| 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Stags |
| 1948 | Baltimore Bullets | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | Washington Capitols |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | New York Knicks |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1955 | Syracuse Nationals | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| 1956 | Philadelphia Warriors | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| 1957 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics |
| 1959 | Boston Celtics | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1960 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1961 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1962 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1963 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1964 | Boston Celtics | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1965 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1966 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1967 | Philadelphia 76ers | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1970 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Bullets |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | Phoenix Suns |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1978 | Washington Bullets | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | Phoenix Suns |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | New York Knicks |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle Supersonics |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers |