Ranking the 16 Potential NBA Finals Matchups

The 2023 NBA playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most exciting postseasons in recent memory for any sport. The second round is already giving us some high quality series like Nuggets vs. Suns, or Steph vs. LeBron round 5, so we can only imagine what the finals will be like. Right now, the odds say that the most likely finals matchup is a repeat from last year, Warriors vs. Celtics. The team at Sidelines compiled a list ranking the 16 potential finals matchups based on storylines, watchability, and individual player matchups. 

Here’s our potential finals matchups ranking:

Lakers vs. Celtics tops this list for obvious reasons, they are the number one rivalry in the NBA, as they’ve met a record 12 times in the finals already, with the Celtics winning 9 of those matchups. They are also tied for the most championships in NBA history with 17 apiece, so a matchup would determine which team has the most rings ever. The Celtics beat the Lakers both times they played this year, and Jayson Tatum dominated in both, scoring 44 points in their first matchup and 30 in their second. 

The Nuggets and the 76ers would essentially just be Embiid vs. Jokic, and we are all here for it. The two seven footers have been the best two players in the NBA over the last three years, with Jokic winning MVP the last two seasons as Embiid was the runner-up both times, and Embiid looking like the favorite to win it this year with Jokic the likely runner-up. The debate over who is the best center in the NBA has been one of the most evenly split discussions in recent years. However, a potential finals matchup between the Sixers and the Nuggets could potentially bring an end to the debate once and for all.

A rematch from last year’s finals is a matchup fans everywhere would love to see. A Curry ring this year would give him five, and would automatically boost himself into the top five players ever conversation. If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were to defeat the dynasty that is the Warriors, they would be put into the same conversation as great Celtic duos such as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Both Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum are on pace for hall of fame careers, but they need a ring if they want to cement themselves as NBA legends. Kevin Durant needs a ring if he wants to be in the conversation of top 10 NBA players ever, and Chris Paul is still looking for his first. Both teams got a taste of finals action in the last two years, and are hungry for victory. 

The Lakers and the Knicks would be a historic matchup between the two most marketable teams in the NBA. New York vs. Los Angeles would be a dream for the NBA. If the tandem of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle carry their team to the finals, and then potentially win it, they would automatically jump to near the top of the duos in the league. If LeBron and Anthony Davis win another championship however, they would enter themselves into the conversation as one of the best duos ever. 

Lakers vs. 76ers would be a great matchup that would surely draw a lot of viewers. LeBron is going for his fifth title to further solidify his argument as the game’s greatest player as Harden and Embiid each chase their first ring. The Sixers dominated the Lakers in the two matchups this year, with Embiid having monster games in both, putting up 38 and 35 points in the two games.

A rematch of the 2020 bubble finals would be really interesting to watch. In that matchup the Lakers won in six games, but both teams are much different this time around so anything could happen. If Jimmy Butler could carry this Heat team to an NBA championship vs. a stacked Lakers, while performing at or even close to the level he played at in the first round, he would go down as one of the best playoff performers in NBA history. 

Warriors vs. 76ers would be a star-studded matchup filled with some amazing story lines. Harden would have the chance to finally get over the Curry-hump and win his first ring, and Embiid would be tested with a difficult rebounding matchup against Kevon Looney, who grabbed 106 rebounds in the Warriors’ series against the Kings. Embiid was dominant against the defending champs this season, putting up an average of 40 points and 11 rebounds across two games.

A matchup between Charles Barkley’s two main teams would be quite exciting. Deandre Ayton would be put to the test guarding the scoring champion in Joel Embiid, and a matchup between Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker, former college teammates, would be really fun to watch. Phoenix and Philadelphia split the season series 1-1, but Embiid was amazing in both games, averaging 30.5 points and 10 rebounds against the Suns.  

If the Knicks played the Warriors in the finals it would be a battle between two of the best offenses in the league. The Warriors are eighth and the Knicks are third in the league in offensive rating. Golden State is used to taking down top offenses however, as the Kings had the best offense in the league and the Warriors held them to just 100 points in game seven. Jalen Brunson would cement himself as one of the league’s best point guards if he were able to take down Curry and the Warriors.

The top seed in the west vs. the top remaining seed in the east, Celtics vs. Nuggets would be a battle of two powerhouses. The Celtics would need to contain Nikola Jokic if they want a chance to win the series. In their last matchup, Jokic had a 30 point, 12 rebound, and 12 assist triple double in a 123-111 Nuggets win.

After free agency in 2019, Knicks fans hated Kevin Durant for going to the Nets instead of them. Then after he got traded they all rejoiced, but if the Suns and the Knicks were to face each other in the finals, the beef and hatred would come rushing back. Knick fans are some of the most passionate and rowdy fans in all of sports, and although they would be heavy underdogs against a superteam like the Suns, they would make it hell for Phoenix every time they stepped foot in Madison Square Garden.

Jimmy Butler vs. Steph Curry would be a matchup of two of the best guards of the last ten years. Jimmy is carrying the entire Heat team on his back right now, and the same thing could be said for Steph after his 50 point game seven performance vs. the Kings. An eight seed hasn’t made the finals since 1999, so if the Heat were able to do that, and face the defending champs, it would definitely be an exciting series. 

The Suns vs. the Heat would be a fiery finals matchup. The Heat lost their first play-in game then became the eighth seed, while the Suns are the newest team to be dubbed a “superteam” after adding Kevin Durant mid-season. The Heat are 2-0 against the Suns this year, but both those games were before Phoenix traded for KD. The Suns would be heavy favorites to win this series, but it would still be interesting to see how it plays out.

The Knicks are one of the most exciting teams in the league right now, and if they were to make the NBA Finals that excitement would skyrocket. If they matched up with the Nuggets it would be really fun to see who wins certain individual matchups. We know that Jokic would be the best player on the court, but who is better between Jalen Brunson and Jamal Murray, or RJ Barrett and Michael Porter Jr.?

The top seed in the west vs. the bottom seed in the east. A finals matchup between the Nuggets and the Heat would be something that no fan could’ve predicted before the playoffs. The Heat would need to figure out how to slow down the production of Nikola Jokic if they want to win this series, as he put up an average of 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists across two wins against the Heat this year.