The 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals will commence on May 21, 2025, between the #3 New York Knicks and the #4 Indiana Pacers. These two teams have battled it out against the teams in the East, and the two best teams stand in the final.
The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1 and got past the favorites and #1 Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals to cement their place among the greats. On the other hand, the Knicks got past the gritty Detroit Pistons and defeated the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.
Hence, these two teams hope to get to the NBA Finals. For the Knicks, this is the first Conference Finals since 2000, and as for the Pacers, they have never won the NBA title in their storied history.
So, for now, let’s examine the history of the Eastern Conference Finals and the winners of each one of them since its creation in 1971.
The Eastern Conference Finals Winners List in the NBA’s History
Here’s the list of all the winners in the Eastern Conference Finals:
| Year | Champions | Result | Runners-up |
| 1971 | Baltimore Bullets | 4-3 | New York Knicks |
| 1972 | New York Knicks | 4-1 | Boston Celtics |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | 4-3 | Boston Celtics |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | New York Knicks |
| 1975 | Washington Bullets | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | Houston Rockets |
| 1978 | Washington Bullets | 4-2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1979 | Washington Bullets | 4-3 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-1 | Boston Celtics |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1982 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-1 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1985 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | 4-0 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1987 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1988 | Detroit Pistons | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | 4-2 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | 4-0 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | New York Knicks |
| 1994 | New York Knicks | 4-3 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1995 | Orlando Magic | 4-3 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | 4-0 | Orlando Magic |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | 4-1 | Miami Heat |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | 4-3 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1999 | New York Knicks | 4-2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2000 | Indiana Pacers | 4-2 | New York Knicks |
| 2001 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-3 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2002 | New Jersey Nets | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 2003 | New Jersey Nets | 4-0 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons | 4-2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2005 | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 | Miami Heat |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | 4-2 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2007 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2009 | Orlando Magic | 4-2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2010 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Orlando Magic |
| 2011 | Miami Heat | 4-1 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | 4-3 | Boston Celtics |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | 4-3 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2014 | Miami Heat | 4-2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2015 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 | Boston Celtics |
| 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-3 | Boston Celtics |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 4-2 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2020 | Miami Heat | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-2 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2022 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Miami Heat |
| 2023 | Miami Heat | 4-3 | Boston Celtics |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | 4-0 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2025 | Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks | TBD | TBD |
Notably, the Celtics reached the Conference Finals 23 times, more than any team on the list. The Indiana Pacers have reached the Conference Finals 10 times but have failed to win the NBA title even once. The Knicks have reached the ECF nine times and have won two NBA championships.
The battle between the two teams will commence tonight. Both teams have what it takes to reach the NBA Finals. Who’s your money on?