- The NBA Finals records of every NBA franchise are available to analyze
- If Finals records of teams are reversed, NBA all-time rankings are forever changed
- The Celtics and Lakers won the most titles, but their records are incredible if reversed
Throughout the storied history of the NBA, numerous iconic moments have shaped the league’s legacy, creating a tapestry of triumphs and heartbreaks etched into the memories of basketball fans worldwide. The NBA Finals, in particular, serve as the grand stage where the league’s elite teams clash, vying for the ultimate prize – the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
But what if the outcome of some of the most epic NBA Finals was reversed? What if the heroes turned into the vanquished, and the underdogs rose to claim the throne? In this alternate reality, dynasties would crumble, Cinderella stories would flourish, and the course of NBA history would be dramatically altered.
In this speculative exploration, we embark on a journey to reimagine the annals of NBA lore, painting vivid pictures of how some of the most legendary Finals series might have unfolded differently. From the unforgettable duels between basketball legends to the rise of unexpected contenders, we dare to question the outcomes of championship battles that once defined eras.
We have already seen what every NBA franchise’s Finals record looks like, but how would the NBA record books and standing among NBA lore change if those records were reversed? It is time to find out.
NBA Teams Without Rings
Charlotte Hornets (0-0), Chicago Bulls (0-6), Denver Nuggets (0-1), Los Angeles Clippers (0-0), Memphis Grizzlies (0-0), Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0), New Orleans Pelicans (0-0), Sacramento Kings (0-1), Toronto Raptors (0-1)
There is a situation in which teams without a title still end up without a ring due to the fact that they never made the NBA Finals. The Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Minnesota Timberwolves will not be affected at all by a reversal of Finals results as they are still searching for their first Finals appearance.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors all end up without a ring in their single Finals appearance. The Nuggets lose the 2023 Finals and Nikola Jokic doesn’t capture the Finals MVP. The same goes for the Raptors, where Kawhi Leonard doesn’t win the 2019 title, and his legacy as a talent would be greatly affected. The Kings, known as the Royals in 1951, would have also not had a title in this scenario.
No doubt, the biggest change in NBA history would be if Michael Jordan retired without a single championship. The GOAT went 6-0 in the Finals, but in a reversal, the Chicago Bulls would not have won a single championship. If Jordan doesn’t capture six rings with a perfect 6-0 record, there is no way he would be considered the greatest player ever. Instead, LeBron James would be the one with six rings, and he would be the undisputed GOAT alongside Jerry West.
NBA Teams With One Championship
Dallas Mavericks (1-1), Indiana Pacers (1-0), Milwaukee Bucks (1-2), San Antonio Spurs (1-5)
The reversed NBA Finals record for the Dallas Mavericks leaves them with one championship, which they earned in the memorable 2010-2011 season. Led by Dirk Nowitzki’s phenomenal performance and a supporting cast of talented players, the Mavericks defied the odds to defeat the star-studded Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. On the flip side, the Mavericks’ additional NBA Finals loss would have occurred in the 2005-2006 season when they faced the Miami Heat again, but this time they couldn’t find the extra edge to overcome the dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. That means in a reversed sense, Dirk defeats Wade and the Heat in 2007 and loses in the 2011 Finals, which doesn’t affect the record in reality.
The hypothetical reversed NBA Finals record for the Indiana Pacers retains their appearance in the 1999-2000 NBA Finals. In this alternate scenario, the Pacers would have faced the Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the unstoppable duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Pacers, powered by the leadership of Reggie Miller and strong defensive play, pushed the Lakers to the brink, taking the series to seven games. Instead of losing, Miller would not have retired as one of the best players ever without a single championship.
In this alternate reality, the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA Finals fortunes are reversed. The Bucks, led by their generational superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, secure their second NBA championship in the 2020-2021 season. In a reversed world, Giannis does not have a title and is not a contender for being a top-30 player ever. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also ends up with a 1-1 record in Milwaukee, losing in the 1971 Finals and winning in the 1974 Finals. That does not affect Kareem’s legacy, although it probably pushes Giannis away from being the greatest in franchise history.
In this hypothetical scenario, the San Antonio Spurs lose their five NBA championships but add a single championship. Instead of defeating the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat, the Spurs would lose each of their series. The only win would come in 2013 against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. That means Tim Duncan, the greatest power forward ever, ends up with one title and there would be a conversation if he would even be a top-10 player ever. No doubt, Duncan’s rings are critical to his legacy and a reversed Finals record proves that.
NBA Teams With Two Championships
Brooklyn Nets (2-0), Houston Rockets (2-2), Orlando Magic (2-0), Portland Trail Blazers (2-1), Utah Jazz (2-0)
The New Jersey Nets lost two Finals appearances to the dominant San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. Despite having superstar point guard Jason Kidd leading the way, the Nets were undermanned and had to face two of the iconic teams of their eras. If Finals results are reversed, Jason Kidd wins two titles in New Jersey and becomes the greatest player in franchise history without a shadow of a doubt.
The Houston Rockets went 2-2 in the Finals, with Moses Malone leading the way in 1981 and Hakeem Olajuwon showing his greatness in 1986, 1994, and 1995. Obviously, Malone wins a ring in 1981 and Olajuwon wins in 1986 before losing in 1994 and 1995. Hakeem is the greatest player in Houston Rockets history, and if he only wins one, he would be tied with Malone in championship success.
Orlando lost two Finals appearances, with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard leading the team in respective eras. Shaq lost to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets in 1995, and if O’Neal would have won, he would have made history in Orlando. Instead, Shaq was outplayed by Hakeem due to purely experience. Meanwhile, Howard would have won the 2009 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and he would have joined O’Neal as the greatest player in Magic history in terms of success.
The Portland Trail Blazers only won a single NBA title thanks to the dominant Bill Walton in the 1977 season but lost in 1990 and 1992 and with Clyde Drexler leading the way. In a reversed situation, Drexler ends up with two titles and ends up winning more rings in a career than his 1990s competitor Michael Jordan. No doubt, Drexler would have benefited most from this change in the situation because not winning in Portland affected his legacy greatly.
NBA Teams With Three Championships
Atlanta Hawks (3-1), Oklahoma City Thunder (3-1), Phoenix Suns (3-0), Washington Wizards (3-1)
What a difference a reversal of Finals results would have made for these four NBA franchises. The Atlanta Hawks won a single championship in the 1958 Finals but would instead have captured the titles in 1957, 1960, and 1961 which means the great Bob Pettit wins three titles and is in the conversation for being a top-20 player ever.
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost three Finals appearances in their history, with the latest one coming in 2012. Instead, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook win a title in Oklahoma City and their legacies take a major u-turn instead of being the most criticized players in the NBA. Of course, the Seattle SuperSonics with Gary Payton would have won a championship as well. What a difference this would have made with the stars in Oklahoma City and Seattle with regard to legacy.
Charles Barkley also ends up with a championship and his legacy takes a massive boost instead of being one of the greatest players ever without a ring. The Suns also win the 2021 title with Chris Paul finally getting over the hump as a champion as well. The 1976 Suns also win a title with Alvan Adams and Paul Westphal capturing the title at the expense of Jo Jo White and the Boston Celtics. The Suns are easily one of the top franchises that benefit most from the Finals record reversal.
Finally, the Washington Bullets end up with three titles in four appearances instead of winning their only one in 1978. That means the Bullets finished with three NBA championships in the 1970s decade instead of only one. That means superstar center Wes Unseld ends up with three rings and won’t be one of the most underrated players of all time like he is now. It is also interesting to note how long it has been since the Wizards have been in the Finals, since changing the name from the Bullets.
NBA Teams With Four Championships
Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1), Detroit Pistons (4-3), Miami Heat (4-3)
In this alternate reality, the Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a remarkable turnaround in their NBA Finals fortunes. Instead of winning their first NBA championship in the 2015-2016 season, led by LeBron James, who delivers a historic performance and brings the long-awaited title to Cleveland, the Cavs end up with four rings total. LeBron leads the Cavs to victory in 2007 and wins championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018. What a difference this would make in LeBron’s legacy, who would end up becoming the greatest player of all-time while also adding his two championships from his Heat days. No doubt, six rings means far more than only four in a sub-.500 record in the Finals.
The Detroit Pistons’ legacy in this hypothetical scenario is further embellished by an additional NBA championship. Isiah Thomas led the Pistons to championships in 1989 and 1990 but instead lost both in an alternate reality. That means Thomas only wins the 1988 title at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers and that is a major change. Not to mention, the Pistons in 2004 lost to the Lakers as they probably should, considering the talent of the opposition.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat won one more championship as they would benefit from this situation. Miami defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, and the San Antonio Spurs in 2013. Of course, Miami also defeats the Denver Nuggets in 2023. That means LeBron James still gets his two rings in Miami and Dwyane Wade ends up with two rings instead of three. While LeBron’s legacy doesn’t get altered per se, Wade would have won one less title and that might have affected his legacy as the greatest player in Miami Heat history.
NBA Teams With Five Championships
Boston Celtics (5-17), Golden State Warriors (5-7)
Two teams have managed five losses in NBA history and they are two of the most renowned and successful franchises: Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. The Celtics have an incredible 17-5 record in reality, thanks to the superstar presences of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett among others. Their five losses came at separate points, once in the Bill Russell era, once in the Paul Pierce era, twice in the Larry Bird era, and once in the Jayson Tatum era. The Celtics have had some incredible talents, but if their Finals records are reversed, the Celtics end up with an incredible 17 losses in the Finals.
That means Bill Russell is nowhere near a top-10 player of all time, finishing with a 1-11 record with a single championship. Legends such as John Havlicek end up with zero rings in eight appearances, and Jayson Tatum claims the 2022-23 title as the most recent successful season. It is truly amazing how much changes in NBA lore with a change in Finals records.
The Warriors also have a sub.500 Finals record, losing seven in 12 appearances. That means Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr have a combined 2-4 Finals record which also alters the Warriors’ dynasty. Curry having two rings instead of four is also a fascinating situation to consider. Kevin Durant, the superstar with two titles in three appearances, would also have a losing record.
If Finals records are reversed, both the Celtics and Warriors have their elite stars completely falling out of the top-20 players of all-time list with a change in how these franchises are considered among the NBA community.
NBA Teams With Six Championships
New York Knicks (6-2), Philadelphia 76ers (6-3)
Two teams have managed six losses in the NBA Finals exactly: the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Amazingly, that would have meant history would have been altered. For the Knicks, Patrick Ewing would be regarded as a top-10 center of all time with an NBA title and Finals MVP award. Ewing lost the 1994 NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets led by Hakeem Olajuwon in reality, a heart-breaking loss.
Even icons such as Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston would be regarded differently with the 1999 Finals win, instead of being somewhat forgotten All-Stars. Meanwhile, Willis Reed doesn’t retire with two NBA titles and instead goes 0-2 which greatly affects his legacy instead of being arguably New York’s greatest winner.
For the 76ers, all eyes turn to Allen Iverson who would have defeated the legendary Los Angeles Lakers team in the 2001 Finals. If Iverson had a championship, it would be hard to place him out of any top-20 player all-time list based on skills, impact, and dominance. Also, Julius Erving, possibly the only player to usurp Iverson as the greatest player in 76ers history, would have had a 1-3 Finals record.
Erving, in reality, won a single championship in the 1982-83 season alongside Moses Malone but had three other losses. If Dr. J, one of the greatest showmen of all time, had three championships, he would be a serious contender for being a top-10 player ever. No doubt, both Iverson and Erving would do anything to get their Finals records reversed.
NBA Team With 15 Championships
Los Angeles Lakers (15-17)
The Los Angeles Lakers have a remarkable Finals record as one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. Since their establishment in 1947, the Lakers have made a staggering 32 appearances in the NBA Finals, winning the championship on 17 occasions in reality. At the same time, however, the Lakers have lost the most NBA Finals with 15 losses.
If results were reversed, the Lakers hold a sub .500 record with 17 losses instead of 17 wins. Of course, the man that holds most of the losses for the Lakers is The Logo himself, Jerry West. West lost eight Finals out of nine total appearances, and he is the player who would want the Finals record to be reversed. Mr. Clutch would have greatly benefited from an alternate universe with reversed Finals records, with eight championships instead of one. No doubt, he would be thrust into the GOAT conversation with eight rings as he would have even more than LeBron James.
Otherwise, the Lakers lost seven other Finals appearances, two of them coming in the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant era. Amazingly, if the records are reversed, legends such as Bryant (2-5), O’Neal (1-3), and Magic Johnson (4-5) would all have losing Finals records, and the entire top-ten player of the all-time list would be altered as these three players would be regarded far differently.
