Nba Finals 2026

What this countdown tracks

The clock above counts down to the 2026 NBA Finals, the championship round of the NBA's 80th season, with Game 1 tipping off June 3, 2026.

About this event

The 2026 NBA Finals is the championship round of the NBA's 80th season, contested in a best-of-seven series under the league's now-standard 2-2-1-1-1 home-court format. The team with the better regular-season record gets home-court advantage. Game 1 is scheduled for June 3, 2026, with subsequent games on June 5, 7, 10, 12 (if needed), 14 (if needed), and 19 (if needed).

The Finals MVP is awarded the Bill Russell Trophy, presented by Bill Russell's family in coordination with the NBA. The 2026 Finals will be broadcast in the United States on ABC as part of the league's long-running rights deal, with worldwide distribution through ESPN networks and NBA League Pass.

Past results

• 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
• 2024: Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
• 2023: Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in five games.
• 2022: Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in six games.
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games.

What to watch for

• Eastern Conference and Western Conference finalists confirmed during the Conference Finals (mid-May to early-June).
• Bill Russell Trophy presentation moment after Game 4, 5, 6, or 7 close-outs.
• TNT's parallel rights cycle — 2026 is the first Finals after Amazon Prime Video and NBC entered the league's broadcast portfolio.
• The All-NBA team announcement window runs in tandem with the Finals press tour.
• LA28 Olympics tie-ins, with USA Basketball coverage building toward the summer 2028 Games.

Related countdowns

For more 2026 sports championship events, see the Wimbledon 2026 countdown and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final countdown.

FAQ

When does the 2026 NBA Finals start? Game 1 is June 3, 2026. What's the format? Best-of-seven, 2-2-1-1-1 home-court. Where can I watch? ABC and ESPN networks in the US, NBA League Pass internationally. When is Game 7 (if needed)? June 19, 2026.