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:
Charles Barkley paid a well-known heckler to harass Michael Jordan during the 1993 NBA Finals.
The NBA has seen six different champions in six years just once.
During the Chicago Bulls' six NBA title runs, Scottie Pippen led Michael Jordan in every major statistical category in the postseason outside of scoring.
The shoes worn by Michael Jordan in his famous “Flu Game” during the 1997 NBA Finals sold for $1.38 million.
A look at every NBA Finals MVP Award winner, specifically where each was taken in the NBA Draft.
A brief look at every NBA Finals MVP in history.
A look at the undrafted players on the Miami Heat roster for the 2023 NBA Finals.
After winning his first Finals MVP award for his rookie season, Lakers legend Magic Johnson went on to win it two more times.
ESPN's Jalen Rose made a lame excuse for the reason the Knicks are getting torched in the 2023 NBA playoffs by Jimmy Butler and the Heat.
The conference semifinal round of the NBA Playoffs features all eight seeds for the first time.
