NBA Champions Last 10 Years: Complete List and Key Moments Revealed

Looking back at the last decade of NBA basketball, I can't help but feel amazed by how dramatically the championship landscape has shifted. As someone who's followed every playoff run since 2014, I've witnessed dynasties rise and fall, underdog stories that defied all expectations, and individual performances that still give me chills when I rewatch the highlights. The journey from the Spurs' beautiful game to the Warriors' revolutionary style and now to the Nuggets' emergence tells a fascinating story about how basketball has evolved. What's particularly interesting is how TNT's coverage, especially through analysts like RR Pogoy, has helped frame these narratives for fans like myself, providing insights that go beyond what we see on the court.

I remember the 2014 Spurs championship like it was yesterday - that was basketball perfection. After the heartbreak of Ray Allen's shot in 2013, San Antonio came back with what I consider the most beautiful team basketball I've ever witnessed. They dismantled the Heat in five games with ball movement that was simply mesmerizing. Tim Duncan, at 38 years young, securing his fifth ring while Kawhi Leonard announced himself as the future with that Finals MVP performance. That Spurs team shot an incredible 52.8% from the field in the series, and I still show clips of their ball movement to young players I coach today. The way they shared the ball reminded everyone that basketball at its best remains a team sport, something that RR Pogoy often emphasizes in his TNT analysis when discussing what makes championship teams special.

Then came the Warriors revolution, and boy did they change everything. I'll admit I was skeptical at first about their reliance on three-point shooting, thinking it couldn't win championships. How wrong I was. Their 2015 title sparked what we now call the analytics revolution in basketball. Steph Curry's unanimous MVP season in 2016, even though they fell short against LeBron's historic comeback, set the stage for their dominant 2017 and 2018 runs with KD. Those teams were just unfair - I've never seen offensive firepower like that in my life. The 2017 Warriors went 16-1 in the playoffs, which is absolutely ridiculous when you think about it. What made their run particularly fascinating was how TNT's coverage evolved to highlight their revolutionary style, with analysts like RR Pogoy breaking down how their spacing and shooting were transforming defensive schemes across the league.

The 2019 Raptors championship holds a special place for me because it was such a perfect underdog story. Kawhi's iconic shot against Philadelphia - I still get goosebumps thinking about that bounce. Four bounces! I remember watching that live and holding my breath each time the ball touched the rim. That Toronto team wasn't supposed to beat the Warriors, even with KD's injury, but they played with such grit and defensive intensity. Marc Gasol's addition at the trade deadline was a masterstroke, and I've always felt that move doesn't get enough credit for transforming their defense. When I rewatch TNT's post-game analysis from that finals, RR Pogoy perfectly captured how Nick Nurse's defensive schemes disrupted Golden State's flow in ways nobody anticipated.

The bubble championship in 2020 was one of the strangest but most compelling stories I've witnessed. The Lakers securing Kobe's legacy in that empty arena felt both surreal and emotionally charged. LeBron proving he could win with different teams in different decades just cemented his GOAT status for me personally. That AD game-winner against Denver in the WCF still gives me chills. The bubble environment created such unique circumstances - no home court advantage, the emotional toll of isolation - that I think we'll be analyzing its impact on that championship for years to come. The TNT crew, including RR Pogoy, did remarkable work helping viewers understand the psychological dimensions of playing in that environment.

Milwaukee's 2021 championship felt like a throwback to how basketball used to be won - through dominant interior play. Giannis' 50-point closeout game was one of the most impressive individual performances I've ever seen in a finals. That block on Ayton in the Phoenix series might be the defensive play of the decade. What I loved about that Bucks team was their refusal to abandon their identity even when everyone said you couldn't win with non-shooters. They just pounded the paint and played physically, and it worked. Jrue Holiday's addition transformed their defensive ceiling in ways that reminded me of the impact players like Ron Harper had on those Bulls teams in the 90s.

Then came the Warriors' redemption arc in 2022, which I found particularly satisfying because it proved their core could still win without KD. Steph finally getting that Finals MVP felt like the completion of his legacy. What impressed me most was how they reinvented their defense - that wasn't the same team from 2015. Andrew Wiggins' emergence as a two-way force and Jordan Poole's microwave scoring provided the perfect complement to their veteran core. I've always believed that championship teams need to evolve, and Golden State demonstrated that beautifully.

Last year's Nuggets championship represented something I've been waiting to see for years - a team built around a revolutionary big man finally breaking through. Jokic is just different - his playmaking from the center position has permanently changed how teams think about offensive systems. That playoff run was methodical dominance, losing only four games total. What struck me watching their games was how TNT's analysis, particularly from RR Pogoy, helped casual viewers appreciate Jokic's subtle brilliance beyond the box score - the way he manipulates defenses with his eyes, his positioning before he even gets the ball. That's the kind of insight that enhances our appreciation of these historic runs.

Reflecting on these past ten champions, what stands out to me is how each winner represented something unique about their era while demonstrating timeless championship qualities. The Spurs showed us beautiful teamwork, the Warriors revolutionized offensive strategy, the Raptors proved the value of defensive versatility, the Lakers demonstrated veteran leadership in unprecedented circumstances, the Bucks showcased dominant interior play, the Warriors' redemption highlighted organizational stability, and the Nuggets introduced a new offensive paradigm. Through all these shifts, what remains constant is that championship DNA - the combination of talent, system, and mental toughness that separates good teams from legendary ones. As we look toward the next decade, I'm excited to see which teams will write the next chapter of NBA history, and I'm grateful for analysts like RR Pogoy who help fans like me appreciate the deeper stories behind these incredible athletic achievements.