- Michael Jordan won six NBA titles and MVP awards.
- Steve Nash is the only Canadian to win MVP.
- Nine Canadians have won a championship.
The teams with the best track record or biggest name stars often get the most wagers from NBA betting enthusiasts.
Several contenders are placed high on basketball betting lines to begin the season, but the team that ends up winning it all is often the healthiest both physically and mentally.
Let’s take a look at NBA MVP Finals winners throughout the years.
NBA Finals Winners Throughout the Years
| Year | Champion | Opponent | Series Result | Finals MVP |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4-1 | Nikola Jokić |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Stephen Curry |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4-2 | LeBron James |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 | Kevin Durant |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 | Kevin Durant |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4-3 | LeBron James |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 | Andre Iguodala |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | 4-1 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 4-3 | LeBron James |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4-1 | LeBron James |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat | 4-2 | Dirk Nowitzki |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Kobe Bryant |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic | 4-1 | Kobe Bryant |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Paul Pierce |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 | Tony Parker |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 4-2 | Dwyane Wade |
| 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 | Tim Duncan |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | Chauncey Billups |
| 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | New Jersey Nets | 4-2 | Tim Duncan |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Jersey Nets | 4-0 | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-1 | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers | 4-2 | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks | 4-1 | Tim Duncan |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 | Michael Jordan |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 | Michael Jordan |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle SuperSonics | 4-2 | Michael Jordan |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic | 4-0 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | New York Knicks | 4-3 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 | Michael Jordan |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-2 | Michael Jordan |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | Michael Jordan |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-1 | Isiah Thomas |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-0 | Joe Dumars |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 | James Worthy |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Magic Johnson |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4-2 | Larry Bird |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | Larry Bird |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-0 | Moses Malone |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | Magic Johnson |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4-2 | Cedric Maxwell |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | Magic Johnson |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Wizards | 4-1 | Dennis Johnson |
| 1978 | Washington Wizards | Seattle SuperSonics | 4-3 | Wes Unseld |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | Bill Walton |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 | Jo-Jo White |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Wizards | 4-0 | Rick Barry |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-3 | John Havlicek |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | Willis Reed |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-1 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Wizards | 4-0 | Lew Alcindor |
| 1970 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | Willis Reed |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | Jerry West |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1967 | Philadelphia 76ers | San Francisco Warriors | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1966 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1965 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1964 | Boston Celtics | San Francisco Warriors | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1963 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1962 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1961 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1960 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1959 | Boston Celtics | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-0 | N/A |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1957 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1956 | Philadelphia Warriors | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1955 | Syracuse Nationals | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-1 | N/A |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | New York Knicks | 4-3 | N/A |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | Washington Capitols | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1948 | Baltimore | Philadelphia Warriors | 4-2 | N/A |
| 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Stags | 4-1 | N/A |
How Many Canadians Won NBA Championships?
Nine Canadians have won an NBA championship.
They are Jamal Murray, Andrew Wiggins, Chris Boucher, Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph, Joel Anthony, Rick Fox, Bill Wennington, and Mike Smrek.
Who Was the First Canadian To Win a Ring in the NBA?
Mike Smrek was the first Canadian to win a ring in the NBA. He was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers championship-winning teams in 1987 and 1988, back when the “Showtime Lakers” featured Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Bill Wennington was the second Canadian to win a ring in the NBA, winning three with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls teams. His sense of humour helped keep the Bulls’ locker room morale high even in the most tense situations.
Has a Canadian Ever Won NBA MVP?
Steve Nash is the first and only Canadian ever to be named an NBA MVP, earning that honour in 2005 and 2006.
One of the greatest point guards to suit up.
8x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA MVP, 5x NBA assist champion and 75th Anniversary Team member… Steve Nash! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/3MCjySwZne
— NBA (@NBA) December 30, 2021
The eight-time All-Star transformed the Phoenix Suns from one of the worst teams in the league into a perennial championship contender, as he was the architect of the “Seven Seconds or Less” offence that consistently outscored opponents.
The seven-time All-NBA point guard was known for his ability to shoot from anywhere on the court and pass the ball through tough angles with precision, elevating the performance of each of his teammates.
Despite their regular-season success, the Suns just never had a good enough defence to get past the Western Conference finals.
Nash had a successful run with the Dallas Mavericks before returning to Phoenix for a second stint, teaming up with Dirk Nowitzki and leading them to the conference finals in 2003.
After his second stint in the desert, Nash left for Hollywood in 2012, joining Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol to try and get him that elusive ring.
However, injuries to Nash, who was on the decline at that point, and Bryant, alongside a clunky overall roster, prevented the Lakers from even winning a playoff game that season.
Despite finishing his career without a ring, Nash is still widely considered one of the best point guards in basketball history.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 2024 MVP Award finalist, could someday join Nash as the only Canadian to earn MVP honours.
How Much Do NBA Finals Winners Get?
Each player on the winning team of the NBA Finals takes home $500,000. Every player that makes the finals earns $200,000.