A Complete List of NBA Champions Last 10 Years and Their Winning Stories
Looking back at the last decade of NBA basketball, I can’t help but feel a mix of awe and nostalgia. As someone who has followed the league closely—both as a fan and an analyst—I’ve witnessed dynasties rise, underdogs triumph, and legacies cemented in the most dramatic ways possible. Over these ten years, we’ve seen everything from superteams to homegrown champions, and each title run tells a unique story of resilience, strategy, and sometimes, pure luck. I still remember watching the 2014 San Antonio Spurs dismantle the Miami Heat with what I consider one of the most beautiful team performances in modern basketball. That series wasn’t just about winning—it was about basketball as an art form.
The 2013-14 season set the tone for what was to come. The Spurs, led by the timeless Tim Duncan and a brilliant Gregg Popovich, executed their famous “beautiful game” offense to perfection. They avenged their heartbreaking loss from the previous year, beating the Heat in five games. I’ve always admired how they moved the ball—336 assists that postseason, a staggering number that speaks to unselfishness at its finest. Then came the Golden State Warriors, a team that would dominate the latter half of the decade. Their 2015 championship felt like a revolution. Stephen Curry’s gravity, Klay Thompson’s shooting, and Draymond Green’s versatility created a system that was simply unguardable. I still argue that their small-ball “Death Lineup” changed the league forever.
Golden State’s 73-win season in 2016 will forever be memorable, though it ended in that stunning Finals collapse against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a fan, that series was emotionally draining. The Cavs came back from a 3-1 deficit, something no team had ever done in the Finals. LeBron’s block on Andre Iguodala and Kyrie Irving’s step-back three over Curry are moments I can replay in my mind like they happened yesterday. That Cavs team wasn’t just talented—they were resilient in a way that’s rare even at the highest level. The following year, Kevin Durant’s move to Golden State shifted the balance of power entirely. Love it or hate it, that decision created a superteam that was nearly unstoppable. They swept the Cavs in 2018, and honestly, it felt inevitable.
The 2019 Raptors’ championship run was special for so many reasons. Kawhi Leonard’s iconic buzzer-beater against Philadelphia in Game 7—the “shot that bounced four times,” as I like to call it—was pure theater. As someone who values defensive discipline, I have to give credit to Nick Nurse’s innovative schemes, especially the “junk” defenses used to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals. That Raptors team was deep, versatile, and played with a collective grit that’s often overlooked. Then came the bubble in 2020. The Lakers’ title in the Orlando campus was surreal—LeBron winning his fourth ring amid a global pandemic. The circumstances were bizarre, but the Lakers’ dominance felt like a fitting tribute to Kobe Bryant. I still get chills thinking about their defensive intensity that postseason.
More recently, the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 championship run showcased Giannis Antetokounmpo’s evolution from raw talent to bona fide superstar. His 50-point closeout game in the Finals was legendary. I’ve always believed that Giannis is a throwback to an era of physical, inside-out basketball, and that series proved it. The Warriors’ return to glory in 2022 was a storybook ending—Stephen Curry finally winning his first Finals MVP after so many years of doubt. And let’s not forget the Denver Nuggets in 2023, with Nikola Jokić redefining what a center can do. His playmaking is something I’ve never seen from a big man, and Jamal Murray’s clutch gene in the playoffs was a joy to watch.
Reflecting on these ten years, it’s clear that the NBA has never been more dynamic. We’ve moved from the Heatles era to the Warriors’ dynasty, and now into a period where parity seems to be returning. As much as I appreciate superteams, there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing homegrown cores like Denver or Milwaukee win it all. The league continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant: the stories behind each championship are what make the NBA so compelling. Whether it’s a legacy-defining performance or an underdog’s triumph, these moments remind me why I fell in love with basketball in the first place.
