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Stupid ing Tacker...
I see all kinds of arguments with claims of asterisk NBA champions and so on all over the internet. So, I compiled this list, which I hope is accurate.
Obviously repeating champions can't beat the defending champion, but 40 of the 63 NBA seasons saw new champions taking the throne. 16 times they beat the defending champion along the way, and 24 times they didn't.
This list shows how franchises have done in both categories. When a major injury (If I know about it), upset (determined by home court advantage), or retirement occurs, it is listed. The opponents the champ was eliminated by is given along with some well-known abbreviations. DNP = Did not play. ECF = Eastern Conference Finals. So, have fun debating! If you call asterisk on another team, be warned, it may come right back at you! Have fun with it. If you have any additions, corrections/omisions, please advise and I will edit.
New champions that beat the defending champs:
Baltimore Bullets (1) Note: this franchise disbanded soon after....No one claims this le today.
1948 defeated Philadelphia Warriors
Boston Celtics (2)
1968 Defeated Philadelphia 76rs ECF
1974 Defeated New York Knicks ECF Willis Reed injured
Chicago Bulls (1)
1991 Defeated Detroit Pistons ECF
Detroit Pistons (1)
1989 Defeated Lakers NBA Finals, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott injured
Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (5)
1952 Defeated Rochester Royals WCF
1972 Defeated Milwaukee Bucks WCF
1980 Defeated Seattle Supersonics WCF
1985 Defeated Boston Celtics NBA finals
1987 Defeated Boston Celtics NBA finals
Philadelphia Warriors (1)
1956 Defeated Syracuse Nationals ECF
Philadelphia 76rs (2)
1967 Defeated Boston Celtics ECF
1983 Defeated Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals
Rochester Royals (1)
1950 Defeated Minneapolis Lakers WCF
San Antonio Spurs (2)
2003 Defeated Los Angeles Lakers WCSF
2005: Defeated Detroit Pistons NBA Finals
Seattle Supersonics (1)
1979 Defeated Washington bullets NBA finals
St Louis Hawks (1)
1958 Defeated Boston Celtics NBA Finals
New Champions that did not play the Defending champions
Boston Celtics (7)
1957 DNP Philadelphia Warriors: Lost to Syracuse Nationals ECSF
1959 DNP St.Louis Hawks: Upset by Minneapolis Lakers WCF
1976 DNP Golden State Warriors: Upset by Phoenix Suns, WCF
1981 DNP Lakers: Upset by Houston Rockets 1st Round Magic Johnson injured
1984 DNP Philadelphia 76rs: Upset by New Jersey 1st round
1986 DNP Los Angeles Lakers: Upset by Houston Rockets WCF
2008 DNP San Antonio Spurs: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers WCF Manu Ginobili injured
Chicago Bulls (1)
1996 DNP Houston Rockets: Lost to Seattle Supersonics WCSF
Detroit Pistons (1)
2004 DNP San Antonio Spurs: Upset by Los Angeles Lakers WCSF
Golden State Warriors (1)
1975 DNP Boston Celtics: Lost to Washington Bullets ECF
Houston Rockets (1)
1994 DNP Chicago Bulls: Lost to New York Knicks ECSF, Jordan Retired
Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (4)
1949 DNP Baltimore Bullets: Eliminated 1st round by New York Knicks
1982 DNP Boston Celtics: Upset by Philadelphia 76rs ECF
2000 DNP San Antonio Spurs: Upset by Phoenix Suns first round. Tim Duncan injured
2008 DNP Boston Celtics: Upset by Orlando Magic ECSF Kevn Garnett injured
Milwaukee Bucks (1)
1971 DNP New York Knicks: Upset by Baltimore Bullets ECF, Willis Reed hobbled
New York Knicks (1)
1970 DNP Boston Celtics: Did not make playoffs. Russell retired.
Portland Trailblazers (1)
1977 DNP Boston Celtics: Lost ECSF to Philadelphia
San Antonio Spurs (2)
1999 DNP Chicago Bulls Did not make playoffs, Jordan retired
2007 DNP Miami Heat: Lost to Chicago Bulls, 1st round
Sytacuse Nationals (1)
1955 DNP Lakers: Lost to Ft. Wayne Pistons WCF
Washington Bullets (1)
1978 DNP Portland Trailblazers, upset by Seattle Supersonics WCSF, Bill Walton injured
Last edited by Daddy_Of_All_Trolls; 01-08-2010 at 01:31 PM. Reason: fixed formatting, I suck at this
Stupid ing Tacker...
Michael Jordan says:
1994 NBA Champion Houston Rockets*
1995 NBA Champion Houston Rockets*
*I was playing baseball.
Magic played all 3 games of that series and averaged more than 42 minutes a night.
You're right. However, Magic had missed half the season and sucked in that series, and some blamed his injury. He even tossed up an airball that might have won near the buzzer in the last game. So, it's kind of similar to Ginobili playing at less than 100% against the Lakers in 2008. Magic and Norm Nixon were injured against the Sixers in 2003, but I didn't add that. Lakers fans don't need more excuses. Nothing was going to stop Dr. J. and Moses Malone that year.
Anyway, back to 1981, that was a weird season. Everyone good got upset in the western playoffs and two teams with losing records of 40-42 met in the WCF for the right to be cattle feed to the east.
Willis Reed was a tragic case. His Knicks had beaten the Bucks 4 of 5 games in 1971. He was out most of 1972 and 1974. Ineffective in 1974 playoffs and retired. Reed, Frazier, DeBusschere, Monroe, Bradley. A team for the ages.
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