMike D'Antoni
2006Dallas MavericksAvery Johnson4–2Phoenix SunsMike D'Antoni
2007San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–1Utah JazzJerry Sloan
2008Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–1San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2009Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Denver NuggetsGeorge Karl
2010Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Phoenix SunsAlvin Gentry
2011Dallas MavericksRick Carlisle4–1Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks
2012Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks4–2San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2013San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–0Memphis GrizzliesLionel Hollins
2014San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–2Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks
2015Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–1Houston RocketsKevin McHale
2016Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–3Oklahoma City ThunderBilly Donovan
2017Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–0San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2018Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–3Houston Rockets Mike D'Antoni
2019Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–0Portland Trail BlazersTerry Stotts
2020Los Angeles LakersFrank Vogel4–1Denver NuggetsMichael Malone
2021Phoenix SunsMonty Williams4–2Los Angeles ClippersTyronn Lue
2022Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–1Dallas MavericksJason Kidd
2023Denver NuggetsMichael Malone4–0Los Angeles LakersDarvin Ham

Results by team

Stats updated through May 22, 2023

Total number of appearances
TeamEastWestTotalEastWestTotalTotal
appearances
ChampionsRunner-up
Los Angeles Lakers0191905524
Boston Celtics100101201222
San Antonio Spurs06617814
Chicago Bulls60632511
Detroit Pistons50560611
Miami Heat70730310
Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder04406610
Phoenix Suns03307710
San Francisco / Golden State Warriors0770229
Milwaukee Bucks1235169
Cleveland Cavaliers5053038
Philadelphia 76ers5053038
Houston Rockets0441348
New York Knicks4044048
Indiana Pacers1017078
Portland Trail Blazers0330447
Utah Jazz0220446
Dallas Mavericks0220335
Denver Nuggets0110445
Baltimore / Washington Bullets4040004
Orlando Magic2022024
Toronto Raptors1011012
Atlanta Hawks0002022
New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets2020002
Kansas City / Sacramento Kings0000222
Memphis Grizzlies0000111
Minnesota Timberwolves0000111
Los Angeles Clippers0000111
New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans0000000
Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets0000000
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)
24Los Angeles Lakers195.7921971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2023
22Boston Celtics1012.4551972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
14San Antonio Spurs68.4291979, 1982, 1983, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
11Chicago Bulls65.5451974, 1975, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011
11Detroit Pistons56.4551987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
10Miami Heat73.7001997, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023
10Oklahoma City Thunder46.4001978, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1993, 1996, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016
10Phoenix Suns37.3001976, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2021
9Golden State Warriors72.7781973, 1975, 1976, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
9Milwaukee Bucks36.3331971, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1984, 1986, 2001, 2019, 2021
8Philadelphia 76ers53.6251977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2001
8Cleveland Cavaliers53.6251976, 1992, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
8New York Knicks44.5001971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000
8Houston Rockets44.5001977, 1981, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2015, 2018
8Indiana Pacers17.1251994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014
7Portland Trail Blazers34.4291977, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2019
6Utah Jazz24.3331992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007
5Dallas Mavericks23.5001988, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2022
5Denver Nuggets14.2001978, 1985, 2009, 2020, 2023
4Washington Wizards401.0001971, 1975, 1978, 1979
4Orlando Magic22.5001995, 1996, 2009, 2010
2Brooklyn Nets201.0002002, 2003
2Toronto Raptors11.5002016, 2019
2Sacramento Kings02.1251981, 2002
2Atlanta Hawks02.3082015, 2021
1Memphis Grizzlies01.0002013
1Minnesota Timberwolves01.0002004
1Los Angeles Clippers01.0002021
0Charlotte Hornets00
0New Orleans Pelicans00

Most frequent match-ups among active teams

Count Matchup Record Years Played
4 Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Heat, 3–1 2012, 2020, 2022, 2023
4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Lakers, 4–0 1982, 1983, 2001, 2008
4 Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers Tie, 2–2 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985
4 Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Lakers, 3–1 1985, 2009, 2020, 2023
3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns Lakers, 3–0 1979, 1989, 2010
3 Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Cavaliers, 2–1 1976, 2017, 2018
3 Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons Celtics, 2–1 1987, 1988, 2008
3 Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Knicks, 2–1 1972, 1973, 1974
3 Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons Pistons, 2–1 1989, 1990, 1991
3 Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Knicks, 2–1 1994, 1999, 2000
3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Lakers, 2–1 1977, 1991, 2000

See also

Notes

  1. Exceptions include the 1998–99 season, which was shortened to 50 games due to the lockout, the 2011–12 season, shortened to 66 games due to another lockout, the 2019–20 season, shortened to between 63 and 75 games due to the season's suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020–21 season, shortened to 72 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA History: NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures (NBA.com). Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  2. "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA History: NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures (NBA.com). Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  3. Feldman, Dan (May 12, 2022). "NBA to name conference finals MVPs". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  4. "NBA redesigns Finals trophy, adds awards named after Magic Johnson, Larry Bird". Washington Post. May 12, 2022. To complete the postseason collection, the NBA updated its conference championship trophies, first created in 2001
  5. "NBA introduces new lineup of postseason hardware". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
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