2019 NBA Finals

• 1. First Non-U.S. Champions

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  The 2019 NBA Finals marked a historic shift in basketball history when the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors to claim their first championship title. This victory made the team the first franchise based outside the United States to win an NBA championship, breaking a 25-year drought for teams from Toronto appearing in any major North American professional sports league since the Blue Jays won the World Series in October of 1993. The series concluded on June 13 with a final score of 114-110 at Oracle Arena, securing the Raptors' place as the first Canadian team to ever lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Kawhi Leonard earned the Finals Most Valuable Player award, becoming only the second player in history to win the honor with two different franchises after joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James in that exclusive club. The Raptors finished the regular season with a 58, 24 record, ranking second-best overall in the Eastern Conference before advancing through six playoff rounds to reach this pinnacle moment.

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• 2. Warriors Dynasty And Roster Moves

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  Golden State entered the playoffs with a 57, 25 record, finishing first in the Western Conference and third-best overall in the league. During the off-season, they acquired DeMarcus Cousins, who was recovering from a ruptured left Achilles tendon, giving them a true top-flight center under head coach Steve Kerr for the first time. In January 2019, Cousins returned to play alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, forming the first starting lineup of five NBA All-Stars from the previous season in 42 years. The team faced internal conflict when Draymond Green cursed out teammate Kevin Durant over his free agency status during an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in November 2018, resulting in a suspension. Despite these challenges, Golden State defeated the Houston Rockets in the second round thanks to Andre Iguodala starting as part of the Hamptons Five strategy. They swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4, 0 in the Western Conference finals, with three wins featuring comebacks of 15 points or more. This marked their fifth consecutive trip to the Finals, aiming to become the first team since the Shaq and Kobe-led Lakers to win three straight titles.

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• 3. Raptors Championship Run And Trades

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  The Raptors made bold moves before the season began by firing coach Dwane Casey, who had been named Coach of the Year weeks later, and replacing him with assistant Nick Nurse. They traded DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Pöltl to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, a decision that stunned fans and critics alike given DeRozan's nine-season tenure in Toronto. Leonard, one year away from free agency after playing just nine games in 2017, 18 due to tendinopathy, stayed healthy while being systematically rested for 22 games. The team also acquired Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jonas Valančiūnas, adding an elite post-defender to their roster. In the playoffs, they lost Game One to the Orlando Magic but won the next four to advance. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games, with Leonard hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater that bounced four times on the rim, the first such shot in NBA playoff history. Facing the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals, Toronto overcame a 2, 0 deficit to win four straight games, advancing to their first Finals appearance in franchise history.

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• 4. Series Narrative And Key Injuries

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  The six-game series was defined by critical injuries that shifted momentum dramatically. Kevin Durant returned from injury-related absence in Game Five but tore his Achilles tendon two minutes into the second quarter when driving past Serge Ibaka. He limped off the court and was later ruled out indefinitely, leaving Golden State without its best player averaging 35.4 points entering the game. Despite this loss, Curry and Thompson led the Warriors to a narrow 106, 105 victory at home. However, Klay Thompson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during Game Six after landing awkwardly on a drive contested by Danny Green. The injury occurred with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter, ending his season and significantly weakening the Warriors' chances in the final moments. These injuries transformed what could have been another championship run for Golden State into a dramatic collapse that allowed Toronto to close out the series.

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• 5. Game By Game Breakdown

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  Game One saw Pascal Siakam score a playoff career-high 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting as Toronto won 118, 109, marking the first NBA Finals game played outside the United States. In Game Two, Klay Thompson scored 25 points while the Warriors outscored the Raptors 18, 0 to start the second half before holding off a late rally to win 109, 104. Game Three featured Leonard scoring 30 points and the Raptors making 17 three-pointers in a 123, 109 road win over the short-handed Warriors. Stephen Curry scored a playoff career-high 47 points but still lost as Golden State played without injured starters Thompson and Durant. Game Four gave Toronto a 3, 1 lead after Leonard scored 36 points and had 12 rebounds in a 105, 92 victory. Game Five was decided by Curry's 31 points and Thompson's 26 helping Golden State stave off elimination with a 106, 105 win at home despite Durant leaving early due to injury. The series concluded in Game Six when Leonard scored 22 points and had six rebounds as Toronto won 114, 110 to claim their first championship.

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• 6. Media Coverage And Viewership Records

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  In Canada, Game One recorded an average of 3.3 million viewers on Sportsnet, making it the highest-rated NBA game in Canadian history. By contrast, only 10.77 million U.S. viewers watched Game One, marking the second lowest-rated Finals since 2011. Analysts attributed the drop partly to the absence of LeBron James and the unique broadcasting landscape between American and Canadian networks. Game Two surpassed the record with 4.3 million viewers across TSN, RDS, and CTV2 simulcasts, reaching an estimated 10 million total viewers. Game Six drew 7.7 million average viewers in Canada, with TSN reporting that 15.9 million unique viewers watched some portion of the telecast. In the United States, Game Six reached 18.34 million viewers, slightly higher than Game Five's 18.22 million. The Raptors' presence created a historic moment for Canadian media rights holders like Sportsnet and TSN, who produced local broadcasts using ABC camera feeds plus additional resources. This marked the first time a team's regional broadcaster produced its own coverage during the Finals.

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• 7. Post-Series Aftermath And Legacy

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  Kevin Durant left Golden State to join the Brooklyn Nets but did not play until the 2020, 21 season due to his Achilles injury from the Finals. Klay Thompson missed the next two seasons because of his torn ACL and later suffered another Achilles tear. Without Curry and Thompson for most of the pandemic-shortened 2019, 20 season, the Warriors finished with a league-worst 15, 50 record. They returned to form in 2021, 22 by defeating the Boston Celtics in six games to win their fourth title since 2015. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after one season in Toronto. The Raptors finished 53, 19 in 2019, 20 but lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics in the second round. They struggled in subsequent years, missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons before returning to contention. As of the 2025, 26 season, no player from the 2018, 19 championship roster remained on the team, making them the most recent champion without any original members still playing together. The Raptors became the last team to win the NBA championship on their debut appearance until the Denver Nuggets claimed the title in 2023.

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