History of the NBA conference Finale: winners, records and statistics

The National Basketball Association, originally known as Basketball Association of America, was founded in 1946. Before the 1970/71 season, he was first converted into two conferences of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Since then, the conference finals have been the penultimate round of the NBA playoffs.

The champions of the two respective conferences decide two best-of-Seven series. The NBA awarded the Trophies conference championship for the first time in 2001. In 2022, both trophies were redesigned and appointed the Bob Cousy Trophy for the Eastern Conference and the Oscar Robertson Trophy for the Western Conference, in honor of the two players who were the key to developing the National Basketball Players Association.

Also in 2022, the NBA began awarding the conference final for the most valuable player prices. The MVP Award of the Larry Bird Eastern Conference and the MVP Prize of Magic Johnson Western Conference are awarded the top player of every conference final. The awards are named after the two players who brought the league to new heights in the 1980s.

The winner of the final of the Eastern Conference and the winner of the Western Conference final look at the NBA final for the NBA championship.

In 2025, the Indiana Pacers competed against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference final, while Oklahoma City's thunder against the Minnesota Timberwolves competes against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Western Conference Finals.

Here are important facts and statistics from the history of the NBA conference final:

Finale of the Eastern Conference

Players with the most points in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Michael Jordan, 54 (1993 game 4 against New York Knicks)

Players with the most templates in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Kevin Loughery, 16 (1971 game 2 at New York Knicks)

Players with the most rebounds in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Bismack Biyombo, 26 (2016 game 3 against Cleveland Cavaliers); Wes Unseld, 26 (1971 game 3 at New York Knicks)

Players with the most steals in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Jimmy Butler, six (2023 game 1 at Boston Celtics); Paul George, Six (2014 Game 5 against Miami Heat); Scottie Pippen, Six (1991 game 1 against Detroit Pistons); Julius Erving, Six (1985 game 2 at Boston Celtics)

Players with the most blocks in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Caldwell Jones, eight (1978 game 2 against Washington Bullets)

Players with the most produced 3-converter in a final game by the Eastern Conference

Ray Allen, Nine (2001 game 6 against Philadelphia 76ers)

Players with the most free throws in a final game by the Eastern Conference

Lebron James, 18 Twole (2012 Game 2 against Boston Celtics; 2009 game 3 at Orlando Magic)

Players with the most points per game in a single final series of the Eastern Conference

Lebron James, 38.5 (2009 against Orlando Magic)

Players with the most templates per game in a single final series of the Eastern Conference

Rajon Rondo, 11.3 (2012 against Miami Heat)

Players with the most rebounds per game in a single final series of the Eastern Conference

Wes Unseld, 19.3 (1971 against New York Knicks)

Team with the most points in a final game of the Eastern Conference

Detroit Pistons, 145 (1987 game 4 against Boston Celtics)

Team with the greatest profit marg in a final game by the Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers, +44 (2017 game 2 at Boston Celtics – 130-86)

Eastern Conference Finals List

2024: Boston Celtics (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-0)

2023: Miami Heat (Def. Boston Celtics 4-3)

2022: Boston Celtics (Def. Miami Heat 4-2

2021: Milwaukee Bucks (Def. Atlanta Hawks 4-2)

2020: Miami Heat (Def. Boston Celtics 4-2)

2019: Toronto Raptors (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-2)

2018: Cleveland Cavaliers (Def. Boston Celtics 4-3)

2017: Cleveland Cavaliers (Def. Boston Celtics 4-1)

2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (Def. Toronto Raptors 4-2)

2015: Cleveland Cavaliers (Def. Atlanta Hawks 4-0)

2014: Miami Heat (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-2)

2013: Miami Heat (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-3)

2012: Miami Heat (Def. Boston Celtics 4-3)

2011: Miami Heat (Def. Chicago Bulls 4-1)

2010: Boston Celtics (Def. Orlando Magic 4-2)

2009: Orlando Magic (Def. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2)

2008: Boston Celtics (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-2)

2007: Cleveland Cavaliers (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-2)

2006: Miami Heat (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-2)

2005: Detroit Pistons (Def. Miami Heat 4-3)

2004: Detroit Pistons (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-2)

2003: New Jersey Nets (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-0)

2002: New Jersey Nets (Def. Boston Celtics 4-2)

2001: Philadelphia 76ers (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-3)

2000: Indiana Pacers (Def. New York Knicks 4-2)

1999: New York Knicks (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-2)

1998: Chicago Bulls (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-3)

1997: Chicago Bulls (Def. Miami Heat 4-1)

1996: Chicago Bulls (Def. Orlando Magic 4-0)

1995: Orlando Magic (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-3)

1994: New York Knicks (Def. Indiana Pacers 4-3)

1993: Chicago Bulls (Def. New York Knicks 4-2)

1992: Chicago Bulls (Def. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2)

1991: Chicago Bulls (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-0)

1990: Detroit Pistons (Def. Chicago Bulls 4-3)

1989: Detroit Pistons (Def. Chicago Bulls 4-2)

1988: Detroit Pistons (Def. Boston Celtics 4-2)

1987: Boston Celtics (Def. Detroit Pistons 4-3)

1986: Boston Celtics (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-0)

1985: Boston Celtics (Def. Philadelphia 76ers 4-1)

1984: Boston Celtics (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1)

1983: Philadelphia 76ers (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1)

1982: Philadelphia 76ers (Def. Boston Celtics 4-3)

1981: Boston Celtics (Def. Philadelphia 76ers 4-3)

1980: Philadelphia 76ers (Def. Boston Celtics 4-1)

1979: Washington Bullets (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-3)

1978: Washington Bullets (Def. Philadelphia 76ers 4-2)

1977: Philadelphia 76ers (Def. Houston Rockets 4-2)

1976: Boston Celtics (Def. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2)

1975: Washington Bullets (Def. Boston Celtics 4-2)

1974: Boston Celtics (Def. New York Knicks 4-1)

1973: New York Knicks (Def. Boston Celtics 4-3)

1972: New York Knicks (Def. Boston Celtics 4-1)

1971: Baltimore Bullets (Def. New York Knicks 4-3)

Western conference final

Players with the most points in a West Conference Finals game

Dirk Nowitzki, 50 (2006 game 5 against Phoenix Suns)

Players with the most templates in a West conference final game

Magic Johnson, 24 (1984 game 2 against Phoenix Suns)

Players with the most rebounds in a Western conference -Finals -game

Wilt Chamberlain, 30 (1973 game 2 against Golden State Warriors)

Players with the most steals in a West conference final game

Lionel Hollins, eight (1977 game 2 at Los Angeles Lakers)

Players with the most blocks in a western conference final game

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, eight (1977 game 3 at Portland Trail Blazers)

Players with the most manufactured 3-converter in a Western Conference Finals game

Klay Thompson, 11 (2016 game 6 at Oklahoma City Thunder)

Players with the much more free throws in a Western conference -Finals -game

Dirk Nowitzki, 24 (2011 game 1 against Oklahoma City Thunder)

Players with the most points per game in a single Western Conference Finals series

Amar'e Stoudemire, 37.0 (2005 against San Antonio Spurs]

Players with the most templates per game in a single Western Conference Finals series

Magic Johnson, 16.2 (1986 against Houston Rockets)

Players with the most rebounds per game in a single Western Conference Finals series

Wilt Chamberlain, 23.6 (1973 against Golden State Warriors)

Team with the most points in a West Conference Finals game

Los Angeles Lakers, 153 (1985 game 5 against Denver Nuggets)

Man

Los Angeles Lakers, +56 (1973 game 3 at Golden State Warriors – 126-70)

Western Conference Finals List

2024: Dallas Mavericks (Def. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1)

2023: Denver Nuggets (Def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-0)

2022: Golden State Warriors (Def. Dallas Mavericks 4-1)

2021: Phoenix Sun (Def. La Clipper 4-2)

2020: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Denver Nuggets 4-1)

2019: Golden State Warriors (Def. Portland Trail Blazers 4-0)

2018: Golden State Warriors (Def. Houston Rockets 4-3)

2017: Golden State Warriors (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-0)

2016: Golden State Warriors (Def. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3)

2015: Golden State Warriors (Def. Houston Rockets 4-1)

2014: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2)

2013: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Memphis Grizzlies 4-0)

2012: Oklahoma City Thunder (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-2)

2011: Dallas Mavericks (Def. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1)

2010: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-2)

2009: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Denver Nuggets 4-2)

2008: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-1)

2007: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Utah Jazz 4-1)

2006: Dallas Mavericks (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-2)

2005: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-1)

2004: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2)

2003: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Dallas Mavericks 4-2)

2002: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Sacramento Kings 4-3)

2001: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-0)

2000: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Portland Trail Blazers 4-3)

1999: San Antonio Spurs (Def. Portland Trail Blazers 4-0)

1998: Utah Jazz (Def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-0)

1997: Utah Jazz (Def. Houston Rockets 4-2)

1996: Seattle Supersonics (Def. Utah Jazz 4-3)

1995: Houston Rockets (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-2)

1994: Houston Rockets (Def. Utah Jazz 4-1)

1993: Phoenix Sun (Def. Seattle Supersonics 4-3)

1992: Portland Trail Blazers (Def. Utah Jazz 4-2)

1991: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Portland Trail Blazers 4-2)

1990: Portland Trail Blazer (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-2)

1989: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-0)

1988: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Dallas Mavericks 4-3)

1987: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Seattle Supersonics 4-0)

1986: Houston Rockets (Def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-1)

1985: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Denver Nuggets 4-1)

1984: Los Angeles Lakers (def. Phoenix Suns 4-2)

1983: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-2)

1982: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. San Antonio Spurs 4-0)

1981: Houston Rockets (Def. Kansas City Kings 4-1)

1980: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Seattle Supersonics 4-1)

1979: Seattle Supersonics (Def. Phoenix Suns 4-3)

1978: Seattle Supersonics (Def. Denver Nuggets 4-2)

1977: Portland Trail Blazers (Def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-0)

1976: Phoenix Suns (Def. Golden State Warriors 4-3)

1975: Golden State Warriors (Def. Chicago Bulls 4-3)

1974: Milwaukee Bucks (Def. Chicago Bulls 4-0)

1973: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Golden State Warriors 4-1)

1972: Los Angeles Lakers (Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-2)

1971: Milwaukee Bucks (Def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-1)

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