Who’s In the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals are upon us and it’s time to find out who’s in it to win it. Stay up to date with all the latest news and information right here.

The Teams

The Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors are in the 2019 NBA Finals. This is the first time the Raptors have made it to the Finals. The Warriors are in the Finals for the fifth consecutive year.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division. They play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, having won 16 NBA championships, their last being in 2010.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Southeast Division. They play their home games at the American Airlines Arena, and have won seven division championships. The franchise began play in 1988 as an expansion team, whereafter they won their first ever conference championship in 2006 and secured their first ever NBA Championship in 2012. After losing in the 2014 NBA Finals, they went on to win consecutive championships in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013.

The Players

There are a lot of great players in the NBA finals this year. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love are just some of the big names on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are the star players on the Golden State Warriors.

LeBron James

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history. His accomplishments include four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, three Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA championship, and the NBA’s all-time regular season scoring average leader. He has also been selected to 15 NBA All-Star teams and has played in 16 All-Star Games.

Anthony Davis

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired All-Star forward Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks – the fourth overall selection in this year’s draft, a future first-rounder (top-eight protected in 2021, unprotected in 2022) and a future second-rounder (top-55 protected in 2023).

A 6’10”, 253-pound forward from Chicago, Davis was originally drafted by New Orleans with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. In seven seasons with the Pelicans, he averaged 23.7 points (.511 FG%, .337 3pt%, .805 FT%), 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.3 assists in 34.7 minutes per game while appearing in 445 games (all starts). He was named an NBA All-Star six times (2016-21), was tabbed First Team All-NBA five times (2015-19) and earned Second Team All-NBA honors once (2014). Additionally, Davis was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2017 & 2018) and voted to the Second Team once (2014).

In 2017-18, his last full season with New Orleans before being sidelined for much of last season due to injury, Davis finished second in voting for both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 28.1 points (. 530 FG%, . 338 3pt%, . 849 FT%), 11.1 rebounds , 2.3 blocks and 1.5 assists while appearing in 75 games (all starts).

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College, he transferred to Marquette University. He was drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Butler emerged as a star during his time with the Bulls, earning NBA All-Star and Most Improved Player honors. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 and became an All-Star for them as well. In 2019, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

During his one season with Philadelphia, Butler helped lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2012 and their first conference semifinals appearance since 2001. However, they would eventually lose in seven games to eventual Eastern Conference champions Toronto Raptors. That summer, Butler signed with the Miami Heat.

The Coaches

Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel is an American basketball coach who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic.

Erik Spoelstra

Erik Spoelstra (born November 1, 1970) is an American professional basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Previously its vice president of player personnel, Spoelstra was promoted to head coach in 2008, becoming the NBA’s youngest head coach at the time.

Spoelstra has led the Heat to six NBA Finals appearances, four consecutive Eastern Conference championships between 2011 and 2014, and back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. On June 20, 2016, Spoelstra was promoted to president of basketball operations by owner Micky Arison.

In his first season as head coach in 2008–09, Spoelstra led the Heat to a 43–39 record and their first playoff appearance since 2005. After winning just 47 games the following year and missing out on the playoffs again despite having a better record than in 2007–08, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade on the Heat’s roster for 2010–11. That year Schröder was voted or chosen for several Coach of the Year Awards and honors including being named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March 2011.

The Fans

Lakers fans

Lakers fans are some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the NBA. They love their team and will do whatever it takes to support them, both on and off the court. Lakers fans are known for their loyalty, and they expect nothing less than greatness from their team.

The Lakers have one of the most storied and successful histories in the NBA, and their fans have been there through it all. From the days of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the present day with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Lakers fans have always been there to support their team.

No matter what happens, Lakers fans will always be some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the NBA.

Heat fans

The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida. They are members of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team won their first NBA championship in 2006 and followed that up with titles in 2012 and 2013. They have also appeared in the Finals in 2011 and 2014.

The Heat are owned by Micky Arison, who also owns the cruise line Carnival Corporation, and are coached by Erik Spoelstra. The team plays its home games at American Airlines Arena, which is located in downtown Miami.

The Heat fan base extends far beyond the borders of Miami-Dade County. In fact, Heat fans can be found all over the world.