The confetti was nonetheless falling on the finish of Sport 5 within the 2024 Finals, and little doubt somebody, someplace was already asking: “Certain, these Celtics lastly gained the NBA title – however can they repeat?”
It’s a sound query. A typical perception in skilled sports activities is that profitable two straight titles is the most important mountain any staff can climb, and we don’t disagree. However a verify of basketball historical past reveals that repeating as champs will not be all that uncommon within the NBA – and the Celtics appear well-positioned to do it in 2025.
A complete of 21 franchises have gained a minimum of one of many 78 NBA* championships – however the title totals are extraordinarily lopsided. In most seasons, one in every of 5 groups has been popping champagne corks on the finish. They’re the Boston Celtics with 18 titles; Los Angeles/Minneapolis Lakers, 17 titles; Golden State/Philadelphia Warriors, seven; Chicago Bulls, six; and San Antonio Spurs, 5.
(* From 1946-1949, the league was generally known as the BAA, Basketball Affiliation of America.)
These add as much as 53 championships or 67.9% of the titles, leaving a mere 25 titles gained by all the opposite franchises all through NBA historical past. Moreover, no different staff has gained greater than 3 times; ten groups have captured only one title; and ten present groups are nonetheless searching for their first championship.
Figuring out these info, it shouldn’t be shocking that 23 instances (29.4%) the NBA champions have efficiently defended their crown the following season (see sidebar).
To get a way of how seemingly the present Celtics are to affix that listing, we’re going to take a snapshot take a look at every defending champion of the latest 20 seasons. The groups are listed with the years through which they have been looking for to repeat. As you would possibly suspect, to repeat, a staff clearly should be excellent, and in addition very fortunate.
2005 Pistons
Much like the 2024 Celtics, the ‘04 Pistons had a deep and proficient veteran roster, however their solely particular person award winner was heart Ben Wallace (All NBA, All Protection). The Pistons’ protection and veteran poise ended the Lakers’ streak of three straight titles, and Detroit most likely ought to have repeated towards the Spurs within the low-scoring ’05 Finals. Nonetheless, they misplaced Sport 5 at dwelling by inexplicably leaving clutch shooter Robert Horry alone for a game-winning three. The Pistons pushed San Antonio to seven video games, however the Spurs prevailed at dwelling.
2006 Spurs
After profitable 63 video games, San Antonio appeared headed again to the Finals, however within the Western Convention semifinals, they fell behind 3-1 to Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs. The Spurs rallied to power Sport 7 at dwelling and led by three with a half-minute remaining, however Manu Ginobili made an enormous error by fouling Nowitzki on a made layup. Dirk’s and-1 tied the sport, and the Spurs missed two layups within the last seconds. Within the time beyond regulation, the energized Mavs by no means trailed whereas the Spurs shot simply 2 of 10.
2007 Warmth
Miami beat Dallas within the ’06 Finals when third-year sensation Dwayne Wade averaged 34.7 factors, helped by going to the free throw line an unbelievable 97 instances in six video games. However in 2007, Shaquille O’Neal – First Staff All-NBA within the title run – missed half the season with accidents, the Warmth gained solely 44 video games to complete fourth within the East, and coach Pat Riley had no extra magic. They have been swept 4-0 by Chicago.
2008 Spurs
After sweeping Cleveland in ’07 (LeBron James’ first Finals look with the Cavs), the Spurs had 56 wins and made it to the ’08 Western finals, however misplaced in 5 to the Lakers. The turning level of the sequence was this play on the finish of Sport 4, which LA gained by two factors. The NBA later acknowledged a two-shot foul ought to’ve been referred to as.
2009 Celtics
As thrilling because it was to win Banner 17 in 2008, that’s how irritating it was to not repeat in ’09. The primary signal of hassle was the lack of clutch sixth-man James Posey, who departed for New Orleans as a free agent. Then the true killer was Kevin Garnett struggling a knee damage in February at Utah. The Celtics have been 44-11 on the time, however went simply 7-7 as KG missed the following month. He returned for 4 video games, taking part in restricted minutes, then sat out the remainder of the common season. That whole time, the Celtics have been imprecise about what to anticipate. Lastly, simply earlier than the primary playoff recreation, they introduced Garnett can be out for your complete playoffs. That was the top of any hope for a repeat.
2010 Lakers
This LA staff was the primary to repeat in the course of the 20-season stretch we’re reviewing. Their 57 wins was greatest within the West, however they have been lucky that the Cavs (61 wins) and Magic (59 wins) have been each eradicated by the 50-win Celtics, who had a flawed roster that acquired scorching on the proper time. Garnett was again from his ’09 damage however was by no means fairly his common self. The Celtics bench was additionally not as productive as previously. Nonetheless, the Cs led 3-2 within the Finals with the final two video games held in Los Angeles. The Lakers recovered to win the sequence after Celtic Kendrick Perkins was misplaced to a knee damage in Sport 6, and (as virtually any Celtics fan will inform you) LA shot 21 free throws within the fourth quarter of Sport 7, a four-point comeback win for the house staff.
2011 Lakers
Each LA and Dallas have been 57-25, however once they met within the postseason second spherical, the Mavs ended the Lakers’ run with a sweep. Nowitzki and Jason Terry have been to not be denied, profitable three straight low-scoring video games earlier than blowing out LA in Sport 4. The Mavs went on to beat LeBron and the Warmth within the Finals, thus incomes some good will from Celtics followers (till this yr, anyway).
2012 Mavericks
In contrast to the Celtics re-signing all their key gamers this summer time, Mavs proprietor Mark Cuban selected his funds over the prospect to repeat. He traded All-Protection Second Teamer Tyson Chandler, who was important to their defeat of Miami, to the Knicks. The Mavs’ protection suffered big-time, whereas Chandler went on to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months and make all-NBA Third Staff in New York. Dallas was swept within the first spherical by Oklahoma Metropolis.
2013 Warmth
The second staff to repeat on this stretch, Miami rolled by the common season at 66-16, however wanted two Sport 7s and several other miracles to get to the end line. The Indiana Pacers battled them in a back-and-forth Japanese Finals, however the Warmth ended the sequence in a blowout Sport 7. Then within the NBA Finals, the Spurs led recreation 6 by 5 factors with the title simply 28 seconds away. The win may’ve been iced on the line, however Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard – each licensed clutch gamers – every missed one in every of two free throws. Additionally, for matchup functions, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich twice subbed Boris Diaw in for Tim Duncan, and each instances the Warmth took benefit with an offensive board that led to a 3. The second was when Chris Bosh acquired it to former Celtic Ray Allen, who tied the rating with the most important three of his life, which is saying one thing. In time beyond regulation, San Antonio led by three with 2:42 to play, however didn’t rating once more. They misplaced, 103-100, a consequence that defied all logic. After that, Miami was too resilient to lose Sport 7.
2014 Warmth
Miami had no hassle getting again to the Finals, going 12-3 within the East playoff rounds. However the Spurs made it again there too, and have been decided to atone for his or her giveaway of 2013. The Warmth gained Sport 2 of the Finals by two factors, however the Spurs demolished them in 5, with every victory by a minimum of 15 factors. The LeBron period in South Seaside ended as he returned to Cleveland as a free agent.
2015 Spurs
San Antonio had gained 5 titles coming into this postseason, and the LA Clippers had by no means even made the NBA Finals (nonetheless haven’t, really), however as we’ve seen, something can occur. After they confronted off within the first spherical of 2015, the Spurs held sequence leads of 2-1 and 3-2, however the Clips hung powerful and gained a detailed Sport 6 on the highway, then gained Sport 7 at dwelling on a Chris Paul bounce shot with one second left. (One thing that’s clear on this evaluate: the Duncan/Popovich Spurs have been generally known as a a clutch veteran group, however they suffered a rare variety of excruciating losses.)
2016 Warriors
The Warriors who defended their 2015 title might have been essentially the most hyped NBA staff of all time. They have been like rock stars, the place followers in visiting arenas would you should definitely arrive early simply to look at them heat up, and for good cause. They gained the primary 24 video games on their schedule, by no means misplaced two straight all season, and completed with an all-time NBA greatest won-lost file of 73-9. A repeat appeared sure, though they have been down 3-1 within the Western finals earlier than roaring again to beat the Thunder in seven video games. Then they took a 3-1 lead of their very own over the Cavs. A title by no means appeared so assured – till Draymond Inexperienced acquired suspended for smacking LeBron within the crotch in Sport 4. The Cavs roared again with two double-digit wins to power Sport 7. And Kyrie Irving made them pay.
2017 Cavaliers
After most likely the worst choke of all time, Golden State acquired proper again in management by signing free agent Kevin Durant, whose personal Thunder had simply choked away a sequence to those self same Warriors. Durant turned down the Celtics’ recruiting efforts and selected the simplest path, signing with the staff that least wanted his assist. Though the Cavs acquired again to the Finals simply, profitable 12 of 13 within the Japanese rounds, they’d no hope towards the newly fortified Warriors, who swept all three sequence within the West. Golden State went up 3-0 versus Cleveland and closed them out in a gentleman’s sweep, 4-1.
2018 Warriors
The third and last repeater on this period, the Warriors with Durant have been simply too robust. Their hardest problem was within the Western finals, the place they have been down 3-2 to the Rockets however got here again to win Sport 7 on the highway. The one suspense within the NBA Finals was Sport 1, when LeBron dropped 51 factors, however a bonehead play by JR Smith let the Warriors get to time beyond regulation. They took that recreation and went on to comb the sequence.
2019 Warriors
Golden State had an opportunity for 3 in a row, however they misplaced the Finals to the Toronto Raptors, partly as a result of Durant and Klay Thompson each went down with season-ending accidents in the course of the sequence. Toronto had boldly traded franchise icon DeMar DeRozan for a rental of disgruntled Spurs star Kawhi Leonard, and it paid off of their solely title to this point. Kawhi left after that one season, however Raptors followers will at all times have a banner in addition to this epic series-winning buzzer-beater.
2020 Raptors
The Raptors virtually didn’t have the chance to defend their title due to the COVID pandemic, till the NBA assembled the bubble in Disney World. Nonetheless, Toronto was four-tenths of a second from falling behind the Celtics 3-0, till OG Anunoby hit a prayer three for the win. The Celtics later led the sequence 3-2, however Toronto stayed alive with a double OT win in Sport 6. The Celtics gained Sport 7 behind Jayson Tatum’s team-high 29 factors, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Marcus Sensible made what turned out to be the game-winning defensive play.
2021 Lakers
Again in the true world, the Lakers snuck into the playoffs because the no. 7 seed after surviving the Play-In match. Their protection was good, their offense was not, and so they went by a 9-17 stretch in the course of the second half of the season. Phoenix eradicated them in six video games within the first spherical.
2022 Bucks
Celtics followers will keep in mind how the Bucks’ quest to repeat ended. Boston was on the brink after Milwaukee gained Sport 5 at TD Backyard, however Tatum saved the season with a basic efficiency on the highway in Sport 6: 46 factors on 17-32 capturing, with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Then Grant Williams made 7 threes in Sport 7 to remove the pissed off Bucks. (By the way in which, that man Jrue Vacation had a fairly good sequence for the Bucks.)
2023 Warriors
You would possibly assume gamers can be in good spirits at coaching camp after profitable the title, however Draymond Inexperienced is totally different. He had some kind of beef with teammate Jordan Poole, and his manner of fixing it was to sucker punch Poole throughout apply. Inexperienced was suspended for a part of camp, however not for any common season video games, and that consequence gave the impression to be unhealthy karma for the Warriors’ season. They completed because the sixth seed, needed to win a Sport 7 at Sacramento to outlive the primary spherical, after which have been eradicated by the Lakers in six ugly video games. A catastrophe all the way in which round, and Poole was traded after the season.
2024 Nuggets
Nikola Jokic gained his third Most Useful Participant award and Coach Mike Malone was fairly assured that Denver can be again within the Finals this yr. However the lack of Jeff Inexperienced and Bruce Brown to free company was extra damaging than anticipated. The Nuggets took out the Lakers in 5 video games, however then couldn’t cease Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. Denver led that sequence 3-2, however utterly melted down, shedding Sport 6 by 45 factors after which dropping Sport 7 at dwelling, 98-90.
What can we study from this evaluate? Effectively, we all know profitable is tough to do. And to reach repeating requires all types of psychological toughness, bodily stamina and plain outdated good luck. All the pieces appeared to go Boston’s manner final season. Now, the Celtics might be challenged by well being considerations (as at all times), potential fatigue after three starters play within the Olympics, and the absence of Kristaps Porzingis as he recovers from surgical procedure.
It’s unreal and unprecedented that Brad Stevens and present possession have dedicated a billion {dollars} to increase contracts for each key Celtics, retaining the championship roster in place. That alone ought to make Boston the favourite to repeat. However simply displaying up gained’t be sufficient, so maybe the most important query is, will the Celtics be as hungry to win it the second time?
We are able to solely wait and see.
Analysis sources for this piece: landofbasketball.com and basketball-reference.com
