After the first round of games, we are starting to get our feet wet in the NBA playoffs. Three are 16 teams remaining this season with all eyes on winning the championship. The Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the world by getting an opening win over the Grizzlies as a seventh seed, while the Brooklyn Nets are the most dangerous seven seed in the league. It makes you wonder how many Cinderella teams have made it to the NBA Finals.
- No. 8 Seed – 0.0%
- No. 7 Seed – 0.0%
- No. 6 Seed – 1 Winner, 1.3%
- No. 5 Seed – 0.0%
- No. 4 Seed – 1 Winner, 1.3%
- No. 3 Seed – 7 Winners, 9.4%
- No. 2 Seed – 16 Winners, 21.6%
- No. 1 Seed – 50 Winners, 67.6%
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Historically speaking, the higher the seed means the more favorable matchups. The playoffs were expanded to 16 teams in 1984, which meant that up to this time, there were only eight teams and the seeding was one to four in each conference. Since then, there have been only two teams below the seed of three to ever win an NBA championship. With that said, only one seed lower than four has ever won. There have been upsets in the first round before, but how often has that translated to a championship?
These are the winners of the NBA championship by their seeds.
No. 8 Seed – 0.0%
There have been no winners of the NBA championship with the eighth seed paired to their name. We have seen upsets in the past such as the Golden State Warriors shocking the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs. Even the Chicago Bulls gave the 2009 Boston Celtics a run for their money as the eighth seed by taking the series to seven games. With that said, only one team has made the NBA Finals as an eighth seed and that was the 1999 New York Knicks.
The Knicks were an Eastern Conference contender throughout the 90s with Patrick Ewing and John Starks leading multiple playoff runs. With that said, the team battled adversity in the regular season and fell to the eighth seed. With no Michael Jordan in the way and a healthy lineup, the Knicks made the NBA Finals. However, the team lost the Finals 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs, where Tim Duncan won his first ring.
No. 7 Seed – 0.0%
Like the eighth seed, the seventh seed is no better. With that said, the eighth seed has seen a team make the NBA Finals. In the 74 years of playing in the NBA Finals, no seven seed has ever appeared, so if Minnesota or Brooklyn can make a run, it would be NBA history. The closest a team has ever made it was the 1987 Seattle SuperSonics.
The SuperSonics finished the regular season with a 39-43 record but magically beat the No. 2 seed Dallas Mavericks in four games. Then, the team took on a young star in Hakeem Olajuwon, but the team beat the Rockets in six games. The Cinderella run came to an end in the Western Conference Finals where Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Lakers swept Seattle. The SuperSonics remain the only seven seed to make a Conference Finals.
No. 6 Seed – 1 Winner, 1.3%
Winners: Houston Rockets (1995)
After winning the NBA championship in 1994, the Rockets stumbled to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Rockets traded for Clyde Drexler at the trade deadline, but the team finished 17-18 after the trade to stumble down the standings. Once the team developed their chemistry, the Rockets rose to the title.
In the playoffs, the Rockets overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the third-seeded Jazz in five games. Then the team faced the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets trailed 3-1 in the series but managed to upset the Suns in seven games. In the Conference Finals, the team took on the top-seeded Spurs but won in six games. Then, the team took on a less experienced Orlando Magic squad with Shaquille O’Neal and won the Finals in four games. The Rockets remain the lowest seed to ever win an NBA championship.
No. 5 Seed – 0.0%
It wasn’t until recently that a five-seed had ever made the NBA Finals. In 2020, the Miami Heat became the first five seed to ever make the championship game. The cast of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro won over the hearts of America by making an improbable run to the title.
The Heat first swept the Pacers in four games. That set up a matchup with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks; however, many called this an unfavorable matchup for the Bucks and those critics were right. The Heat won the series over the MVP’s squad in five games. In the Conference Finals, the Heat beat the Celtics in six games. In the Finals, the Heat took the series to six games against the Lakers and LeBron James but came up just short as James defeated his former team.
No. 4 Seed – 1 Winner, 1.3%
Winner: Boston Celtics (1969)
The Celtics were the four seed but still feared as champions. The group featured Bill Russell in his last season, who had already won 10 championships with the team. Despite falling to the four seed, the Celtics continued to shine their championship pedigree by marching to the NBA Finals and taking the championship.
After sliding into the playoffs as the conference’s lowest seed, the Celtics defeated the No. 2 seed Philadelphia Warriors in five games. In the Division Finals, the Celtics took down the Knicks in six games. The Finals featured a thrilling seven-game series between the Lakers and Celtics. Despite losing, Jerry West was awarded Finals MVP for averaging over 38 points per game.
No. 3 Seed – 7 Winners, 9.4%
Winners: Milwaukee Bucks (2021), Dallas Mavericks (2011), San Antonio Spurs (2007), Detroit Pistons (2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2002), Washington Wizards (1978), Portland Trail Blazers (1977)
After a few years of winning the one seed, the Bucks must have had some pressure off their shoulders last season. The Bucks became the first three seed to win in 10 years as Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first title in 50 years. There have been seven teams that have won as a three seed with no repeat winners. Until the 2000s, only two teams had ever done it in the Washington Bullets and Trail Blazers, who were led by two strong, stud centers in Wes Unseld and Bill Walton respectively.
As for recent history, the Mavericks stunned the world in 2011 by taking down a big three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade of the Heat. The 2007 Spurs dominated a young LeBron James, who had led the Cavaliers to the Finals. The Pistons upset the Indiana Pacers (61 wins) in the Conference Finals before upsetting the heavily favored Lakers in the Finals, which might have led to Shaq’s eventual exit. As for Shaq, the tandem of Kobe Bryant and himself completed the three-peat in 2002 with their lowest seed together.
No. 2 Seed – 16 Winners, 21.6%
Winners: Los Angeles Lakers – 3 (2001, 1952, 1949), Golden State Warriors – 2 (2018, 1947), Miami Heat – 2 (2012, 2006), Boston Celtics – 2 (1969, 1966) Toronto Raptors (2019), San Antonio Spurs (2005), Houston Rockets (1994), Chicago Bulls (1993), New York Knicks (1973), Sacramento Kings (1951), Washington Wizards (1948)
The most recent two-seed to win was the Raptors in 2019 when Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard enjoyed his one-year stay to lead the surprise finish. As for multi-winners, the Lakers were winners back in the early days, while repeating as champion in 2001. The Warriors battled injuries during 2018, which led to falling behind the Rockets but defeated the same Rockets in the Conference Finals to take the title.
The Heat and Celtics both wound up championships multiple times, but it’s been much longer since Boston. Among the single winners, Michael Jordan won his only championship as a two-seed in 1993. It was the first time the Bulls three-peated as champions and Jordan’s lowest seed of his six championships.
No. 1 Seed – 50 Winners, 67.6%
Winners: Boston Celtics – 14 (2008, 1986, 1984, 1981, 1976, 1974, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1957), Los Angeles Lakers – 13 (2020, 2010, 2009, 2000, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1982, 1980, 1972, 1954, 1953, 1950), Chicago Bulls – 5 (1998, 1997, 1996, 1992, 1991), Golden State Warriors – 4 (2017, 2015, 1975, 1956) San Antonio Spurs – 3 (2014, 2003, 1999), Philadelphia 76ers – 3 (1983, 1967, 1955), Detroit Pistons – 2 (1989, 1990), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), Miami Heat (2013), Oklahoma City Thunder (1979), Milwaukee Bucks (1971), New York Knicks (1970), Atlanta Hawks (1958)
If you finish with the league’s top seed, you have a two-thirds chance of winning it all. The Celtics lead NBA history with the most wins as a one-seed and a lot of that can be thanks to Bill Russell back in the day. When Russell was a one-seed, the Celtics won eight championships. The Lakers are right behind with 13 championships, but if you pay attention to history, the 80s were a championship juggernaut.
In the 80s, the one seed was a winner every year. From 1979 to 1992, the one seed won the championship. A lot of those years featured Larry Bird and Kevin McHale of the Celtics taking on Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers. Outside of the Lakers and Celtics, the Bulls and Pistons were multiple winners as Jordan and Isiah Thomas made no doubt their teams were the best during those times. The second-longest streak came from 1953 to 1966, when the Lakers, National, Warriors, Hawks, and Celtics all claimed the title as one seed.
History shows that the game has evolved and there are multiple contenders instead of the traditional top dogs in the Celtics and Lakers. The brand of basketball features many stars. Instead of two legitimate contenders, it could be up to four, five, or six teams. With that said, a top-2 seed has won 66 of the total 74 championships available, so there is some merit that the top seed is in a prime position to win a ring. For this season, the Suns, Grizzlies, Heat, and Celtics are the top seeds. Will any of those teams win this year?
