Ranking The Last 15 NBA Champions Based On The Toughest Paths To A Title

No matter which way you slice it, winning an NBA championship is one of the hardest things to accomplish in sports. All 30 teams set out with the same goal in mind, but only one can be declared NBA champion after the season is over. After a grueling 82-game schedule, the field is cut down to 16 teams, eight from each conference, to battle it out in the NBA playoffs. From there, just 16 wins separate a team from their goal, but not if they suffer four losses in one series beforehand.

As we are all aware, not all championships are created equal and not all paths to the championship are as difficult as others. To take a look at just how tough each run to the championship was, you have to take a look at the opponents each team had to defeat to get there. Today, we will take a deep dive into the last 15 NBA champions and the opponents they faced in the playoffs in order to earn the right to be called NBA champions. Using the total cumulative winning percentage from all four of each NBA champion’s opponents, we have determined who had the most difficult journey to the NBA championship over the last 15 seasons.

This is the ranking of the last 15 NBA champions based on the toughest paths to the championship.

15. 2023 Denver Nuggets

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 53.05%

Western Conference First Round: Nuggets def. Timberwolves 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals: Nuggets def. Suns 4-2

Western Conference Finals: Nuggets def. Lakers 4-0

NBA Finals: Nuggets def. Heat 4-1

I really hate to do this to the newly crowned NBA champions, but according to our calculations, they had the easiest path to the NBA championship over the last 15 years.

After earning a 53-29 record during the regular season and the first seed in the West, Denver was awarded a first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves who had to navigate the play-in tournament to become a playoff team. In the series, Denver was too much for Minnesota and finished them off in five games despite 31.6 PPG from Minnesota’s young star Anthony Edwards. Jamal Murray led the way for Denver in the scoring department with 27.2 PPG and added 5.6 RPG and 6.4 APG as well. Nikola Jokic shined as well with 26.2 PG, 12.4 RPG, and 9.0 APG to lead Denver to an easy victory.

This set up a matchup with the Phoenix Suns, who many thoughts were geared up for a run to the NBA championship after acquiring Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Jokic and Denver had other plans. Jokic outclassed and outplayed Phoenix’s bigs to the tune of 34.5 PPG, 13.2 RPG, and 10.3 APG in the series win. Jamal Murray would also add 24.8 PPG while Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all averaged 10.0 PPG or better to hold off the duo of Devin Booker and Durant and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

There, the Nuggets were fortunate enough to get a rematch of the Conference Finals from 2020 against the Lakers. After finishing 43-39 in the regular season, the Lakers began to play their best basketball in the playoffs and rolled to the Western Conference Finals led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, this is where the fun stopped for Los Angeles as Denver would promptly sweep them in four straight games. Jokic was named Western Conference Finals MVP with 27.8 PPG, 14.5 RPG, and 11.8 APG, but Jamal Murray was their savior more than once late in games throughout the series. Murray finished with 32.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG and the Nuggets advanced to their first NBA Finals in team history.

When the NBA Finals began, Denver knew that it would be a tough series against a hungry and dangerous Miami Heat team that advanced to the Finals as an eighth seed. Miami Would steal a game in Denver in Game 2 despite a 41-point game from Jokic. The series would then totally flip as Denver once again made things look easy with three straight wins and their first NBA championship. Jokic was named Finals MVP with 30.2 PPG, 14.0 RPG, and 7.2 APG, completing a superb run to become NBA champions.

As great as this run was, there is no denying that Denver had an easy path to the championship defeating not one but two eighth-seeded teams, one of them being in the NBA Finals. Denver’s championship should be celebrated as much as any over the last 15 years, but that doesn’t change the fact that they had the simplest path to the title during that time as well.

14. 2020 Los Angeles Lakers

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 57.88%

Western Conference First Round: Lakers def. Trail Blazers 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals: Lakers def. Rockets 4-1

Western Conference Finals: Lakers def. Nuggets 4-1

NBA Finals: Lakers def. Heat 4-2

I know there are the basketball purists out there who already have their issues with how “easy” the NBA Bubble was in 2020. Adversely, there are also those who say it was one of the hardest, but those are mainly the fans who are in support of LeBron James as the GOAT.

The truth is, according to the opponent’s win percentage, the Lakers had one of the easiest paths to the championship in the last 15 seasons in 2020. Led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the 2020 playoffs kicked off with a matchup against the 35-39 Portland Trail Blazers. Outside of Damian Lillard, Portland had zero answers for LeBron and Davis as they quickly wiped out Portland in five games. Davis led the way offensively and defensively for the Lakers averaging 29.8 PPG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.6 BPG. James also walked away from the series averaging a triple-double with 27.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 10.2 APG as well.

Next up were the 44-28 Houston Rockets led by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Lakers’ game plan was simple. Let Westbrook take all of the outside shots that he wants to but stop James Harden at all costs. That is exactly what they did en route to a five-game series win for L.A. Despite Harden’s 29.4 PPG, the Rockets had just Eric Gordon and Westbrook to back him up with double-digit scoring as the duo of James and Davis combined for 51.2 PPG and 22.8 RPG in an easy win.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers would meet the Nuggets for the first time before seeing each other again in 2023. The Nuggets were 46-27 on the season, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who looked like prime Michael Jordan in the playoffs up to that point. The series would not be so tough for the Lakers as once again, they dismissed their opponent in five games behind 58.2 PPG from Davis and James as well as 16.6 RPG. For Denver, Murray and Jokic led the way but had little help outside of that duo. Michael Porter Jr, Monte Morris, and Jerami Grant averaged double-digit scoring but had very little to no impact on the outcome of the series.

The NBA Finals came down to the Lakers, who had steamrolled everybody, and the Miami Heat, who were determined to shock the world. In the NBA Finals, the Heat would have to deal with an injured Bam Adebayo, an injured Goran Dragic, and an absolutely exhausted Jimmy Butler. Miami was able to take two games from the Lakers, but in the end, James and Davis were far too much for a depleted team to overcome. After finishing 44-29 in the regular season and making it to the Finals, the Heat had reached their peak as a team that year against a team built for numerous championship runs.

13. 2013 Miami Heat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcRsvXpC5gM

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 58.1%

Eastern Conference First Round: Heat def. Bucks 4-0

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Heat def. Bulls 4-1

Eastern Conference Finals: Heat def. Pacers 4-3

NBA Finals: Heat def. Spurs 4-3

Before the era of the superteam really came into full force in the late 2010s and 2020s, the Miami Heat led the charge in its inception with the trio of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. After winning a championship in 2012, which we will get to, they had one of the easiest paths to an NBA title to repeat as NBA champions.

In the first round, the Heat drew the Milwaukee Bucks, who had just finished the season with a 38-44 record. Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings were the backcourt for the Bucks and supposedly very talented offensive players. In the series against Miami, neither recorded above 14.5 PPG and each of them shot under 22.0% from three. Jennings had an abysmal series shooting 29.8% overall as they were swept by Miami, led by LeBron with 24.5 PPG and Ray Allen with 16.5 PPG.

In the semifinals, the competition didn’t get much tougher as the 45-37 Chicago Bulls came into town. The Bulls were now without Derrick Rose, who had suffered multiple knee injuries, and instead were led by Jimmy Butler, Nate Robinson, and Carlos Boozer. Each of those three players averaged between 15.0 and 15.6 PPG for the series and hardly put up a fight in five games against Miami. James led the way for the Heat again with 23.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 7.8 APG as they advanced in five games.

The Eastern Conference Finals would be their toughest matchup of the playoffs, with the 49-32 Pacers sitting across from them. Outside of Paul George, the Pacers came armed with Roy Hibbert, David West, and George Hill. The Pacers got a 22.1 PPG and 10.4 RPG double-double from Hibbert and 16.6 PPG from West but not much beyond that. They battled to a Game 7, which Miami handily won by 23 points, 99-76. In Game 7, the Heat got 32 points from James and 21 points from Wade, as Indiana got a game-high 18 points from Hibbert.

The Heat would advance to their third straight NBA Finals to face off against the San Antonio Spurs, who went 58-24 in the regular season. It would prove to be Miami’s toughest opponent as the series went back and forth until a Game 7 was forced by Ray Allen’s iconic three-pointer buzzer-beater in Game 6. The Heat would take home back-to-back championships in 2013, while the Spurs would have to wait for number five. While the Spurs were, in fact, a dynasty, those days were long gone as Tim Duncan led all scorers for San Antonio with 18.9 PPG, and Kawhi Leonard was yet to become the two-way star he would be in the future.

12. 2010 Los Angeles Lakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85nBQ_AoRwk

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 61.24%

Western Conference First Round: Lakers def. Thunder 4-2

Western Conference Semifinals: Lakers def. Jazz 4-0

Western Conference Finals: Lakers def. Suns 4-2

NBA Finals: Lakers def. Celtics 4-3

Over the last 15 years, the Lakers have won three NBA championships and two of them have now been named in the top five easiest pathways to the championship. As we move on in the list from here, the pathways begin to get a lot more difficult, starting with the combined 61.24% winning percentage from the 2010 Lakers’ opponents.

Each one of the Lakers’ series came up against opponents with at least 50 wins in the regular season, letting us know right away that easy was not a word to describe this title run as defending champions. First, the Lakers had to take care of the 50-32 Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers won the first two games, while the Thunder took the next two to make the series even at 2-2. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers would close out the series in six games with two more wins in a row. Bryant averaged 23.5 PPG in the series to lead L.A., while a young duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each averaged over 20.0 PPG.

Next on the Lakers’ hit list was the 53-29 Utah Jazz. Deron Williams and Paul Millsap were the leaders of a young Utah squad with little experience in big playoff games. This reared its ugly head in a four-game sweep. Kobe would average 32.0 PPG and Pau Gasol would add 23.5 PPG and 14.5 RPG as the Lakers were ready to move on fairly quickly. Williams had led Utah with 22.0 PPG and got 10.0 PPG or better from four different plays yet Utah could not muster even one win against this dominant Lakers squad.

The Western Conference Finals would feature Kobe and the Lakers up against the high-powered offense of the Suns led by Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire, who finished 54-28 on the year. Stoudemire averaged 25.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG, but no other player for Phoenix could reach the 20.0 PPG mark and only Nash and Jason Richardson were able to average 15.0 PPG in the series. The Lakers would win in six games to advance to their third straight NBA Finals.

The NBA Finals would feature a rematch of the 2008 series that saw Boston capture their first NBA title since 1986. The series would be a knockdown, drag-out seven-game classic that saw Kobe Bryant and the Lakers capture their second straight title and Bryant’s second Finals MVP. Boston struggled in the series offensively as they didn’t have even one player average 19.0 PPG in the series as Paul Pierce led the way with 18.0 PPG. Bryant and the Lakers became NBA champions behind his 28.6 PPG as well as Gasol’s 18.6 PPG and 11.6 RPG.

At first glance, this Lakers’ path seems like one of the tougher paths in recent memory. However, an extremely young Thunder team, an inexperienced Jazz team, and an overrated Phoenix team do not measure up to the competition from the 11 teams that stand in front of them on this list.

11. 2012 Miami Heat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsSVTG-gz_8

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 62.12%

Eastern Conference First Round: Heat def. Knicks 4-1

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Heat def. Pacers 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals: Heat def. Celtics 4-3

NBA Finals: Heat def. Thunder 4-1

As the 2012 Miami Heat set out on their quest for an NBA championship in 2012, the season was centered around LeBron James and his personal quest to redeem himself for his awful performance in the 2011 Finals.

The quest began with two series that proved to be of very little resistance to their overall goal. In the first round, Miami defeated a Knicks team that completely fell apart, aside from Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 27.8 PPG in the five-game series. As a team, the Knicks averaged just 12.6 APG, which should tell you all you need to know about the series. Things were made a little tougher by the Pacers in the second round, but when no player averages 15.0 PPG, it is not too hard to send that team packing in six games or less just like Miami did. Remember, this is before Paul George took a leap into the two-way beast we know him as today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rRDw9cJYOg

The Eastern Conference Finals would basically be the NBA Finals, with the Big 3 Boston Celtics ready to take on the Heat. The series would go to seven games between these two teams who loathed the other’s existence. In Game 7, it would be Dwyane Wade with a 41-point game to lift Miami to the NBA Finals as the revenge tour continued. The NBA Finals would prove to be a breeze for Miami over the young and inexperienced Thunder led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

After the Oklahoma City duo combined for 57.6 PPG, their best support came from James Harden off the bench with 12.4 PPG. Miami overmatched and was just plain hungrier than the Thunder, which led to one of the easier paths to victory of the last 15 years.

10. 2017 Golden State Warriors

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 62.2%

Western Conference First Round: Warriors def. Trail Blazers 4-0

Western Conference Semifinals: Warriors def. Jazz 4-0

Western Conference Finals: Warriors def. Spurs 4-0

NBA Finals: Warriors def. Cavaliers 4-1

The 2017 Warriors were so good, every NBA fan aside from those from San Francisco was rooting for them to lose. After finishing 73-9 in 2016 but losing the Finals, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to their already dominant squad, which led to an unfair advantage for the next three seasons and made Durant one of the NBA’s biggest traitors.

The first two rounds were nothing special as the Warriors swept through both the 41-41 Trail Blazers and 51-31 Utah Jazz. Although neither one of those opponents was easy, so to speak, the Warriors made it look that way when they had their third option, Klay Thompson, averaging close to or more than their opponents’ leading scorer.

The Western Conference Finals against the Spurs was supposed to be their biggest test, but that didn’t pan out either. The Warriors had Curry, who averaged over 30.0 PPG for the series, and Durant, who averaged over 28.0 PPG for the series. Compared to the Spurs, who lost Kawhi Leonard due to injury in Game 1, with LaMarcus Aldridge and Jonathon Simmons averaging 15.0 PPG for San Antonio, it is no wonder the Warriors walked right through them in four games as well. To add insult to injury, 39-year-old Manu Ginobili was San Antonio’s third-leading scorer at 13.8 PPG.

The NBA Finals would be a familiar foe for Golden State but not for Cleveland, as the Cavaliers had never faced this Kevin Durant-led superteam in the Finals before. The Cavaliers’ biggest accomplishment in the Finals was being the only team to register a win against Golden State in the entire playoffs. Once again, the Warriors prevailed in five games and Durant was named Finals MVP for the first time. What makes this run so impressive is the fact that the Warriors made it look so easy against teams with winning records who would have been serious contenders any other season.

9. 2021 Milwaukee Bucks

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 62.5%

Eastern Conference First Round: Bucks def. Heat 4-0

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bucks def. Nets 4-3

Eastern Conference Finals: Bucks def. Hawks 4-2

NBA Finals: Bucks def. Suns 4-2

There are still those fans that say the Milwaukee Bucks’ run to the NBA championship in 2021 was a fluke due to injuries and other factors contributing to their fortunate path. First of all, injuries are a part of the game, and according to our calculations, this path ranks in the top 10 as far as difficulty goes over the last 15 years.

In the first round, the Bucks would run through the defending Eastern Conference champion, the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler was far from the playoff Jimmy we are used to seeing these days, as he averaged just 14.5 PPG on a horrible 29.7% shooting. Milwaukee took advantage behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s two-way dominance and Khris Middleton’s clutch shot-making and swept the Heat in four games.

Round two would be Milwaukee’s biggest test of the playoffs when they had to go up against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden with the Brooklyn Nets. Both Harden and Irving would be limited to four games in the series, but still, Brooklyn was able to force a seventh game. Fortunately for Milwaukee, they had Giannis, who averaged 31.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in the series and went for 40 points in Game 7 to lead them to the series win. They also got help from Durant’s shoes being just a centimeter too big and touching the three-point line on a potential game-winning shot.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks drew the Atlanta Hawks, who were on a surprising playoff run themselves after finishing 41-31 in the regular season. Both Giannis and Hawks star Trae Young would suffer injuries and miss two games of the series, but it would be Milwaukee taking Atlanta down in six games to advance to the NBA Finals to play the Suns.

In the NBA Finals, the Bucks would find themselves down 2-0 to Phoenix as Giannis returned from a scary leg injury he suffered against Atlanta. The Suns were determined to continue to pour on the pressure led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but Milwaukee had the best player in the world on their side. Led by their Greek Freak big man, Milwaukee would rattle off four wins in a row to win their first championship since 1971. Giannis finished the series off with a 50-point game in Game 6 and won Finals MVP honors with 35.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.8 BPG.

8. 2022 Golden State Warriors

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 63.11%

Western Conference First Round: Warriors def. Nuggets 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals: Warriors def. Grizzlies 4-2

Western Conference Finals: Warriors def. Mavericks 4-1

NBA Finals: Warriors def. Celtics 4-2

Heading into the 2021-22 season, the disrespect for the Warriors was off the charts. Despite getting Klay Thompson back from injury and finishing with a 53-29 record in the regular season, Golden State was almost an afterthought going into the 2022 playoffs. That was a big mistake on all of our parts.

The Warriors began their difficult path to the NBA championship by facing off with league MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Warriors would make quick work of them as Jokic was left without both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for the series. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole would all average over 20.0 PPG in the five-game series win, with Curry leading the way at 28.0 PPG on 50.0% shooting.

This set up a grudge match between the grizzled Golden State veterans and the young and cocky Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis had just enjoyed one of their best seasons as a franchise, winning 56 games and finishing second in the West. Ja Morant did his best to lead the young Grizzlies to victory with 38.3 PPG but an all-around effort from Golden State mixed with their championship core’s experience was just too much for Memphis as a team. Five different Warriors averaged 10.0 PPG or more in the series, led by Curry’s 26.0 PPG.

Next up were the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, who were a one-man show starring Luka Doncic. Once again, the Warriors’ championship experience and the team basketball they played were overwhelming for the Mavericks. The Warriors rolled toward the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics in five easy games.

It would be the second-best team in the East, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, against the three-time NBA champions led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. This was Curry’s moment to shine after years of being looked over for a Finals MVP award. In six games, Curry averaged 31.2 PPG on 43.7% shooting from three to break hearts all over Boston and win his fourth NBA championship and first Finals MVP award.

The sheer star power the Warriors faced on this run is enough to have them in the eighth spot on this list. Imagine telling your grandkids in a few decades that you watched this team defeat Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown on one playoff run. They may not even believe you.

7. 2015 Golden State Warriors

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 63.72%

Western Conference First Round: Warriors def. Pelicans 4-0

Western Conference Semifinals: Warriors def. Grizzlies 4-2

Western Conference Finals: Warriors def. Rockets 4-1

NBA Finals: Warriors def. Cavaliers 4-2

Coming in at number seven on our list is the first of four Warriors championships over the last 15 years. The Warriors met some formidable opponents on their way to their first NBA championship, with a combined winning percentage of 63.7% on the season. In round one, they met the 45-37 Pelicans, who came armed with a young Anthony Davis. Despite Davis’ dominance, the Warriors had the MVP Stephen Curry, who averaged 33.8 PPG in a four-game sweep on 41.7% shooting from three.

From there, it was time to take on the Grit and Grind Grizzlies, coming off a 55-win regular season led by their stout defense. Unfortunately, the NBA’s best defense wasn’t enough for Golden State’s aerial attack from three as the Warriors got 24.5 PPG from Curry and put on a defensive clinic of their own. The series was done in six games and it was one to the Conference Finals for Golden State.

The Conference Finals featured a showdown with James Harden and the 56-26 Houston Rockets. The Rockets clearly had the advantage on the interior heading into the series, with Josh Smith and Dwight Howard manning the middle as well as MVP candidate James Harden averaging over 28.0 PPG. Both Smith and Howard would underperform while Curry had yet another 31.0 PPG series to defeat Houston in five games. Even one of the best offenses in basketball couldn’t stop the Warriors this season.

This led to the first of four straight showdowns between the Warriors, LeBron James, and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love would miss the entirety of the series, with Irving playing just 22 minutes of Game 1 before going down. LeBron did all he could to keep Cleveland fighting, but in the end, it was Andre Iguodala’s defense that reigned supreme. The Warriors secured their first NBA title since 1975 after clearing a difficult path to do so.

T5. 2018 Golden State Warriors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAgXfcd_Fa0

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 64.02%

Western Conference First Round: Warriors def. Spurs 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals: Warriors def. Pelicans 4-1

Western Conference Finals: Warriors def. Rockets 4-3

NBA Finals: Warriors def. Cavaliers 4-0

Compared to their championship run in 2017, the 2018 team had to work three times as hard to get back to the NBA championship. Instead of losing one game the entire playoffs, the Warriors lost two games over their first two series against the Spurs and Pelicans. The Spurs were a decent 47-35 on the year, while New Orleans was even better at 48-34.

After those relatively simple first two series, the Warriors had their work cut out for them going up against the MVP James Harden and the 65-17 Houston Rockets. Also armed with Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, and Clint Capela, the Rockets proved to be the toughest opponent the Warriors had faced in years in the NBA playoffs. The series would go to seven games between the two offensive juggernauts after Houston had built a 3-2 lead through five games. Kevin Durant would go for 34 points in Game 7 and Curry added 27, but the Rockets hit on just 15.9% of their 44 three-pointers and folded under the pressure of their first NBA Finals since the 1990s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jOhVqmTMMI

Back in the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cavaliers awaited their fate. The Cavaliers, who were 53-29 that season, had zero minimal help for LeBron in the series and nothing they could do about the relentless attack poured on by the Warriors. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry would lead them to an easy sweep of Cleveland with Durant earning his second straight Finals MVP. The Warriors had taken out four teams with 47 wins or more on the season, making it statistically one of the toughest NBA title runs of the last 15 years.

T5. 2019 Toronto Raptors

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 64.02%

Eastern Conference First Round: Raptors def. Magic 4-1

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Raptors def. 76ers 4-3

Eastern Conference Finals: Raptors def. Bucks 4-2

NBA Finals: Raptors def. Warriors 4-2

The Toronto Raptors’ run to the NBA championship is one of the most incredible championship runs by any team in any sport over the last decade. Not one person expected them to be NBA champions when it was all said and done, but thanks to an all-time great playoff run from Kawhi Leonard and an extremely valuable effort from his supporting cast, they defied the odds.

The Raptors met the 42-40 Orlando Magic in the first round and easily handled them in five games. As far as difficulty goes, this would be the easiest series of Toronto’s championship run.

The real test would be against the 76ers in the second round. Led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the Sixers took the Raptors to seven games behind their trio of Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam. In Game 7, Kawhi would knock down one of the most unbelievable shots in NBA history to end the series. Kawhi received inbounds pass with just seconds left, took two dribbles, and released a jumper from the corner over Joel Embiid. The shot bounced around for what seemed like forever and fell after the clock had already struck zero. The Raptors were headed back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This led to a showdown with MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the 60-22 Milwaukee Bucks. Leonard was unbelievable in the series averaging 29.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.2 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. Lowry averaged 19.0 PPG as well, as the Raptors advanced to their first NBA Finals in team history defeating the Bucks in six games.

In the NBA Finals, Toronto would face the formidable task of dethroning the Golden State Warriors. With Durant coming back from an Achilles injury, the series was sure to be full of fireworks. That quickly subsided when Durant went down with a torn Achilles just 12 minutes into Game 1. In Game 6, Klay Thompson would go down with a torn ACL, and all hope was lost for the Warriors against Toronto’s stifling defense and methodical offensive attack. Leonard would lead the Raptors to victory in six games with Leonard taking home his second career Finals MVP.

The fact that the Raptors defeated three 50-win teams in one playoff run was incredible and although it ended with one team facing severe injury news, it ended with another team celebrating with an entire nation up in Canada as NBA champions.

4. 2009 Los Angeles Lakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJjfmuKLRs

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 65.24%

Western Conference First Round: Lakers def. Jazz 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals: Lakers def. Rockets 4-3

Western Conference Finals: Lakers def. Nuggets 4-2

NBA Finals: Lakers def. Magic 4-1

One season after falling short in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers set out to prove the doubters wrong once again. The Lakers would go 65-17 on the season and finish one game beyond the Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA, led by Bryant and Pau Gasol.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers would take on the 48-34 Utah Jazz. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams would each average better than 20.0 PPG in the series as Utah battled Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the Jazz fell short of the Lakers in five games as Bryant went for 27.4 PPG while Gasol and Lamar Odom each averaged over 17.0 PPG.

The Houston Rockets would go 53-29 in 2009 and meet up with the Lakers in the second round. Yao Ming was limited to just three games in the series, while Aaron Brooks and Metta World Peace led the Rockets for the entirety of the series. The matchup would go to seven games, with the Lakers getting the edge in Game 7 behind 21 points and 18 rebounds from Pau Gasol to move on to face the Nuggets in the Conference Finals. The Nuggets, who were 54-28 on the year, were led by youngster Carmelo Anthony to just their second Conference Finals in team history. Kobe Bryant would be unstoppable in the series averaging 34.0 PPG to down Denver in six games.

Advancing to their second straight NBA Finals, the Lakers had all the momentum heading into their matchup with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. The series would not be much competition at all for the Lakers. The Magic, who were 59-23 in 2009, were only able to muster one win against the Lakers, who got 32.4 PPG from Kobe in the five-game series win. Bryant and the Lakers were champions for the first time since 2002 and had defeated three 50-win teams to earn it.

3. 2014 San Antonio Spurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNaHIRgK0NA

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 65.85%

Western Conference First Round: Spurs def. Mavericks 4-3

Western Conference Semifinals: Spurs def. Trail Blazers 4-1

Western Conference Finals: Spurs def. Thunder 4-2

NBA Finals: Spurs def. Heat 4-1

In 2013, the Spurs were defeated in seven games in the NBA Finals by the Miami Heat. In 2014, they would be led on their revenge tour by one All-Star, Tony Parker, and one budding young superstar, Kawhi Leonard.

After finishing the season 62-20, the Spurs were handed a tough first-round matchup with the 49-33 Dallas Mavericks. The Big 3 of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili would lead the Spurs to a seven-game series win, each averaging 17.0 PPG or better against Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. This led to a second-round matchup with the 54-28 Portland Trail Blazers. That series would last just five games as Parker led San Antonio in scoring once again and got 10.0 PPG or better from Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, and Patty Mills. The Trail Blazers got much of nothing outside of Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who combined for 41.6 PPG in the series.

The Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder would be a classic. The Thunder were 59-23 in 2014 and primed to challenge the Spurs for Western Conference supremacy. The series would end up tied at two games apiece after four games. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant each averaged over 25.0 PPG but were canceled out by six players in San Antonio with more than 10.0 PPG, the Spurs would win the series in six games and head back to the NBA Finals for their revenge on the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat were 54-28 on the season in 2014 and had advanced to their fourth straight NBA Finals. The Spurs were determined to get back to the top of the proverbial NBA mountain and would get an unexpected Finals MVP performance from one of their young stars. Kawhi Leonard would show the world why he was so coveted by San Antonio during the 2011 NBA Draft. Leonard would earn Finals MVP honors for his defensive effort against LeBron James in the series as the Spurs ran through the Heat in five games. The Spurs had taken down three 50-win teams and a 49-win team to claim their top spot and win their fifth NBA title since 1999.

2. 2011 Dallas Mavericks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A1kAqYgXv8

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 66.5%

Western Conference First Round: Mavericks def. Trail Blazers 4-2

Western Conference Semifinals: Mavericks def. Lakers 4-0

Western Conference Finals: Mavericks def. Thunder 4-1

NBA Finals: Mavericks def. Heat 4-2

When it comes to storyline and its place in NBA history, the 2011 Dallas Mavericks’ run to the NBA championship is one of the greatest in NBA history. The Mavericks weren’t supposed to even compete for an NBA championship this season but defied the odds repeatedly to earn it outright that season.

The Mavericks finished 57-25 on the season and drew a first-round matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. With 27.3 PPG from Dirk Nowitzki and 17.3 PPG from Jason Terry, the Mavericks were quick to dispose of Portland in six games. One of the most surprising outcomes of the 2011 playoffs was the Mavericks’ sweep of the two-time defending Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in the following round. The Mavericks frustrated the Lakers for four games behind big performances from Nowitzki and Terry once again. The four-game sweep shocked the world as Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

There, the Mavericks were underdogs once again against the 55-27 Oklahoma City Thunder. Still very young and yet to experience Finals basketball, the Thunder had no chance against a hungry Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavericks roster. Dirk would need just five games of 32.2 PPG to dismiss Oklahoma City despite over 23.5 PPG from the duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

In the NBA Finals, Nowitzki and the Mavericks would find themselves underdogs again to the 58-24 Miami Heat led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Nobody gave Dallas a chance against the newly-formed Big 3 in South Beach, especially after they went down 2-1 in the series. What proceeded was a takeover initiated by Nowitzki as he led Dallas to three straight wins to take the series and their first NBA championship in franchise history. With wins over three teams with 55 wins or more, the Dallas Mavericks’ path to the 2011 championship was the second-hardest NBA championship path of the last 15 years.

1. 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6GAvDhtjcI

Opponents’ Combined Win Percentage: 67.38%

Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers def. Pistons 4-0

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers def. Hawks 4-0

Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers def. Raptors 4-2

NBA Finals: Cavaliers def. Warriors 4-3

Now, we get to the hardest championship path over the last 15 seasons. The 2016 Cavaliers finished with a 57-25 record on the season as they sought retribution for their loss in 2015 in the NBA Finals. In the first two rounds, the Cavaliers would go 8-0 on the back of two sweeps of the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, who won 44 games and 48 games, respectively during the regular season.

This set up a date with the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors had finished just one game behind Cleveland for the East’s best record with 56 wins and 26 losses. The Raptors were led by 20.0 PPG scorers Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who were expected to get Toronto to the NBA Finals for the first time. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would thwart those plans with better than 24.0 PPG each to down the Raptors in six games and earn their second straight Finals berth to go up against the Golden State Warriors.

This was even a different Warriors team than the year before. This Warriors team set an NBA record by going 73-9 during the regular season and had steamrolled their way to the NBA Finals as heavy favorites. After taking a 3-1 series lead, the Warriors were on the brink of NBA history, but yet again, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James had other plans. Irving would go for over 27.0 PPG in the series, including a clutch three-pointer over Stephen Curry to seal Game 7. LeBron James averaged 29.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 8.9 APG to earn Finals MVP honors and was on a different level defensively.

The 2016 Cavaliers had completed the toughest path to the NBA Finals over the last 15 years by defeating possibly the greatest team in NBA history. Of course, the 73-9 record adds to the winning percentage of their opponents’ overall, but when you complete the greatest upset in NBA playoff history, all of the other numbers and statistics mean very little in comparison. 

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