The National Basketball Association as we know it fully came together in 1949, with many of its franchises consolidating and moving in the mid-1950s before expansion.
The 1950 Finals were won by the then-Minneapolis Lakers, led by future Hall of Famer George Mikan, and they won three of the next four. Since then, we’ve seen other franchises — the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, to name a few — build dynasties and win multiple titles. Some others are still trying to get that elusive first championship.
Here’s a complete list (through the 2019-20 season) of Finals wins by franchise:
Atlanta Hawks: 1 (1958, as the St. Louis Hawks)
Boston Celtics: 17 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008)
Brooklyn Nets: 0 (They won two in the ABA in 1974 and 1976)
Charlotte Hornets: 0
Chicago Bulls: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Cleveland Cavaliers: 1 (2016)
Dallas Mavericks: 1 (2011)
Denver Nuggets: 0
Detroit Pistons: 3 (1989, 1990, 2004)
Golden State Warriors: 6 (They won one in the BAA in 1947, 1956 as the Philadelphia Warriors, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Houston Rockets: 2 (1994, 1995)
Indiana Pacers: 0 (They won three in the ABA in 1970, 1972 and 1973)
Los Angeles Clippers: 0
Los Angeles Lakers: 16 (They won one in the BAA in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954 all as Minnesota Lakers; 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Memphis Grizzlies: 0
Milwaukee Bucks: 1 (1971)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 0
New Orleans Pelicans: 0
New York Knicks: 2 (1970, 1973)
Oklahoma City Thunder: 1 (1979 as the Seattle Supersonics)
Orlando Magic: 0
Philadelphia 76ers: 3 (1955 as the Syracuse Nationals, 1967, 1983)
Phoenix Suns: 0
Portland Trail Blazers: 1 (1977)
Sacramento Kings: 1 (1951 as Rochester Royals)
San Antonio Spurs: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Toronto Raptors: 1 (2019)
Utah Jazz: 0
Washington Wizards: 1 (1978 as the Washington Bullets)
