There are a lot of factors that go into winning an NBA championship. In basketball, the need for a superstar or superstars to build around is a must. Likewise, surrounding those franchise cornerstones with the right role players is key to building a championship contender. Moreover, having the right coach with the right system in place is a vital formula for success. All of these is something that the organization can control by selecting the right personnel.
However, there are still things that are out of their control. Injuries can happen and may derail a title hopeful's chances to reach the mountaintop. On the one hand, Lady Luck can come down smiling and grant these teams the jackpot and change their fortunes forever. Some teams have had the luck of the draw, whether in the draft lottery, or finding a rather easier path on their way to the crown.
Here are the five luckiest teams in NBA history:
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have never won a championship in their history as a franchise. But with their current roster, they are very well positioned to become a force in this league in the near future.
When franchise superstar Anthony Davis made his trade demand in late January 2018, many believed that a gloomy period would once again surround New Orleans. Just as about the dark clouds were about to hover over the franchise, it didn't take long for the luck of the draw to reverse their fortunes. With just a six-percent chance to win the 2019 draft lottery, the Pelicans leapt six spots from No. 7 to land the first overall pick in 2019.
What did that mean? That meant that they won the Zion Williamson sweepstakes.
Williamson was the most highly-anticipated prospect since LeBron James, so you just know how much of a franchise-changer he is. Though he started the season on the sidelines, Williamson proved when he made his debut on January 22 that he is the real deal.
Williamson suited up for 19 games prior to the 2019-20 season's suspension. The Pelicans placed him on a minutes restriction, but that did not stop him from producing elite numbers on outstanding efficiency — 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while shooting 58.9 percent from the field.
Of course, the Pelicans still traded Davis for two promising former second overall picks in Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, along with Josh Hart and multiple draft picks. With an exciting young core of Zion, Lonzo, and BI leading the way, things are looking brighter than ever for the franchise.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell into the abyss when LeBron James left them in 2010 and made his way to play with his buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. With The King no longer in town, Cleveland became the worst team in the league.
They earned the first overall pick in 2011, which they used to select Duke star Kyrie Irving. With a 15.6 percent chance to land the No. 1 pick in 2013, the Cavs managed to nab the top spot again. They ultimately flubbed on this pick when they shockingly selected Anthony Bennett with the first pick.
In 2014, they struck gold once again, nabbing the first overall selection for the third time in four years. They managed to land the No. 1 pick despite having a 1.7-percent chance to do so. Cleveland selected Kansas star Andrew Wiggins.
LeBron James made his triumphant return to the franchise in the summer of 2014. Irving turned into a promising young star to pair with James. With their luck of the draw through the draft over the past years, Cleveland managed to land a third star in Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, packaging their previous two top overall picks in Bennett and Wiggins.
The trio of James, Irving, and Love made the Cavaliers a legitimate championship squad. Luck wasn't on their side when they lost the 2015 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors due to injuries sustained by Irving and Love. However, Lady Luck finally found them in 2016 in their rematch against the 73-win Warriors.
Many analysts believe that Warriors do-it-all All-Star forward Draymond Green's untimely suspension in Game 5 ultimately opened the door for the Cavaliers, who trailed 3-1 at the time, to mount their comeback. Those experts suggest that if Green played in Game 5, Golden State would have closed out the series on their home floor. And Cleveland would not have won their first title in franchise history. Luckily for them, Green's flagrant foul came at the right time. And this ultimately swung the momentum towards their direction.
Golden State Warriors
Many basketball fans consider the Golden State Warriors of the previous decade as one of the luckiest champions in NBA history.
The Warriors won three championships in five Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019. While this shouldn't discredit their dominance as a team through that era, in each of their title runs, they were fortunate enough to face teams which were not at full strength on their way to the championship.
In 2015, when they were just emerging as a legitimate title team, they faced a depleted New Orleans Pelicans squad in the first round and topped a Memphis Grizzlies team with a hobbled Mike Conley in the Western Conference semis. And in the NBA Finals, they defeated a Cleveland Cavaliers team that didn't have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
In 2017, the infamous Zaza Pachulia-Kawhi Leonard injury happened in the Western Conference Finals.
In 2018, they faced the Houston Rockets, who finished with the best record in the NBA, in the Western Conference Finals. It certainly seemed like the Rockets had them right where they wanted them when they went up 3-2. However, right before Game 5 ended, Chris Paul injured his hamstring and was subsequently ruled out of the series.
Paul's absence proved to be the difference as Golden State won Games 6 and 7, both of which were come from behind efforts. Particularly in Game 7, the Rockets missed 27 straight triples and this ultimately led to their downfall in the series decider, despite playing at home.
No doubt, that era in Golden State is definitely one of the greatest teams in NBA history. But along with their greatness comes a great deal of luck as well.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors finally won their first championship in NBA history last season. While there certainly shouldn't be an asterisk for their championship win, Toronto also benefited from a huge amount of luck to lift the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2019.
While they did have a franchise superstar in place with Kawhi Leonard, along with a solid supporting cast of veterans and an incredible coach in Nick Nurse, they certainly found luck on their way to the crown.
Of course, everyone would remember about Kawhi Leonard's shot heard around the world. In Game 7 of their second round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Leonard won the series on arguably the luckiest game winner in NBA playoff history. Kawhi's shot bounced four times around the rim before falling into the hoop to win the series for the Raptors.
After a convincing victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Toronto faced a depleted Golden State Warriors squad in the NBA Finals. DeMarcus Cousins and Kevon Looney were playing hobbled. Klay Thompson suffered a hamstring strain in Game 2 and missed Game 3.
With the Warriors facing elimination in Game 5, Kevin Durant attempted to return from a calf strain that he sustained in the Rockets series to try to salvage their season. The Warriors were playing well with Durant. Unfortunately for them, Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles that ruled him out for the rest of the series. The Warriors managed to gut out a Game 5 win to force a Game 6 in Golden State.
The Warriors were rolling and Thompson was having a classic Game 6 Klay. Unfortunately, the injury gods struck once again on Golden State when Thompson suffered a devastating torn ACL while attempting a fastbreak dunk. That proved to be the final straw as the Raptors closed out the series and won their first NBA title in six games.
The Raptors certainly deserved their championship win last season, but a few things certainly went their way to make it happen.
Chicago Bulls
Through their first two decades as a franchise, the Chicago Bulls never established relevance in the NBA. That all changed in the summer of 1984 when a certain Michael Jeffrey Jordan fell onto their laps with the third overall pick in the 1984 draft.
Hakeem Olajuwon was slated to go No. 1 and went to the Houston Rockets. Many believed Jordan would go second to the Portland Trail Blazers. However, luckily for the Bulls, the Blazers opted to draft based on positional need. They had already selected Clyde Drexler the prior year and he played the same position as Jordan. So, they took a center in Sam Bowie instead at second.
This gave the Bulls the prime opportunity to change their fortunes forever by picking the standout from North Carolina. And did it ever.
Of course, we know the story. Jordan eventually became the unanimous greatest player of all time. His “Airness” turned the Bulls into one of the best teams in NBA history and led them to six NBA championships. A lot of things certainly contributed to Chicago's dominant run through the 1990's, which includes trading up in the 1988 draft to acquire Scottie Pippen.
Still, having the foundational piece in Michael Jordan is the most important thing. Without him, the Bulls would have never gained relevance in the NBA. Likewise, if the Blazers had the mindset of drafting the best player available at the time, none of the heights they experienced as a franchise never would have happened.
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