For the third straight season, the NBA has a Finals team with a Net Rating outside the top-10 as the Indiana Pacers ranked 12th in the category during the regular season while the Oklahoma City Thunder were first. With teams reaching the Finals outside the top-10 in Net Rating, we’ve also seen more significant disparities between the two teams.
The 2023 Finals between the Nuggets and Heat had the largest disparity, with Denver ranked 6th in Net Rating facing Miami, who ranked a distant 21st. The 2024 and 1999 Finals are tied for second place with 13-spot differences, while 2025 and 2018 are tied for fourth with 11-spot gaps. All four of those previous series were decided in five or fewer games.
NBA Finals Net Rating Rankings & Differences
2025: Thunder, 1st / Pacers, 12th (11 spot difference)
2024: Celtics, 1st / Mavericks, 14th (13 spots)
2023: Nuggets, 6th / Heat, 21st (15 spots)
2022: Warriors, 5th / Celtics, 2nd (3 spots)
2021: Bucks, 4th / Suns, 3rd (1 spot)
2020: Lakers, 5th / Heat, 7th (2 spots)
2019: Raptors, 3rd / Warriors, 2nd (1 spot)
2018: Warriors, 3rd / Cavaliers, 14th (11 spots)
2017: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
2016: Cavaliers, 4th / Warriors, 2nd (2 spots)
2015: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 5th (4 spots)
2014: Spurs, 1st / Heat, 4th (3 spots)
2013: Heat, 2nd / Spurs, 4th (2 spots)
2012: Heat, 4th / Thunder, 3rd (1 spot)
2011: Mavericks, 8th / Heat, 1st (7 spots)
2010: Lakers, 7th / Celtics, 9th (2 spots)
2009: Lakers, 3rd / Magic, 4th (1 spot)
2008: Celtics, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
2007: Spurs, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
2006: Heat, 6th / Mavericks, 3rd (3 spots)
2005: Spurs, 1st / Pistons, 6th (5 spots)
2004: Pistons, 2nd / Lakers, 7th (5 spots)
2003: Spurs, 3rd / Nets, 4th (1 spot)
2002: Lakers, 2nd / Nets, 5th (3 spots)
2001: Lakers, 8th / Sixers, 5th (3 spots)
2000: Lakers, 1st / Pacers, 6th (5 spots)
1999: Spurs, 1st / Knicks, 14th (13 spots)
1998: Bulls, 3rd / Jazz, 4th (1 spot)
1997: Bulls, 1st / Jazz, 2nd (1 spot)
1996: Bulls, 1st / Sonics, 2nd (1 spot)
1995: Rockets, 11th / Magic, 3rd (8 spots)
1994: Rockets, 6th / Knicks, 2nd (4 spots)
1993: Bulls, 2nd / Suns, 4th (2 spots)
1992: Bulls, 1st / Blazers, 2nd (1 spot)
1991: Bulls, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
1990: Pistons, 3rd / Blazers, 4th (1 spot)
1989: Pistons, 4th / Lakers, 3rd (1 spot)
1988: Lakers, 2nd / Pistons, 3rd (1 spot)