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The belt vs. the champion

80 seasons with a playoffs final

The belt doesn't care about brackets. But how often does it end the season in the same hands as the trophy? Here's the team that won each season's last playoffs game next to the team holding the belt when the season's games ran out.

67Seasons it matched
84%Match rate
13Seasons it didn't
4Current matching streak
SeasonChampionBelt at season's end
2025–26New York KnicksNew York KnicksSame team
2024–25Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City ThunderSame team
2023–24Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
2022–23Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsSame team
2021–22Golden State WarriorsSacramento Kings
2020–21Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksSame team
2019–20Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
2018–19Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsSame team
2017–18Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsSame team
2016–17Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsSame team
2015–16Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersSame team
2014–15Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsSame team
2013–14San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
2012–13Miami HeatMiami HeatSame team
2011–12Miami HeatMiami HeatSame team
2010–11Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksSame team
2009–10Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
2008–09Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
2007–08Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
2006–07San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursSame team
2005–06Miami HeatMiami HeatSame team
2004–05San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursSame team
2003–04Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsSame team
2002–03San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Clippers
2001–02Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
2000–01Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1999–00Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
1998–99San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursSame team
1997–98Chicago BullsChicago BullsSame team
1996–97Chicago BullsChicago BullsSame team
1995–96Chicago BullsChicago BullsSame team
1994–95Houston RocketsHouston RocketsSame team
1993–94Houston RocketsHouston RocketsSame team
1992–93Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
1991–92Chicago BullsChicago BullsSame team
1990–91Chicago BullsChicago BullsSame team
1989–90Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsSame team
1988–89Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
1987–88Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
1986–87Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1985–86Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1984–85Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1983–84Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1982–83Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersSame team
1981–82Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1980–81Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1979–80Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1978–79Seattle SuperSonicsSan Diego Clippers
1977–78Washington BulletsWashington BulletsSame team
1976–77Portland Trail BlazersIndiana Pacers
1975–76Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1974–75Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsSame team
1973–74Boston CelticsSeattle SuperSonics
1972–73New York KnicksNew York KnicksSame team
1971–72Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersSame team
1970–71Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
1969–70New York KnicksNew York KnicksSame team
1968–69Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1967–68Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1966–67Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersSame team
1965–66Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1964–65Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1963–64Boston CelticsBaltimore Bullets
1962–63Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1961–62Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1960–61Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1959–60Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1958–59Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1957–58St. Louis HawksSt. Louis HawksSame team
1956–57Boston CelticsBoston CelticsSame team
1955–56Philadelphia WarriorsPhiladelphia WarriorsSame team
1954–55Syracuse NationalsSyracuse NationalsSame team
1953–54Minneapolis LakersMilwaukee Hawks
1952–53Minneapolis LakersMinneapolis LakersSame team
1951–52Minneapolis LakersMinneapolis LakersSame team
1950–51Rochester RoyalsRochester RoyalsSame team
1949–50Minneapolis LakersMinneapolis LakersSame team
1948–49Minneapolis LakersMinneapolis LakersSame team
1947–48Baltimore BulletsBaltimore BulletsSame team
1946–47Philadelphia WarriorsPhiladelphia WarriorsSame team

Know the second a belt changes hands

One email per title change. Nothing else.