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External Websites
- The Canadian Encyclopedia - Basketball in Canada
- Springfield College - Where Basketball was Invented: The History of Basketball
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Physiology of Basketball – Field Tests. Review Article
- Olympics.com - History of basketball at Olympics: A tale of American domination
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the NBA championship.
season | winner | runner-up | results |
---|---|---|---|
1946–47 | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Stags | 4–1 |
1947–48 | Baltimore Bullets | Philadelphia Warriors | 4–2 |
1948–49 | Minneapolis Lakers | Washington Capitols | 4–2 |
1949–50 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4–2 |
1950–51 | Rochester Royals | New York Knickerbockers | 4–3 |
1951–52 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 4–3 |
1952–53 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 4–1 |
1953–54 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4–3 |
1954–55 | Syracuse Nationals | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4–3 |
1955–56 | Philadelphia Warriors | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4–1 |
1956–57 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4–3 |
1957–58 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | 4–2 |
1958–59 | Boston Celtics | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–0 |
1959–60 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4–3 |
1960–61 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4–1 |
1961–62 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
1962–63 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 |
1963–64 | Boston Celtics | San Francisco Warriors | 4–1 |
1964–65 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 |
1965–66 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
1966–67 | Philadelphia 76ers | San Francisco Warriors | 4–2 |
1967–68 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 |
1968–69 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
1969–70 | New York Knickerbockers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
1970–71 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Bullets | 4–0 |
1971–72 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knickerbockers | 4–1 |
1972–73 | New York Knickerbockers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 |
1973–74 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 4–3 |
1974–75 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Bullets | 4–0 |
1975–76 | Boston Celtics | Phoenix Suns | 4–2 |
1976–77 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4–2 |
1977–78 | Washington Bullets | Seattle SuperSonics | 4–3 |
1978–79 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets | 4–1 |
1979–80 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4–2 |
1980–81 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4–2 |
1981–82 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4–2 |
1982–83 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–0 |
1983–84 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 |
1984–85 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4–2 |
1985–86 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4–2 |
1986–87 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4–2 |
1987–88 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | 4–3 |
1988–89 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–0 |
1989–90 | Detroit Pistons | Portland Trail Blazers | 4–1 |
1990–91 | Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 |
1991–92 | Chicago Bulls | Portland Trail Blazers | 4–2 |
1992–93 | Chicago Bulls | Phoenix Suns | 4–2 |
1993–94 | Houston Rockets | New York Knickerbockers | 4–3 |
1994–95 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic | 4–0 |
1995–96 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle SuperSonics | 4–2 |
1996–97 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4–2 |
1997–98 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4–2 |
1998–99 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knickerbockers | 4–1 |
1999–2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers | 4–2 |
2000–01 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4–1 |
2001–02 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Jersey Nets | 4–0 |
2002–03 | San Antonio Spurs | New Jersey Nets | 4–2 |
2003–04 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 |
2004–05 | San Antonio Spurs | Detroit Pistons | 4–3 |
2005–06 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 4–2 |
2006–07 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4–0 |
2007–08 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 |
2008–09 | Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic | 4–1 |
2009–10 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4–3 |
2010–11 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat | 4–2 |
2011–12 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4–1 |
2012–13 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 4–3 |
2013–14 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | 4–1 |
2014–15 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4–2 |
2015–16 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4–3 |
2016–17 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4–1 |
2017–18 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4–0 |
2018–19 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4–2 |
2019–20 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4–2 |
2020–21 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4–2 |
2021–22 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4–2 |
2022–23 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4–1 |
2023–24 | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | 4–1 |
WNBA championship
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the WNBA championship.
year | winner | runner-up | results |
---|---|---|---|
*Best-of-three final series until 2005; thereafter best-of-five series. | |||
1997 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | 1–0 |
1998 | Houston Comets | Phoenix Mercury | 2–1 |
1999 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | 2–1 |
2000 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | 2–0 |
2001 | Los Angeles Sparks | Charlotte Sting | 2–0 |
2002 | Los Angeles Sparks | New York Liberty | 2–0 |
2003 | Detroit Shock | Los Angeles Sparks | 2–1 |
2004 | Seattle Storm | Connecticut Sun | 2–1 |
2005 | Sacramento Monarchs | Connecticut Sun | 3–1 |
2006 | Detroit Shock | Sacramento Monarchs | 3–2 |
2007 | Phoenix Mercury | Detroit Shock | 3–2 |
2008 | Detroit Shock | San Antonio Silver Stars | 3–0 |
2009 | Phoenix Mercury | Indiana Fever | 3–2 |
2010 | Seattle Storm | Atlanta Dream | 3–0 |
2011 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | 3–0 |
2012 | Indiana Fever | Minnesota Lynx | 3–1 |
2013 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | 3–0 |
2014 | Phoenix Mercury | Chicago Sky | 3–0 |
2015 | Minnesota Lynx | Indiana Fever | 3–2 |
2016 | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | 3–2 |
2017 | Minnesota Lynx | Los Angeles Sparks | 3–2 |
2018 | Seattle Storm | Washington Mystics | 3–0 |
2019 | Washington Mystics | Connecticut Sun | 3–2 |
2020 | Seattle Storm | Las Vegas Aces | 3–0 |
2021 | Chicago Sky | Phoenix Mercury | 3–1 |
2022 | Las Vegas Aces | Connecticut Sun | 3–1 |
2023 | Las Vegas Aces | New York Liberty | 3–1 |
NCAA men’s championship
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the NCAA men’s championship.
year | winner | runner-up | score |
---|---|---|---|
*Louisville's title was vacated in 2018 because of rules violations committed between 2011 and 2015. | |||
**Tournament canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. | |||
1939 | Oregon | Ohio State | 46–43 |
1940 | Indiana | Kansas | 60–42 |
1941 | Wisconsin | Washington State | 39–34 |
1942 | Stanford | Dartmouth | 53–38 |
1943 | Wyoming | Georgetown | 46–34 |
1944 | Utah | Dartmouth | 42–40 |
1945 | Oklahoma A&M | New York | 49–45 |
1946 | Oklahoma A&M | North Carolina | 43–40 |
1947 | Holy Cross | Oklahoma | 58–47 |
1948 | Kentucky | Baylor | 58–42 |
1949 | Kentucky | Oklahoma State | 46–36 |
1950 | CCNY | Bradley | 71–68 |
1951 | Kentucky | Kansas State | 68–58 |
1952 | Kansas | St. John's (N.Y.) | 80–63 |
1953 | Indiana | Kansas | 69–68 |
1954 | La Salle | Bradley | 92–76 |
1955 | San Francisco | La Salle | 77–63 |
1956 | San Francisco | Iowa | 83–71 |
1957 | North Carolina | Kansas | 54–53 |
1958 | Kentucky | Seattle | 84–72 |
1959 | California (Berkeley) | West Virginia | 71–70 |
1960 | Ohio State | California (Berkeley) | 75–55 |
1961 | Cincinnati | Ohio State | 70–65 |
1962 | Cincinnati | Ohio State | 71–59 |
1963 | Loyola (Ill.) | Cincinnati | 60–58 |
1964 | UCLA | Duke | 98–83 |
1965 | UCLA | Michigan | 91–80 |
1966 | Texas Western | Kentucky | 72–65 |
1967 | UCLA | Dayton | 79–64 |
1968 | UCLA | North Carolina | 78–55 |
1969 | UCLA | Purdue | 92–72 |
1970 | UCLA | Jacksonville | 80–69 |
1971 | UCLA | Villanova | 68–62 |
1972 | UCLA | Florida State | 81–76 |
1973 | UCLA | Memphis State | 87–66 |
1974 | North Carolina State | Marquette | 76–64 |
1975 | UCLA | Kentucky | 92–85 |
1976 | Indiana | Michigan | 86–68 |
1977 | Marquette | North Carolina | 67–59 |
1978 | Kentucky | Duke | 94–88 |
1979 | Michigan State | Indiana State | 75–64 |
1980 | Louisville | UCLA | 59–54 |
1981 | Indiana | North Carolina | 63–50 |
1982 | North Carolina | Georgetown | 63–62 |
1983 | North Carolina State | Houston | 54–52 |
1984 | Georgetown | Houston | 84–75 |
1985 | Villanova | Georgetown | 66–64 |
1986 | Louisville | Duke | 72–69 |
1987 | Indiana | Syracuse | 74–73 |
1988 | Kansas | Oklahoma | 83–79 |
1989 | Michigan | Seton Hall | 80–79 |
1990 | UNLV | Duke | 103–73 |
1991 | Duke | Kansas | 72–65 |
1992 | Duke | Michigan | 71–51 |
1993 | North Carolina | Michigan | 77–71 |
1994 | Arkansas | Duke | 76–72 |
1995 | UCLA | Arkansas | 89–78 |
1996 | Kentucky | Syracuse | 76–67 |
1997 | Arizona | Kentucky | 84–79 |
1998 | Kentucky | Utah | 78–69 |
1999 | Connecticut | Duke | 77–74 |
2000 | Michigan State | Florida | 89–76 |
2001 | Duke | Arizona | 82–72 |
2002 | Maryland | Indiana | 64–52 |
2003 | Syracuse | Kansas | 81–78 |
2004 | Connecticut | Georgia Tech | 82–73 |
2005 | North Carolina | Illinois | 75–70 |
2006 | Florida | UCLA | 73–57 |
2007 | Florida | Ohio State | 84–75 |
2008 | Kansas | Memphis | 75–68 |
2009 | North Carolina | Michigan State | 89–72 |
2010 | Duke | Butler | 61–59 |
2011 | Connecticut | Butler | 53–41 |
2012 | Kentucky | Kansas | 67–59 |
2013 | Louisville* | Michigan | 82–76 |
2014 | Connecticut | Kentucky | 60–54 |
2015 | Duke | Wisconsin | 68–63 |
2016 | Villanova | North Carolina | 77–74 |
2017 | North Carolina | Gonzaga | 71–65 |
2018 | Villanova | Michigan | 79–62 |
2019 | Virginia | Texas Tech | 85–77 |
2020 | not held** | ||
2021 | Baylor | Gonzaga | 86–70 |
2022 | Kansas | North Carolina | 72–69 |
2023 | Connecticut | San Diego State | 76–59 |
2024 | Connecticut | Purdue | 75–60 |
NCAA women’s championship
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the NCAA women’s championship.
year | winner | runner-up | score |
---|---|---|---|
*Tournament canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. | |||
1982 | Louisiana Tech | Cheyney (Pa.) | 76–62 |
1983 | Southern California | Louisiana Tech | 69–67 |
1984 | Southern California | Tennessee | 72–61 |
1985 | Old Dominion | Georgia | 70–65 |
1986 | Texas | Southern California | 97–81 |
1987 | Tennessee | Louisiana Tech | 67–44 |
1988 | Louisiana Tech | Auburn | 56–54 |
1989 | Tennessee | Auburn | 76–60 |
1990 | Stanford | Auburn | 88–81 |
1991 | Tennessee | Virginia | 70–67 |
1992 | Stanford | Western Kentucky | 78–62 |
1993 | Texas Tech | Ohio State | 84–82 |
1994 | North Carolina | Louisiana Tech | 60–59 |
1995 | Connecticut | Tennessee | 70–64 |
1996 | Tennessee | Georgia | 83–65 |
1997 | Tennessee | Old Dominion | 68–59 |
1998 | Tennessee | Louisiana Tech | 93–75 |
1999 | Purdue | Duke | 62–45 |
2000 | Connecticut | Tennessee | 71–52 |
2001 | Notre Dame | Purdue | 68–66 |
2002 | Connecticut | Oklahoma | 82–70 |
2003 | Connecticut | Tennessee | 73–68 |
2004 | Connecticut | Tennessee | 70–61 |
2005 | Baylor | Michigan State | 84–62 |
2006 | Maryland | Duke | 78–75 |
2007 | Tennessee | Rutgers | 59–46 |
2008 | Tennessee | Stanford | 64–48 |
2009 | Connecticut | Louisville | 76–54 |
2010 | Connecticut | Stanford | 53–47 |
2011 | Texas A&M | Notre Dame | 76–70 |
2012 | Baylor | Notre Dame | 80–61 |
2013 | Connecticut | Louisville | 93–60 |
2014 | Connecticut | Notre Dame | 79–58 |
2015 | Connecticut | Notre Dame | 63–53 |
2016 | Connecticut | Syracuse | 82–51 |
2017 | South Carolina | Mississippi State | 67–55 |
2018 | Notre Dame | Mississippi State | 61–58 |
2019 | Baylor | Notre Dame | 82–81 |
2020 | not held* | ||
2021 | Stanford | Arizona | 54–53 |
2022 | South Carolina | Connecticut | 64–49 |
2023 | LSU | Iowa | 102–85 |
2024 | South Carolina | Iowa | 87–75 |
FIBA Basketball World Cup
More From Britannica
Why Are Basketball Hoops 10 Feet High?
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
year | winner | runner-up |
---|---|---|
*Known as the FIBA World Championship until 2014. | ||
**Olympic championships, recognized as world championships. | ||
***By default. | ||
1936** | United States | Canada |
1948** | United States | France |
1950 | Argentina | United States |
1952** | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1954 | United States | Brazil |
1956** | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1959 | Brazil*** | United States |
1960** | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1963 | Brazil | Yugoslavia |
1964** | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1967 | U.S.S.R. | Yugoslavia |
1968** | United States | Yugoslavia |
1970 | Yugoslavia | Brazil |
1972** | U.S.S.R. | United States |
1974 | U.S.S.R. | Yugoslavia |
1976** | United States | Yugoslavia |
1978 | Yugoslavia | U.S.S.R. |
1980** | Yugoslavia | Italy |
1982 | U.S.S.R. | United States |
1984** | United States | Spain |
1986 | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1988** | U.S.S.R. | Yugoslavia |
1990 | Yugoslavia | U.S.S.R. |
1992** | United States | Croatia |
1994 | United States | Russia |
1996** | United States | Yugoslavia |
1998 | Yugoslavia | Russia |
2000** | United States | France |
2002 | Yugoslavia | Argentina |
2004** | Argentina | Italy |
2006 | Spain | Greece |
2008** | United States | Spain |
2010 | United States | Turkey |
2012** | United States | Spain |
2014 | United States | Serbia |
2016** | United States | Serbia |
2019 | Spain | Argentina |
2020** | United States | France |
2023 | Germany | Serbia |
FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup
The table provides a chronological list of winners of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | ||
---|---|---|
*Known as the FIBA World Championship for Women until 2018. **Olympic championships, recognized as world championships. ***Athletes from the Commonwealth of Independent States plus Georgia. | ||
year | winner | runner-up |
1953 | United States | Chile |
1957 | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1959 | U.S.S.R. | Bulgaria |
1964 | U.S.S.R. | Czechoslovakia |
1967 | U.S.S.R. | South Korea |
1971 | U.S.S.R. | Czechoslovakia |
1975 | U.S.S.R. | Japan |
1976** | U.S.S.R. | United States |
1979 | United States | South Korea |
1980** | U.S.S.R. | Bulgaria |
1983 | U.S.S.R. | United States |
1984** | United States | South Korea |
1986 | United States | U.S.S.R. |
1988** | United States | Yugoslavia |
1990 | United States | Yugoslavia |
1992** | Unified Team*** | China |
1994 | Brazil | China |
1996** | United States | Brazil |
1998 | United States | Russia |
2000** | United States | Australia |
2002 | United States | Russia |
2004** | United States | Australia |
2006 | Australia | Russia |
2008** | United States | Australia |
2010 | United States | Czech Republic |
2012** | United States | France |
2014 | United States | Spain |
2016** | United States | Spain |
2018 | United States | Australia |
2020** | United States | Japan |
2022 | United States | China |
NBA all-time records
The table provides a selection of National Basketball Association records.
National Basketball Association all-time records1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
1Through the end of the 2023–24 regular season. 2Minimum 2,000 made. 3Minimum 250 made. 4Minimum 1,200 made. 5Since 1973–74; before that season steals and blocked shots were not officially recorded by the NBA. | |||
players/teams | number | season/date | |
Individual career records | |||
Games played | Robert Parish | 1,611 | 1976–77—1996–97 |
Points scored | LeBron James | 40,474 | 2003–04—2023–24 |
Field goals attempted | LeBron James | 29,313 | 2003–04—2023–24 |
Field goals made | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 15,837 | 1969–70—1988–89 |
Field-goal percentage2 | DeAndre Jordan | .6741 | 2008–09—2023–24 |
Three-point field goals attempted | Stephen Curry | 8,805 | 2009–10—2023–24 |
Three-point field goals made | Stephen Curry | 3,747 | 2009–10—2023–24 |
Three-point field-goal percentage3 | Steve Kerr | .454 | 1988–89—2002–03 |
Free throws attempted | Karl Malone | 13,188 | 1985–86—2003–04 |
Free throws made | Karl Malone | 9,787 | 1985–86—2003–04 |
Free-throw percentage4 | Stephen Curry | .9098 | 2009–10—2023–24 |
Assists | John Stockton | 15,806 | 1984–85—2002–03 |
Rebounds | Wilt Chamberlain | 23,924 | 1959–60—1972–73 |
Steals5 | John Stockton | 3,265 | 1984–85—2002–03 |
Blocked shots5 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 3,830 | 1984–85—2001–02 |
Personal fouls | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 4,657 | 1969–70—1988–89 |
Wins (coaching) | Gregg Popovich | 1,388 |
|
Individual season records | |||
Points scored | Wilt Chamberlain | 4,029 | 1961–62 |
Field goals attempted | Wilt Chamberlain | 3,159 | 1961–62 |
Field goals made | Wilt Chamberlain | 1,597 | 1961–62 |
Field-goal percentage | Mitchell Robinson | .7419 | 2019–20 |
Three-point field goals attempted | James Harden | 1,028 | 2018–19 |
Three-point field goals made | Stephen Curry | 402 | 2015–16 |
Three-point field-goal percentage | Kyle Korver | .536 | 2009–10 |
Free throws attempted | Wilt Chamberlain | 1,363 | 1961–62 |
Free throws made | Jerry West | 840 | 1965–66 |
Free-throw percentage | José Calderón | .9805 | 2008–09 |
Assists | John Stockton | 1,164 | 1990–91 |
Rebounds | Wilt Chamberlain | 2,149 | 1960–61 |
Steals5 | Alvin Robertson | 301 | 1985–86 |
Blocked shots5 | Mark Eaton | 456 | 1984–85 |
Personal fouls | Darryl Dawkins | 386 | 1983–84 |
Team records | |||
Highest winning percentage (season) | Golden State Warriors | .890 (73–9) | 2015–16 |
Consecutive games won | Los Angeles Lakers | 33 |
Nov. 5, 1971– Jan. 7, 1972 |
Championships | Boston Celtics | 17 | |
Consecutive championships | Boston Celtics | 8 | 1959–66 |