Jerry West (#44 against Jeff Mullins of the Golden State Warriors) led the Lakers to nine appearances in the NBA Finals during the 1960s & 1970s. Photo by The Sporting News Archives, 1971, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers lead the NBA with 32 appearances in the NBA Finals since 1947. The Boston Celtics follow with 23 appearances. With their victory in the 2020 NBA Finals, the Lakers tied the Boston Celtics for total number of NBA Final championships, at 17 each. Boston, however, again regained the lead with an 18th NBA championship win in 2024.
The Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers also lead the NBA with 185 games played in the NBA Finals (150 as the Los Angeles Lakers). They won 93 of these games (73 as the Los Angeles Lakers), the most games won in the Finals. The Boston Celtics follow in second place with 129 games played and 81 won in the Finals.
| Year | Result | Laker Wins/Losses by Game in Series | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | LA Lakers 4, Miami Heat 2 | W,W,L,W,L,W | Frank Vogel |
| 2010 | LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 3 | W,L,W,L,L,W,W | Phil Jackson |
| 2009 | LA Lakers 4, Orlando Magic 1 | W,W,L,W,W | Phil Jackson |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2 | L,L,W,L,W,L | Phil Jackson |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons 4, LA Lakers 1 | L,W,L,L,L | Phil Jackson |
| 2002 | LA Lakers 4, New Jersey Nets 0 | W,W,W,W | Phil Jackson |
| 2001 | LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 1 | L,W,W,W,W | Phil Jackson |
| 2000 | LA Lakers 4, Indiana Pacers 2 | W,W,L,W,L,W | Phil Jackson |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls 4, LA Lakers 1 | W,L,L,L,L | Mike Dunleavy |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons 4, LA Lakers 0 | L,L,L,L | Pat Riley |
| 1988 | LA Lakers 4, Detroit Pistons 3 | L,W,W,L,L,W,W | Pat Riley |
| 1987 | LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 2 | W,W,L,W,L,W | Pat Riley |
| 1985 | LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 3 | L,W,W,L,W,W | Pat Riley |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3 | W,L,W,L,L,W,L | Pat Riley |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers 4, LA Lakers 0 | L,L,L,L | Pat Riley |
| 1982 | LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2 | W,L,W,W,L,W | Pat Riley |
| 1980 | LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2 | W,L,W,L,W,W | Paul Westhead |
| 1973 | New York Knicks 4, LA Lakers 1 | W,L,L,L,L | Bill Sharman |
| 1972 | LA Lakers 4, New York Knicks 1 | L,W,W,W,W | Bill Sharman |
| 1970 | New York Knicks 4, LA Lakers 3 | L,W,L,W,L,W,L | Joe Mullaney |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3 | W,W,L,L,W,L,L | Butch van Breda Kolff |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2 | L,W,L,W,L,L | Butch van Breda Kolff |
| 1966 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3 | W,L,L,L,W,W,L | Fred Schaus |
| 1965 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 1 | L,L,W,L,L | Fred Schaus |
| 1963 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2 | L,L,W,L,W,L | Fred Schaus |
| 1962 | Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3 | L,W,W,L,W,L,L | Fred Schaus |
| Year | Result | Laker Wins/Losses by Game in Series | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Boston Celtics 4, Minneapolis Lakers 0 | L,L,L,L | John Kundla |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers 4, Syracuse (future 76ers) 3 | W,L,W,L,W,L,W | John Kundla |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers 4, New York 1 | L,W,W,W,W | John Kundla |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers 4, New York 3 | W,L,W,L,W,L,W | John Kundla |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers 4, Syracuse (future 76ers) 2 | W,L,W,W,L,W | John Kundla |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers 4, Washington Capitols 3 | W,W,W,L,L,W | John Kundla |
