NBA Finals 2027: Dates, TV Channel, Champions and History
The NBA Finals 2027 will be played in June 2027 on ABC, closing the 2026-27 season. The New York Knicks are the defending champions after beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 Finals, with Jalen Brunson named Finals MVP.
NBA Finals Reports covers the current series and every Finals since 1947, with results checked against official league records.
When is the NBA Finals 2027?
The 2027 NBA Finals are scheduled for June 2027. The regular season ends on April 11, the Play-In Tournament follows, and the playoffs start right after it in mid-April.
The NBA has not announced the Game 1 date yet. The 2026 Finals ran from June 3 to June 13, and the 2027 dates go on this site the day the league confirms them. Follow the race on the 2027 NBA Finals page.
What Channel is the NBA Finals on?
ABC airs every NBA Finals game. It has held exclusive Finals rights since 2003, and the current deal runs through the 2035-36 season. ESPN Unlimited streams the same ABC broadcast in the ESPN app, and an HD antenna picks up ABC for free.
Every option, including services without cable, is on the where to watch the NBA Finals page.
Who Won the 2026 NBA Finals?
The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1. It was the third title in Knicks history and the first since 1973.
The series averaged 20.6 million viewers across ABC and ESPN, the most for any Finals since 1998, according to ESPN.
How Does the NBA Finals Work?
- Teams: the Eastern Conference champion plays the Western Conference champion.
- Format: best-of-seven. The first team to 4 wins takes the title.
- Home court: the team with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. This 2-2-1-1-1 format has been used since 2014.
- Trophy: the winner receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The Bill Russell Trophy goes to the Finals MVP.
NBA Finals History: Most Titles and Records
The NBA Finals have been played 80 times since 1947. The Boston Celtics hold the most titles with 18, one ahead of the Lakers.
- Most Finals MVP awards: Michael Jordan with 6, the last in the 1998 NBA Finals.
- Longest title run: the Celtics won 8 in a row from 1959 to 1966.
- Sweeps: 9 Finals ended 4-0, most recently in the 2018 NBA Finals.
- Game 7s: 20 Finals went the distance, most recently in the 2025 NBA Finals.
- Only comeback from 3-1 down: the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.
See every result in the NBA champions by year list.
NBA Finals FAQ
When does the NBA Finals 2027 start?
The 2027 NBA Finals are set for June 2027. The NBA has not announced the Game 1 date yet.
Who are the defending NBA champions?
The New York Knicks. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals.
What channel is the NBA Finals on?
ABC airs every game. ESPN Unlimited streams the ABC broadcast in the ESPN app.
How many games are in the NBA Finals?
Up to 7. The Finals are a best-of-seven series, so the first team to 4 wins is champion.
Which team has won the most NBA Finals?
The Boston Celtics, with 18 championships. The Lakers are second with 17.
What trophy does the NBA Finals winner get?
The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The Finals MVP receives the Bill Russell Trophy.
The NBA Finals 2027 arrive in June on ABC, with the Knicks defending their 2026 title. Start with where to watch the NBA Finals, or look back at every NBA champion since 1947.