The Sports Almanac

National Basketball Association


DENVER NUGGETS
Current NBA Larry O'Brien Trophy Holders
NBA PLAYOFFS HISTORY
NBA FINALS APPEARANCES



1946-1949 Basketball Association of America
Through the 2023-24 Season

Team Records    NBA Champions  West Champions  East Champions

RANK
TEAM
W
L
PCT.
GP
1
San Antonio Spurs 2305
1562
.596
3867
2
Boston Celtics 3634
2480
.594
6114
3
Los Angeles Lakers 3549
2456
.591
6004
4
Utah Jazz 2177
1855
.540
4032
5
Phoenix Suns 2430
2095
.537
4525
6
Oklahoma City Thunder 2469
2137
.536
4606
7
Milwaukee Bucks 2389
2136
.528
4525
8
Miami Heat 1521
1364
.527
2885
9
Portland Trail Blazers 2292
2070
.525
4362
10
Philadelphia 76ers
3100
2841
.522
5941
11
Houston Rockets 2369
2237
.514
4606
12
Chicago Bulls 2382
2298
.509
4680
13
Dallas Mavericks 1797
1735
.509
3532
14
Denver Nuggets 1954
1915
.505
3869
15
Indiana Pacers 1930
1938
.499
3868
16
Atlanta Hawks 2927
3000
.494
5927
17
New York Knicks
2973
3072
.492
6045
18
Golden State Warriors 2968
3135
.486
6103
19
Toronto Raptors 1097
1213
.475
2310
20
Detroit Pistons 2826
3172
.471
5998
21
Orlando Magic 1315
1488
.469
2803
22
New Orleans Pelicans 830
928
.469
1768
23
Cleveland Cavaliers 1994
2321
.462
4315
24
Sacramento Kings 2748
3257
.458
6005
25
Washington Wizards
2272
2815
.447
5087
26
Charlotte Hornets 1174
1539
.433
2713
27
Memphis Grizzlies 998
1313
.432
2311
28
Brooklyn Nets 1655
2213
.428
3868
29
Los Angeles Clippers
1843
2516
.423
4359
30
Minnesota Timberwolves
1147
1647
.411
2794

NBA Champions   Team Records  West Champions  East Champions
YEAR
WINNER
LOSER
GAMES
1946-47
Philadelphia Warriors Chicago Stags
4-1
1947-48
Baltimore Bullets Philadelphia Warriors
4-1
1948-49
Minneapolis Lakers Washington Capitols
4-2
1949-50
Minneapolis Lakers Syracuse Nationals
4-2
1950-51
Rochester Royals New York Knickerbockers
4-3
1951-52
Minneapolis Lakers New York Knickerbockers
4-3
1952-53
Minneapolis Lakers New York Knickerbockers
4-1
1953-54
Minneapolis Lakers Syracuse Nationals
4-3
1954-55
Syracuse Nationals Fort Wayne Pistons
4-3
1955-56
Philadelphia Warriors Fort Wayne Pistons
4-1
1956-57
Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks
4-3
1957-58
St. Louis Hawks Boston Celtics
4-2
1958-59
Boston Celtics Minneapolis Lakers
4-0
1959-60
Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks
4-3
1960-61
Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks
4-1
1961-62
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1962-63
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
1963-64
Boston Celtics San Francisco Warriors
4-1
1964-65
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
1965-66
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1966-67
Philadelphia 76ers San Francisco Warriors
4-2
1967-68
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
1968-69
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1969-70
New York Knickerbockers Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1970-71
Milwaukee Bucks Baltimore Bullets
4-3
1971-72
Los Angeles Lakers New York Knickerbockers
4-1
1972-73
New York Knickerbockers Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
1973-74
Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks
4-3
1974-75
Golden State Warriors Washington Bullets
4-0
1975-76
Boston Celtics Phoenix Suns
4-2
1976-77
Portland Trail Blazers Philadelphia 76ers
4-2
1977-78
Washington Bullets Seattle SuperSonics
4-3
1978-79
Seattle SuperSonics Washington Bullets
4-1
1979-80
Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers
4-2
1980-81
Boston Celtics Houston Rockets
4-2
1981-82
Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers
4-2
1982-83
Philadelphia 76ers Los Angeles Lakers
4-0
1983-84
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1984-85
Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics
4-2
1985-86
Boston Celtics Houston Rockets
4-2
1986-87
Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics
4-2
1987-88
Los Angeles Lakers Detroit Pistons
4-2
1988-89
Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers
4-0
1989-90
Detroit Pistons Portland Trail Blazers
4-1
1990-91
Chicago Bulls Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
1991-92
Chicago Bulls Portland Trail Blazers
4-2
1992-93
Chicago Bulls Phoenix Suns
4-2
1993-94
Houston Rockets New York Knicks
4-3
1994-95
Houston Rockets Orlando Magic
4-0
1995-96
Chicago Bulls Seattle SuperSonics
4-2
1996-97
Chicago Bulls Utah Jazz
4-2
1997-98
Chicago Bulls Utah Jazz
4-2
1998-99
San Antonio Spurs New York Knicks
4-1
1999-2000
Los Angeles Lakers Indiana Pacers
4-2
2000-01
Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers
4-1
2001-02
Los Angeles Lakers New Jersey Nets
4-0
2002-03
San Antonio Spurs
New Jersey Nets
4-2
2003-04
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
2004-05
San Antonio Spurs
Detroit Pistons
4-3
2005-06
Miami Heat
Dallas Mavericks
4-2
2006-07
San Antonio Spurs
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-0
2007-08
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
2008-09
Los Angeles Lakers
Orlando Magic
4-1
2009-10
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
4-3
2010-11
Dallas Mavericks
Miami Heat
4-2
2011-12
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
4-1
2012-13
Miami Heat
San Antonio Spurs
4-3
2013-14
San Antonio Spurs
Miami Heat
4-1
2014-15
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-2
2015-16
Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
4-3
2016-17
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-1
2017-18
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-0
2018-19
Toronto Raptors
Golden State Warriors
4-2
2019-20
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
4-2
2020-21
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns
4-2
2021-22
Golden State Warriors
Boston Celtics
4-2
2022-23
Denver Nuggets
Miami Heat
4-1
2023-24




West Conference Champions Team Records NBA Champions
WEST CONFERENCE
YEAR
CHAMPION
RUNNER-UP
GAMES
1946-47
Philadelphia Warriors
New York Knickerbockers
2-0
1947-48
Baltimore Bullets
Chicago Stags
2-0
1948-49
Minneapolis Lakers
Rochester Royals
2-0
1949-50
Anderson Packers
Indianapolis Olympians
2-1
1949-50 NBA Semifinals
Minneapolis Lakers
Anderson Packers
2-0
1950-51
Rochester Royals
Minneapolis Lakers
3-1
1951-52
Minneapolis Lakers
Rochester Lakers
3-1
1952-53
Minneapolis Lakers
Fort Wayne Pistons
3-2
1953-54
Minneapolis Lakers
Rochester Royals
2-1
1954-55
Fort Wayne Pistons
Minneapolis Lakers
3-1
1955-56
Fort Wayne Pistons
St. Louis Hawks
3-2
1956-57
St. Louis Hawks
Minneapolis Lakers
3-0
1957-58
St. Louis Hawks
Detroit Pistons
4-1
1958-59
Minneapolis Lakers
St. Louis Hawks
4-2
1959-60
St. Louis Hawks
Minneapolis Lakers
4-3
1960-61
St. Louis Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
1961-62
Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit Pistons
4-2
1962-63
Los Angeles Lakers
St. Louis Hawks
4-3
1963-64
San Francisco Warriors
St. Louis Hawks
4-3
1964-65
Los Angeles Lakers
Baltimore Bullets
4-2
1965-66
Los Angeles Lakers
St. Louis Hawks
4-3
1966-67
San Francisco Warriors
St. Louis Hawks
4-2
1967-68
Los Angeles Lakers
San Francisco Warriors
4-0
1968-69
Los Angeles Lakers
Atlanta Hawks
4-1
1969-70
Los Angeles Lakers
Atlanta Hawks
4-0
1970-71
Milwaukee Bucks
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
1971-72
Los Angeles Lakers
Milwaukee Bucks
4-2
1972-73
Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors
4-1
1973-74
Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls
4-0
1974-75
Golden State Warriors
Chicago Bulls
4-3
1975-76
Phoenix Suns
Golden State Warriors
4-3
1976-77
Portland Trail Blazers
Los Angeles Lakers
4-0
1977-78
Seattle SuperSonics
Denver Nuggets
4-2
1978-79
Seattle SuperSonics
Phoenix Suns
4-3
1979-80
Los Angeles Lakers
Seattle SuperSonics
4-1
1980-81
Houston Rockets
Kansas City Kings
4-1
1981-82
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
4-0
1982-83
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
4-2
1983-84
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
4-2
1984-85
Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Nuggets
4-1
1985-86
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
1986-87
Los Angeles Lakers
Seattle SuperSonics
4-0
1987-88
Los Angeles Lakers
Dallas Mavericks
4-3
1988-89
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
4-0
1989-90
Portland Trail Blazers
Phoenix Suns
4-2
1990-91
Los Angeles Lakers
Portland Trail Blazers
4-2
1991-92
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz
4-2
1992-93
Phoenix Suns
Seattle SuperSonics
4-3
1993-94
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
4-1
1994-95
Houston Rockets
San Antonio Spurs
4-2
1995-96
Seattle SuperSonics
Utah Jazz
4-3
1996-97
Utah Jazz
Houston Rockets
4-2
1997-98
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers
4-0
1998-99
San Antonio Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers
4-0
1999-2000
Los Angeles Lakers
Portland Trail Blazers
4-3
2000-01
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
4-0
2001-02
Los Angeles Lakers
Sacramento Kings
4-3
2002-03
San Antonio Spurs
Dallas Mavericks
4-2
2003-04
Los Angeles Lakers
Minnesota Timberwolves
4-2
2004-05
San Antonio Spurs
Phoenix Suns
4-1
2005-06
Dallas Mavericks
Phoenix Suns
4-2
2006-07
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
4-1
2007-08
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
4-1
2008-09
Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Nuggets
4-2
2009-10
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
4-2
2010-11
Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder
4-1
2011-12
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
4-2
2012-13
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
4-0
2013-14
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
4-2
2014-15
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
4-1
2015-16
Golden State Warriors
Oklahoma City Thunder
4-3
2016-17
Golden State Warriros
San Antonio Spurs
4-0
2017-18
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
4-3
2018-19
Golden State Warriors
Portland Trail Blazers
4-0
2019-20
Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Nuggets
4-1
2020-21
Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles Clippers
4-2
2021-22
Golden State Warriors Dallas Mavericks 4-1
2022-23
Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles Lakers
4-0

East Conference Champions Team Records NBA Champions
EAST CONFERENCE
YEAR
CHAMPION
RUNNER-UP
GAMES
1946-47
Chicago Stags
Washington Capitols
4-2
1947-48
Philadelphia Warriors
St. Louis Bombers
4-3
1948-49
Washington Capitols
New York Knickerbockers
2-1
1949-50
Minneapolis Lakers
Fort Wayne Pistons
2-0
1949-50 NBA Semifinals
Minneapolis Lakers
Anderson Packers
2-0
1950-51
New York Knickerbockers
Syracuse Nationals
3-2
1951-52
New York Knickerbockers
Syracuse Nationals
3-1
1952-53
New York Knickerbockers
Boston Celtics
3-1
1953-54
Syracuse Nationals
Boston Celtics
2-0
1954-55
Syracuse Nationals
Boston Celtics
3-1
1955-56
Philadelphia Warriors
Syracuse Nationals
3-2
1956-57
Boston Celtics
Syracuse Nationals
3-0
1957-58
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia Warriors
4-1
1958-59
Boston Celtics
Syracuse Nationals
4-3
1959-60
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia Warriors
4-2
1960-61
Boston Celtics
Syracuse Nationals
4-1
1961-62
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia Warriors
4-3
1962-63
Boston Celtics
Cincinnati Royals
4-3
1963-64
Boston Celtics
Cincinnati Royals
4-1
1964-65
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
4-3
1965-66
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
4-1
1966-67
Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics
4-1
1967-68
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
4-3
1968-69
Boston Celtics
New York Knickerbockers
4-2
1969-70
New York Knickerbockers
Milwaukee Bucks
4-1
1970-71
Baltimore Bullets
New York Knickerbockers
4-3
1971-72
New York Knickerbockers
Boston Celtics
4-1
1972-73
New York Knickerbockers
Boston Celtics
4-3
1973-74
Boston Celtics
New York Knickerbockers
4-1
1974-75
Washington Bullets
Boston Celtics
4-2
1975-76
Boston Celtics
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-2
1976-77
Philadelphia 76ers
Houston Rockets
4-2
1977-78
Washington Bullets
Philadelphia 76ers
4-2
1978-79
Washington Bullets
San Antonio Spurs
4-3
1979-80
Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics
4-1
1980-81
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
4-3
1981-82
Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics
4-3
1982-83
Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks
4-1
1983-84
Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks
4-1
1984-85
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
4-1
1985-86
Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks
4-0
1986-87
Boston Celtics
Detroit Pistons
4-3
1987-88
Detroit Pistons
Boston Celtics
4-2
1988-89
Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls
4-2
1989-90
Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls
4-3
1990-91
Chicago Bulls
Detroit Pistons
4-0
1991-92
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-2
1992-93
Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
4-2
1993-94
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
4-3
1994-95
Orlando Magic
Indiana Pacers
4-3
1995-96
Chicago Bulls
Orlando Magic
4-0
1996-97
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat
4-1
1997-98
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
4-3
1998-99
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
4-2
1999-2000
Indiana Pacers
New York Knicks
4-2
2000-01
Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks
4-3
2001-02
New Jersey Nets
Boston Celtics
4-2
2002-03
New Jersey Nets
Detroit Pistons
4-0
2003-04
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
4-2
2004-05
Detroit Pistons
Miami Heat
4-3
2005-06
Miami Heat
Detroit Pistons
4-2
2006-07
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
4-2
2007-08
Boston Celtics
Detroit Pistons
4-2
2008-09
Orlando Magic
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-2
2009-10
Boston Celtics
Orlando Magic
4-2
2010-11
Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls
4-1
2011-12
Miami Heat
Boston Celtics
4-3
2012-13
Miami Heat
Indiana Pacers
4-3
2013-14
Miami Heat
Indiana Pacers
4-2
2014-15
Cleveland Cavaliers
Atlanta Hawks
4-0
2015-16
Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors
4-2
2016-17
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
4-1
2017-18
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
4-3
2018-19
Toronto Raptors
Milwaukee Bucks
4-2
2019-20
Miami Heat
Boston Celtics
4-2
2020-21
Milwaukee Bucks
Atlanta Hawks
4-2
2021-22
Boston Celtics
Miami Heat
4-3
2022-23
Miami Heat
Boston Celtics
4-3

NBA Finals Appearances
RANK
TEAM
NBA TITLES
FINALS APPEARANCES
LAST WIN
LAST FINALS APPEARANCE
1
Los Angeles Lakes 17
32
2019-2020
2019-2020
2
Boston Celtics
17
22
2007-2008
2021-2022
3
Golden State Warriors 7
12
2021-22
2021-22
4
Chicago Bulls
6
6
1997-1998
1997-1998
5
San Antonio Spurs
5
6
2013-2014
2013-2014
6
Philadelphia 76ers
3
9
1982-1983
2000-2001
7
Detroit Pistons
3
6
2003-2004
2004-2005
8
Miami Heat
3
7
2012-2013
2022-2023
9
New York Knicks
2
8
1972-1973
1998-1999
10
Houston Rockets
2
4
1994-1995
1994-1995
11
Milwaukee Bucks 2
3
2020-2021
2020-2021
12
Sacramento Kings
1
1
1950-1951
1950-1951
13
Atlanta Hawks
1
3
1957-1958
1960-1961
14
Portland Trail Blazers
1
3
1976-1977
1991-1992
15
Washington Wizards
1
3
1977-1978
1978-1979
16
Oklahoma City Thunder
1
4
1978-1979
2011-2012
17
Dallas Mavericks
1
2
2010-2011
2010-2011
18
Cleveland Cavaliers
1
5
2015-2016
2017-2018
19
Toronto Raptors 1
1
2018-2019
2018-2019
20
Denver Nuggets 1
1
2022-2023
2022-2023
21
Phoenix Suns
0
3
--
2020-2021
22
Utah Jazz
0
2
--
1997-1998
23
Brooklyn Nets
0
2
--
2002-2003
24
Orlando Magic
0
2
--
2008-2009
25
Indiana Pacers
0
1
--
1999-2000