The structure that determined the path to the 1989 NBA Championship featured a sixteen-team field, with eight teams from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences qualifying based on regular season record. This arrangement dictated the matchups in a best-of-seven series format, ultimately culminating in a championship series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. The progression through this structure involved initial round, conference semi-finals, conference finals, and the championship series itself.
The organization of this tournament holds historical significance, illustrating the competitive landscape of professional basketball at that time. It provided a defined route for teams to prove their dominance and vie for the championship title. Furthermore, the results and outcomes of each series contribute to the narrative of individual team and player legacies, shaping the overall historical perspective of the sport.