| | 1947 - Philadelphia Warriors (4–1) |
| | 1948 - Baltimore Bullets (4–2) |
| | 1949 - Minneapolis Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1950 - Minneapolis Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1951 - Rochester Royals (4–3) |
| | 1952 - Minneapolis Lakers (4–3) |
| | 1953 - Minneapolis Lakers (4–1) |
| | 1954 - Minneapolis Lakers (4–3) |
| | 1955 - Syracuse Nationals (4–3) |
| | 1956 - Philadelphia Warriors (4–1) |
| | 1957 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1958 - St. Louis Hawks (4–2) |
| | 1959 - Boston Celtics (4–0) |
| | 1960 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1961 - Boston Celtics (4–1) |
| | 1962 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1963 - Boston Celtics (4–2) |
| | 1964 - Boston Celtics (4–1) |
| | 1965 - Boston Celtics (4–1) |
| | 1966 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1967 - Philadelphia 76ers (4–2) |
| | 1968 - Boston Celtics (4–2) |
| | 1969 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1970 - New York Knickerbockers (4–3) |
| | 1971 - Milwaukee Bucks (4–0) |
| | 1972 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–1) |
| | 1973 - New York Knickerbockers (4–1) |
| | 1974 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1975 - Golden State Warriors (4–0) |
| | 1976 - Boston Celtics (4–2) |
| | 1977 - Portland Trail Blazers (4–2) |
| | 1978 - Washington Bullets (4–3) |
| | 1979 - Seattle SuperSonics (4–1) |
| | 1980 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1981 - Boston Celtics (4–2) |
| | 1982 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1983 - Philadelphia 76ers (4–0) |
| | 1984 - Boston Celtics (4–3) |
| | 1985 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1986 - Boston Celtics (4–2) |
| | 1987 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–2) |
| | 1988 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–3) |
| | 1989 - Detroit Pistons (4–0) |
| | 1990 - Detroit Pistons (4–1) |
| | 1991 - Chicago Bulls (4–1) |
| | 1992 - Chicago Bulls (4–2) |
| | 1993 - Chicago Bulls (4–2) |
| | 1994 - Houston Rockets (4–3) |
| | 1995 - Houston Rockets (4–0) |
| | 1996 - Chicago Bulls (4–2) |
| | 1997 - Chicago Bulls (4–2) |
| | 1998 - Chicago Bulls (4–2) |
| | 1999 - San Antonio Spurs (4–1) |
| | 2000 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–2) |
| | 2001 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–1) |
| | 2002 - Los Angeles Lakers (4–0) |
| | 2003 - San Antonio Spurs (4–2) |
| | 2004 - Detroit Pistons (4–1) |
| | 2005 - San Antonio Spurs (4–3) |
| | 2006 - Miami Heat (4–2) |