True underdogs rarely win NBA championships. The lowest seed to win a title was the 1995 Houston Rockets as a No. 6. Only one No. 4 seed, the 1969 Celtics, has done it. The 1999 Knicks, an eighth seed, made the Finals but lost.
Other so-called underdog champions, like the 2004 Pistons or 2011 Mavericks, were already contenders.
We have three no6 and bellow seeds still in the PO. Lowest seed to ever win the title were Houston Rockets in 1995 as no6 and…
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The Traits That Separate Fighters from Franchises
An NBA team often earns an underdog label by lacking multiple All-Stars or being overlooked despite strong results. Trae Young described the 2021 Hawks as underdogs because they had no All-Stars, All-NBA or All-Defensive selections. The 2023 Miami Heat and 2020 Rockets also lacked top-heavy star power, relying instead on team identity.
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They stay locked in, respond to pressure, and bounce back from mistakes. Chemistry also matters. The 2016 Cavaliers’ comeback from a 3-1 Finals deficit showed how cohesion and belief can override odds.
The 2025 Indiana Pacers fit the mold
Entering the season with +6600 title odds, climbing to +8000 by April, they had less than a 1% championship probability. Analysts picked them to exit in the second round. At the end of 2024, they were under .500, per reports. Yet they reached the NBA Finals, ending a 25-year drought, and thrived in chaos.
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They won four playoff games with under 5% win probability in the final minutes. They erased five double-digit deficits. Pascal Siakam said being overlooked suited them. Tyrese Haliburton said they wanted to beat the best, according to NBC Sports.
Game 1 of the Finals followed the script: a comeback win. Game 2, the Thunder built a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and held on. In Game 3, the Pacers took control at home, winning 116-107, Indiana’s first Finals home game in over 20 years. The Thunder evened the series in Game 4 with a 111-104 win.
Game 5 will be in Oklahoma City on Monday. The Thunder remain slight favorites, but the Pacers have two chances to finish what would be the most improbable title run in NBA history.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
