The NBA Finals is where legends are made. Every June, the two best teams battle for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, and the moments from those games become the stuff of trivia for decades. Here's a deep dive into Finals history.
Championship Dynasties
A few franchises have dominated Finals history:
- Boston Celtics: 17 championships (most in NBA history)
- Los Angeles Lakers: 17 championships (tied with Boston)
- Golden State Warriors: 7 championships
- Chicago Bulls: 6 championships (all in the 1990s)
- San Antonio Spurs: 5 championships
Iconic Finals Moments
Michael Jordan's flu game (1997) — Jordan scored 38 points in Game 5 against the Jazz while visibly ill. He could barely stand during timeouts but hit the go-ahead three in the final minute.
Ray Allen's shot (2013) — With the Heat trailing by three with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6, Ray Allen hit a corner three to tie it. The Heat won in overtime and took the series in seven.
LeBron's block (2016) — LeBron chased down Andre Iguodala and pinned his layup against the backboard in the final minutes of Game 7. The Cavaliers won, giving Cleveland its first championship in 52 years.
Magic's baby hook (1987) — Magic Johnson hit a running hook shot over the Celtics' defense in Game 4, a shot that even surprised him. "You expect to lose on a hook?" Larry Bird said afterward.
Finals Records
Some records that come up in trivia:
- Most Finals MVPs: Michael Jordan (6)
- Most Finals appearances: Bill Russell (12)
- Most points in a Finals game: Elgin Baylor (61, in 1962)
- Most three-pointers in a Finals game: Stephen Curry (9, in 2022)
- Youngest Finals MVP: Magic Johnson (20 years old, 1980)
- Only team to come back from 3-1: Cleveland Cavaliers (2016, against the 73-9 Warriors)
The Longest and Shortest Finals
The longest Finals series naturally go to seven games. But some are memorable for how lopsided they were:
The 2007 Finals — The Spurs swept the Cavaliers in four games. A 21-year-old LeBron James was overmatched against the veteran Spurs.
The 2014 Finals — The Spurs dismantled the Heat in five games, avenging their heartbreaking 2013 loss. San Antonio's ball movement in Games 3-5 was some of the most beautiful basketball ever played.
The 2016 Finals — Seven games, a 3-1 comeback, a legendary Game 7. Many consider it the greatest Finals series ever.
Teams That Haven't Won
Several franchises have never won a championship:
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
- Indiana Pacers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Orlando Magic
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Los Angeles Clippers
Some of these teams have been to the Finals (Suns, Jazz, Nets, Magic) while others have never even made it.
The Finals are the ultimate trivia testing ground. Try Higher or Lower with Finals stats, or see if you can identify championship players in Who Am I?.