NBA Playoffs
First implemented in 1984, the NBA Playoffs' current format involves 16 teams competing in four rounds. The first round was best-of-five until 2003 when it became a best-of-seven matchup. Since the 2016 playoffs, the top six teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences qualify according to their win-loss records.
The coronavirus pandemic changed how teams qualify for the NBA Playoffs as the league managed two shortened seasons. Now, the play-in tournament grants two teams with playoff seeds No. 7 and No. 8 employing a four-team, three-game format.
- Number of participating teams: 16
- Rounds: four
- Format: best of seven games
- Most NBA Playoff appearances: Los Angeles Lakers (63)
- Least NBA Playoff appearances: New Orleans Pelicans (7)
- Longest NBA Playoff drought: Sacramento Kings (last appearance: 2005-06)
- Longest active NBA Playoff appearance streak: Portland Trail Blazers (8 consecutive playoffs since 2013-14)
- Longest NBA Playoff streak ever: San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers (22 consecutive seasons)
Featured articles:
NBA Playoffs: How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?
The Most Significant NBA Playoff Injuries of All Time
Larry Bird Cried Foul in the 1998 NBA Playoffs and Drew a Brutal Response From Phil Jackson
Visit NBA.com‘s NBA Playoffs section.
Read the latest articles about the NBA Playoffs:
By and large, the NBA is pretty modern as far as professional sports leagues go. When it comes to the Play-In Tournament, though, they're dropping the ball.
Many fans want Damian Lillard to be incensed about his situation and do whatever it takes to join a team more suited to his talents, but he doesn't view his career as a zero-sum game.
A look at the last time the Sacramento Kings made the NBA Playoffs prior to the 2022-23 season.
A profile of ‘The Great Imposter' Barry Bremen, who's the subject of a pair of ESPN documentaries.
A look at the father-son duos to win NBA titles as players.
A former Chicago Bulls doctor has a new theory on Michael Jordan's “Flu Game.”
Stephen Curry's off night in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals wasn't as bad as Michael Jordan's was in 1996.
Ranking Stephen Curry's five greatest performances in the NBA Finals.
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Of all the legendary teams to win it over the years, who won the first-ever NBA championship? We looked at that historic squad and who they beat in the Finals.
