- Michael Jordan won six NBA titles and MVP awards.
- Steve Nash and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the only Canadians to win MVP.
- The Boston Celtics have an NBA record 18 championships.
The Boston Celtics boast high NBA Finals odds yearly, as their 2024 championship victory gave them an NBA record 18 rings.
Contenders with short championship basketball odds tend to boast some of the biggest named stars the NBA has ever seen.
Let’s take a look at NBA MVP Finals winners throughout the years.
List of NBA Champions By Year
| Year | Champion | Opponent | Series Result | Finals MVP |
| 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Indiana Pacers | 4-3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | 4-1 | Jaylen Brown |
| 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 Much Do NBA Finals Winners Get?
The team that wins the NBA Finals gets $8,805,000 to split among its players. The loser gets $3,803,000.
How Many Canadians Won NBA Championships?
Twelve Canadians have won an NBA championship.
| Player | Team | Championship(s) | Year(s) |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | 2025 |
| Lu Dort | Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | 2025 |
| Oshae Brissett | Boston Celtics | 1 | 2024 |
| Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | 1 | 2023 |
| Andrew Wiggins | Golden State Warriors | 1 | 2022 |
| Chris Boucher | Toronto Raptors | 1 | 2019 |
| Tristan Thompson | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 2016 |
| Cory Joseph | San Antonio Spurs | 1 | 2014 |
| Joel Anthony | Miami Heat | 2 | 2012, 2013 |
| Rick Fox | Los Angeles Lakers | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Bill Wennington | Chicago Bulls | 3 | 1996,1997, 1998 |
| Mike Smrek | Los Angeles Lakers | 2 | 1987, 1988 |
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?
Yes, two Canadians have won the NBA MVP.
Steve Nash is the first Canadian to be named an NBA MVP, earning that honour in 2005 and 2006.
The eight-time All-Star transformed the Phoenix Suns from one of the worst teams in the league into a team that perennially had short online sports betting odds to win a championship.
Gilgeous-Alexander took home MVP honours in 2025, averaging a league-best 32.7 points per game, and helping the Oklahoma City Thunder finish with a league-best 68-14 record while boasting the second-best net rating (12.8) of all time.
He averaged 30.3 points per game in the 2025 NBA Finals, leading OKC to a championship and earning Finals MVP honours.
Gilgeous-Alexander has drawn comparisons to Michael Jordan, given his ability to get to his spot and create quality looks for himself in the midrange and at the rim.
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
