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 era 72 Many different Finals participants. No team making repeated appearances. Excellent Finals variety. 5 Bad Boys Pistons Era era 72 Pistons, Lakers, Bulls, Blazers all appeared in Finals during this window. Decent variety. 5 Expansion Era 1970s era 72 8 different champions in the decade. Exceptional Finals diversity with many franchises winning their first title. 8 Larry Bird Magic Johnson Era era 70 7 unique Finals participants across the era. Lakers and Celtics appeared most frequently. 8 Jordan Era 1990s 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 era 65 Pacers, Sixers, Nets, Spurs on the other side of Lakers. Some variety but Lakers appeared every year. 11 1990s Bulls Dynasty decade 65 7 unique Finals participants but Bulls appeared in 6 of 8 Finals. Other side rotated more. 11 Stern Era 1984-2014 era 65 Many different Finals participants across 30 years. Multiple first-time finalists throughout the era. 14 Silver Era 2014-Present era 62 Many different finalists especially post-2019. Good variety in championship contenders. 14 Big Three Celtics Era era 62 Four different champions in 5 years. Good Finals variety with multiple franchises appearing. 16 Hand-Checking Era style_period 60 Bulls, Lakers appeared most frequently; but Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, Heat all won too 17 Player Empowerment Era era 58 Player movement meant different teams were contenders each year. Good Finals variety. 17 Bubble Era 2020 era 58 Heat as a 5-seed reaching Finals was unusual. Lakers as expected. Interesting mix. 19 Lob City Clippers Era era 55 Good Finals variety during this window. Multiple first-time finalists. 19 Warriors Dynasty 2010s era 55 4 Finals dominated by Warriors vs Cavs. Limited variety in Finals participants (2015-2018 same matchup). 19 Seven Seconds or Less Era 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 23 Heatles Era era 52 Heat made 4 straight Finals. West had different representatives (Mavs, Thunder, Spurs). Limited East diversity. 23 Grit and Grind Grizzlies Era era 52 Multiple different Finals participants during this window. Good variety. 23 Allen Iverson Culture Era 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 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 era 42 Limited Finals variety. Lakers and Celtics dominated appearances. 31 Bill Russell Dynasty Era 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 era 38 Lakers appeared in nearly every Finals. Limited variety in championship contenders. 33 Superteam Era era 35 LeBron and Warriors dominated Finals appearances. Very limited Finals variety. 33 LeBron Era 2010s era 35 LeBron in 8 straight Finals reduced East diversity. Warriors in 5 of 6 Finals reduced West diversity. 33 Pre-Shot Clock Era era 35 Limited Finals variety in early NBA. Same franchises appearing repeatedly. 33 Warriors Splash Bros Era era 35 Warriors in 6 Finals in 8 years (5 consecutive). Very limited Finals variety especially in the West. 37 Wilt Chamberlain Scoring Era era 32 Celtics in nearly every Finals. Wilt teams the primary opponent. Very limited Finals diversity.