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Top-end individual talent tends to reign supreme in the NBA, more so though than in any other major sport. With the advent of “superteams” becoming more common in the 21st-century NBA, upsets have become more memorable. While the favorites often prevail, there have been several instances where underdogs have defied the odds to claim the NBA Finals and be crowned champions. Here are the five biggest NBA Finals upsets in history, based on pre-series spreads, seeding or win percentages.
The 2004 NBA Finals featured the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers, who were heavily favored, against the Detroit Pistons. The Lakers, with future Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, were expected to dominate. However, the Pistons’ tenacious defense and team-oriented play led to a stunning upset.
Detroit won the series in five games, with Chauncey Billups earning Finals MVP honors. This victory in one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets highlighted that committed defense and teamwork can trump star power.
The 2011 NBA Finals saw the Dallas Mavericks face the Miami Heat, who had formed a “superteam” with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Heat were favorites to win the championship, but the Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki, played inspired basketball.
Nowitzki’s clutch performances and strong support from his teammates led Dallas to a 4-2 series victory. This was one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets ever and solidified Nowitzki’s legacy, showing that a well-rounded team could overcome a trio of superstar talent.
The 2016 NBA Finals featured the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors, who had set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins. The Warriors were heavy favorites, especially after taking a 3-1 series lead. However, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led an incredible comeback, winning three straight games to claim the championship.
James’ block on Andre Iguodala and Irving’s game-winning three-pointer in Game 7 are iconic moments from this series. This upset marked the first NBA title for the Cavaliers and a historic achievement for James.
The 2019 NBA Finals saw the Toronto Raptors facing the Golden State Warriors, who were aiming for their fourth title in five years. Despite injuries to key players Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were still favorites due to their championship pedigree.
However, the Raptors, led by Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, played exceptional basketball. Toronto won the series in six games, capturing their first NBA title and delivering one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets in recent memory.
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by superstars Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, were heavily favored over the Boston Celtics, whose eight-title run in the 1960s appeared to end. The Lakers finished the regular season with a significantly better record and had a home-court advantage.
Despite the odds, the Celtics, led by Bill Russell in his final season as both player and coach, pushed the series to a decisive Game 7. The game was played in Los Angeles, and the Celtics emerged victorious with a 108-106 win. The triumph was marked by the iconic “Havlicek stole the ball” moment. This victory extended and solidified the Celtics’ legacy in one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets ever.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.