Who Were the NBA Champions Last 10 Years? Complete Timeline & Winners Revealed

I remember sitting in my living room last year watching the NBA Finals, marveling at how the Denver Nuggets were carving their place in basketball history. As someone who's followed the league religiously for over two decades, I've developed a genuine appreciation for how each championship team tells its own unique story. The past decade of NBA champions reveals fascinating patterns about team building, superstar dominance, and the evolution of modern basketball. Let me walk you through these remarkable ten years while sharing some personal observations about what made each champion special.

The 2014 San Antonio Spurs started this incredible run with what I consider one of the most beautiful team performances I've ever witnessed. Their victory over the Miami Heat wasn't just about winning the title—it was basketball poetry in motion. Gregg Popovich's system produced such exquisite ball movement that at times it felt like watching five musicians performing in perfect harmony. The Spurs shot an incredible 52.8% from the field during those finals, and their unselfish play made me fall in love with team basketball all over again. What many forget is how emotionally charged that championship was, coming exactly one year after their heartbreaking Game 6 loss to the same opponent. The redemption narrative made that victory particularly sweet for longtime Spurs fans like myself.

Golden State's emergence as a dynasty fundamentally changed how basketball is played. When they won in 2015, I initially thought it was a flash in the pan—boy, was I wrong. Steph Curry's revolutionary shooting and the small-ball lineups they popularized forced every team in the league to reconsider their approach to roster construction. Their 2017 team, which finished the postseason with a historic 16-1 record, might be the most dominant playoff team I've ever seen. The addition of Kevin Durant created what felt like an unstoppable force, though I'll admit part of me missed the underdog story of their first championship run. The Cavaliers' 2016 comeback from 3-1 down against a Warriors team that had won 73 games remains the most stunning finals reversal I've witnessed in my lifetime. LeBron's block on Iguodala and Kyrie's step-back three are moments that will be replayed forever.

Toronto's 2019 championship holds a special place in my heart because it demonstrated that teams outside traditional markets could build championship rosters through smart management and timing. Kawhi Leonard's iconic buzzer-beater against Philadelphia in Game 7 of the second round—that shot literally bounced four times on the rim before dropping—might be the single most dramatic playoff moment of this entire decade. The Raptors' victory also marked the end of Golden State's dynasty, as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both suffered series-ending injuries during those finals. There's always an element of luck in championship runs, and Toronto certainly benefited from opponents' health issues, but Masai Ujiri's vision in acquiring Kawhi deserves tremendous credit.

The bubble championship won by the Lakers in 2020 was unlike anything we've seen before or since. The empty arenas in Orlando created surreal viewing experiences, yet LeBron James and Anthony Davis delivered a masterclass in playoff basketball under the most unusual circumstances. I've often wondered how history will judge this title—some detractors claim it deserves an asterisk, but having watched every game, I believe the mental fortitude required to win under those conditions might have made it more challenging than a typical championship. The Bucks' 2021 victory felt like Giannis Antetokounmpo's coronation as a true superstar, and his 50-point closeout performance in Game 6 against Phoenix was absolutely legendary. Sometimes you watch a player and just know they've reached their ultimate form—that was Giannis in that game.

Golden State's 2022 return to glory after two injury-plagued seasons provided one of the most satisfying narratives in recent memory. Seeing Steph finally win his first Finals MVP at age 34 felt like proper recognition for the player who has most transformed the game during my lifetime. Last year's Nuggets championship validated Nikola Jokić's unique genius—the big man who sees the game like a point guard finally got his due. Watching Jokić dismantle opponents with his cerebral playmaking made me appreciate that there are still new ways to excel in this sport. Their victory also marked the first championship in franchise history, a reminder of how special that first title feels for any organization.

Looking back across these ten years, what strikes me most is the variety of team-building approaches that led to success. From homegrown dynasties like Golden State to strategically assembled rosters like the 2020 Lakers, there's no single formula for championship success. The league has evolved toward positionless basketball and three-point shooting, yet we've still seen teams like the 2021 Bucks and 2023 Nuggets succeed with dominant big men. As a basketball enthusiast, I feel privileged to have witnessed such diverse championship teams, each with their own distinctive style and story. These past ten years haven't just given us champions—they've given us compelling basketball history that we'll be discussing for decades to come.