2020s International Era decade 88 5 different champions with different Finals matchups each year; highest variety in decades 2000s Post-Jordan Era decade 82 12 unique Finals participants across the decade. Most variety in Finals appearances of any decade. 1970s ABA Merger Era decade 80 8 different champions in the decade; wide variety of Finals participants 4 Small Ball Era style_period 78 Diverse set of Finals teams: Warriors, Cavs, Raptors, Bucks, Heat, Suns, Celtics, Nuggets. Good variety. 5 Load Management Era player_era 72 Many different Finals participants. No team making repeated appearances. Excellent Finals variety. 5 Bad Boys Pistons Era team_era 72 Pistons, Lakers, Bulls, Blazers all appeared in Finals during this window. Decent variety. 5 Expansion Era 1970s league_era 72 8 different champions in the decade. Exceptional Finals diversity with many franchises winning their first title. 8 Larry Bird Magic Johnson Era team_era 70 7 unique Finals participants across the era. Lakers and Celtics appeared most frequently. 8 Jordan Era 1990s league_era 70 Broader set of Finals participants including Suns, Rockets, Jazz, Pacers, Knicks. More variety than just Bulls. 10 1980s Showtime decade 68 6 unique Finals participants in the decade. Lakers and Celtics dominated Finals appearances. 11 Shaq Kobe Lakers Dynasty team_era 65 Pacers, Sixers, Nets, Spurs on the other side of Lakers. Some variety but Lakers appeared every year. 11 Stern Era 1984-2014 league_era 65 Many different Finals participants across 30 years. Multiple first-time finalists throughout the era. 11 1990s Bulls Dynasty decade 65 7 unique Finals participants but Bulls appeared in 6 of 8 Finals. Other side rotated more. 14 Big Three Celtics Era team_era 62 Four different champions in 5 years. Good Finals variety with multiple franchises appearing. 14 Silver Era 2014-Present league_era 62 Many different finalists especially post-2019. Good variety in championship contenders. 16 Hand-Checking Era style_period 60 Bulls, Lakers appeared most frequently; but Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, Heat all won too 17 Bubble Era 2020 league_era 58 Heat as a 5-seed reaching Finals was unusual. Lakers as expected. Interesting mix. 17 Player Empowerment Era player_era 58 Player movement meant different teams were contenders each year. Good Finals variety. 19 Lob City Clippers Era team_era 55 Good Finals variety during this window. Multiple first-time finalists. 19 Seven Seconds or Less Era player_era 55 Good Finals variety during this window. Multiple franchises represented. 19 2010s Superteam Era decade 55 LeBron appeared in 8 Finals this decade; Warriors in 5; very few unique finalists 19 Warriors Dynasty 2010s team_era 55 4 Finals dominated by Warriors vs Cavs. Limited variety in Finals participants (2015-2018 same matchup). 23 Grit and Grind Grizzlies Era team_era 52 Multiple different Finals participants during this window. Good variety. 23 Heatles Era team_era 52 Heat made 4 straight Finals. West had different representatives (Mavs, Thunder, Spurs). Limited East diversity. 23 Allen Iverson Culture Era player_era 52 Lakers appeared 4 times in 5 years. East had more variety (Sixers, Nets, Pacers). Limited Finals diversity. 26 Pre-Three-Point Era style_period 50 Celtics and Lakers dominated Finals appearances; 1970s brought more variety 27 Kareem Skyhook Era player_era 48 Lakers and Celtics dominated Finals appearances during Showtime years. Limited Finals variety. 28 1950s NBA decade 45 Limited pool of teams; same franchises appeared repeatedly in early Finals 29 1960s Celtics Dynasty decade 42 Celtics appeared in Finals almost every year; Lakers were frequent opponent; very few unique finalists 29 Integration Era 1950s league_era 42 Limited Finals variety. Lakers and Celtics dominated appearances. 31 Bill Russell Dynasty Era team_era 40 Limited unique Finals participants due to small league. Celtics appeared in 12 of 13 Finals. Lakers and Hawks were the main opponents. 32 George Mikan Era player_era 38 Lakers appeared in nearly every Finals. Limited variety in championship contenders. 33 Pre-Shot Clock Era league_era 35 Limited Finals variety in early NBA. Same franchises appearing repeatedly. 33 LeBron Era 2010s league_era 35 LeBron in 8 straight Finals reduced East diversity. Warriors in 5 of 6 Finals reduced West diversity. 33 Warriors Splash Bros Era team_era 35 Warriors in 6 Finals in 8 years (5 consecutive). Very limited Finals variety especially in the West. 33 Superteam Era player_era 35 LeBron and Warriors dominated Finals appearances. Very limited Finals variety. 37 Wilt Chamberlain Scoring Era player_era 32 Celtics in nearly every Finals. Wilt teams the primary opponent. Very limited Finals diversity.