Who Are The Defending Nba Champions?

The defending NBA champions are the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are the defending NBA champions, having won the title in 2018. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division.

Team History

The Warriors were founded in Philadelphia in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA). They were owned by Peter A. Tyrrell, who also owned the Philadelphia Rockets of the American Hockey League. Tyrrell hired Eddie Gottlieb, a longtime basketball promoter in the Philadelphia area, as coach and general manager; he named the team after an old basketball team he had played on. Led by early scoring sensation Joe Fulks, they won the championship in the league’s inaugural season by defeating the Chicago Stags, four games to one.

Notable Players

The Warriors have had many notable players throughout their history. Some of the most famous include Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond, and Stephen Curry.

Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He played for the Warriors from 1959 to 1962 and led the team to the NBA Finals in his final year with the team. He averaged an incredible 50 points per game during his time with the Warriors and is still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Rick Barry is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He played for the Warriors from 1965 to 1967 and was a member of their only NBA Championship team. He is also the only player to win both the NBA Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in the same season.

Nate Thurmond is one of the best defensive players in NBA history. He played for the Warriors from 1963 to 1974 and was a 7-time All-Star. He holds the franchise record for most rebounds in a game (42) and is second on the all-time list for career rebounds (9,430).

Stephen Curry is one of the best shooters in NBA history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He has played for the Warriors since 2009 and has won 3 NBA Championships with the team. He is also a 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player and has set numerous NBA records, including most 3-pointers made in a season (402).

The Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are the defending NBA champions. They defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games in the 2019 NBA Finals. The Raptors are led by Kawhi Leonard, who was named the Finals MVP. Other key players include Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Marc Gasol.

Team History

The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games at the Scotiabank Arena, which they share with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was established in 1995 as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since holding their first official game against the New Jersey Nets on November 3, 1995, the Raptors have used a sliver dinosaur as their team mascot; it has since become one of three mascots in professional sports named after prehistoric animals, along with FC Dinos from South Korea and Québec City’s Québec Nordiques (who used a sabre-toothed tiger before relocating to Colorado to become the Colorado Avalanche).

Notable Players

The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since their establishment, the Raptors have been the most successful of the three Canadian expansion teams. They have appeared in the playoffs 15 times in their 24-year existence, winning five Atlantic Division championships and three Eastern Conference championships. They are one of two NBA teams located outside of the United States, along with the Memphis Grizzlies (whose franchise began as the Vancouver Grizzlies before relocating to Memphis). The Raptors play their home games at Scotiabank Arena, which they share with fellow NBA division rivals, the Boston Celtics.

players:
Kawhi Leonard: shooting guard/small forward
Pascal Siakam: power forward
Marc Gasol: center
Serge Ibaka: power forward/center
Norm Powell: shooting guard
Fred VanVleet: point guard
OG Anunoby: small forward
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: small forward/power forward
Chris Boucher: power forward/center

The Los Angeles Lakers

Entering the 2020 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers had won 16 championships, the last coming in 2010.

Team History

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association.

The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have been since their founding in 1947. The franchise has gained a worldwide following, with fans desiring to see “Showtime” basketball. The team has won 16 NBA championships, tied for first-most all-time with the Eastern Conference’s Boston Celtics; they hold the record for having played in more NBA Finals than any other team, having made 31 appearances.

Notable Players

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Western Conference in the Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association. The team’s president of basketball operations is Magic Johnson, while its head coach is Luke Walton.

The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers. Initially a member of the NBL, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America (BAA), where they would win five of the next six championships, led by star George Mikan. After struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikan’s retirement, they relocated to Los Angeles before combining with fellow former NBL teams Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Muskies under new ownership into what became known as simply ” NBA “. They won five more championships between 1959 and 1969. In 1972 , after losing all but one starter from their 1971 championship squad, they drafted center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . Based on his individual success and role on teamsuccesses during this period – as well as his Dutch Moroccan descent – he was nicknamed “the Dutch Destroyer” by O’Neal.. Abdul-Jabbar would lead them to four more NBA Finals appearances during 1980s , including two additional championships in 1982 and 1985 . In 1987 , Jabbar was traded to division rivals Milwaukee Bucks; prior to that season, he had played in 1,837 games (the most seasons played by any player in franchise history), missingsix games; he holds numerous franchise career statistical records.. As a result of that trade – well as simultaneous retirement announcements from Jabbarand head coach Pat Riley – head coach Byron Scott led a castoff roster consisting mostlyof former role players and unheralded prospects to a 55–27 regular season recordand upset victories over highly favored opponents en route to an improbableFinals appearance.. In 1999 , after failing to acquire either young superstarTim Duncan or free agent All-Star Grant Hill during free agency despite havingsignificant amounts of salary cap space available,, owner Jerry Buss made major changes:he acquired nine-time All-Star Shaquille O’Neal via trade from Orlando for veteranguards Penny Hardaway and three future first round draft picks.. He also hiredHead Coach Phil Jackson away from Chicago.. Jackson immediately led them backto respectability; he won three consecutive championships with them from 2000to 2002 .. From 2002 to 2004 , O’Neal was frequently injured,, which limited hisavailability over that span,, while veterans Kobe Bryant,, Derek Fisher,, RickFox,, Brian Shawand Robert Horryprovided significant contributions throughout those years(with each player playing an integral role on at least two different titleteams).. In 2004 , O’Neal was traded for Shaquille O’Nealto Miami for Caron Butler,, LamarOdom,, Brian Grantand a first-round draft pick.. ButlerDuring their 2010–11 season goodbatchfollowing their 2009–10 championshipDwightHowardrun., As Gasol suffered through various injuriesthat limited his effectiveness., Mikebrownwas relievedSTUARTof his duties midway throughthe campaign amid increasing criticism overthe team’s disappointing startRecord: 34–48 (.415), finishing dead last placein their division., They proceededto hire former Texas LonghornsMen’s headbasketball coach Rick BarnesIn2015–16to replace him