Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks is fast approaching. The Finals have been home to some of the greatest moments in NBA history. LeBron James’ block in 2016, Michael Jordan’s game winner in 1998, Ray Allen from the corner in 2013—all in the Finals.
Before this year’s Finals officially begin, I believe it would be a good exercise to look back on the last five years of NBA Finals to determine the best (and the worst).
#5 – 2023 NBA Finals – Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat 4-1
If this ranking encompassed the entirety of the 2023 playoffs, then it may rank slightly higher because of the Heat’s all-time run. Beating the No. 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, racing out to a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Boston Celtics only to allow the Celtics to claw their way back to 3-3, and then finally putting them away for good in Game 7 all built a mythos around the Heat.
Jimmy Butler turned into some sort of playoff demon—bent on ripping out the hearts of his opponents. Role players, like Caleb Martin, turned into stars and all of a sudden, “Heat Culture” seemed very real.
But none of that mattered when Miami met Nikola Jokic. They didn’t stand a chance against the Serbian center who had one of the greatest playoff runs ever. In the Finals, he averaged around 30 points per game, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists.
The outcome of this series was decided before it started. There was little drama to the way it went.
#4 – 2024 NBA Finals – Boston Celtics beat Dallas Mavericks 4-1
Depending on your preference, you could very easily swap this Finals with the 2023 Finals in this ranking. They follow similar scripts. The Celtics were a juggernaut that faced a team that was far outmatched. The scores of the games in the series may have been close, but there was little doubt that Boston would win.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each played phenomenally during the series and put to bed any criticism about their fit together as stars. Both averaged over 20 points per game, and Brown won Finals MVP.
The reason this ranks slightly higher than the 2023 NBA Finals is because of the long-term ramifications of the Mavericks’ loss. After Game 3, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst had a now infamous segment on Luka Doncic’s poor play in the game. It’s hard to not see this as a precursor to his eventual trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
#3 – 2022 NBA Finals – Golden State Warriors beat Boston Celtics 4-2
There is a step up in the quality of this Finals. There was real drama here—it was the last gasp from the Golden State Warriors dynasty. After a few years of being non-factors, the Warriors climbed their way back to the mountaintop. It was the last hurrah for the Warriors, and this time they weren’t the villains hated by the league.
The signature moment—and why I will remember the series—was Steph Curry catching fire in Game 4. He had 43 points and hit seven 3-pointers. It was vintage Curry in the best way possible. He flew around the court in a way that reminded everyone of those peak-Warriors teams.
Going into Game 4, Golden State trailed 2-1 in the series. Curry’s performance, and the win, flipped the momentum. The Warriors won Games 5 and 6 to put away the Celtics.
#2 – 2021 NBA Finals – Milwaukee Bucks beat Phoenix Suns 4-2
Sadly, this series feels a bit forgotten to time. It was the cap to an odd, COVID-19-laden season. But that doesn’t mean it should be disregarded.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was already one of the best players in the league—he’d just never won anything. It was going to be a perpetual knock against him.
The Phoenix Suns were a team on the rise. After a strong end to the season in the Bubble in Orlando, they were poised to take a leap. Trading for Chris Paul only solidified this. They were excellent throughout the season and their run to the Finals.
Yet, it was Antetokounmpo’s time in the spotlight. He made play after play, willing the Bucks to victory. In Game 6, to close out the series, Antetokounmpo finished with 50 points and sealed the game with an alley-oop from Jrue Holiday.
#1 – 2025 NBA Finals – Oklahoma City Thunder beat Indiana Pacers 4-3
This was the clear No. 1. It had all the makings of a Finals like 2023 or 2024, but the never-say-die, dark magic Indiana Pacers just wouldn’t let that happen. After their improbable Game 1 comeback and Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot, it was bound for seven games.
It was a David and Goliath story in which the impossible felt possible. The individual stars, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had their moments, but role players like T.J. McConnell and Alex Caruso proved to be just as valuable at the end of the series. Not every game was close, but they were all competitive. Both teams were expertly coached, and the arenas were electric.
Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 may stop it from being amongst the greatest Finals ever, but even considering it, the 2025 NBA Finals were easily the best of the last five years.
