The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the 2024-25 NBA Championship on Sunday night, marking a historic milestone as the franchise’s first title. However, in a twist that has sparked lively debate, many observers feel this championship should carry an asterisk due to significant circumstances that unfolded during the playoff run.
The Thunder’s triumph places them in the company of a select few champions whose titles warrant additional scrutiny. Let’s take a stroll through the annals of NBA history and highlight those championships that some fans might argue deserve that asterisk next to their names, often due to a convergence of luck, injuries, or other factors that skewed the outcomes.
2025 NBA Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder*
Asterisk Reason: The narrative took a painful turn when Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles during Game 7, just as the game was poised at 16-16. His absence was felt deeply as Indiana fell by a margin of 12 points. Furthermore, Aaron Gordon played through a significant hamstring injury, and Ja Morant suffered a setback in Game 3. Was it destiny or luck that paved the Thunder’s path?
2024 NBA Champions: Boston Celtics*
Asterisk Reason: This title came amid a series of unfortunate injuries for opponents, including a knee injury sidelining the formidable Jimmy Butler in the first round. The Cleveland Cavaliers were also at a disadvantage, with All-Star center Jarrett Allen missing the entire series and Donovan Mitchell hampered, ultimately raising questions about the fairness of the Celtics’ road to victory.
2023 NBA Champions: Denver Nuggets*
Asterisk Reason: The Nuggets found themselves facing a Play-In team in the NBA Finals, essentially paving a much easier road to the championship.
2022 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors*
Asterisk Reason: The title came under dubious circumstances, as the Warriors faced teams without their stars. The absence of Jamal Murray in the first round and a pivotal injury to Ja Morant weakened the competition considerably.
2021 NBA Champions: Milwaukee Bucks*
Asterisk Reason: In a curious twist, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, Thanasis, supposedly had a remarkable recovery from COVID protocols, stabilizing the Bucks’ defense while their opponents faced their difficulties, showcasing what some might call fortuitous timing.
2020 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers*
Asterisk Reason: The shadows of controversy loom over this title, given the injuries that hampered other contenders, leading to a somewhat diluted competition.
2019 NBA Champions: Toronto Raptors*
Asterisk Reason: The Raptors’ victory was marred by significant injuries to star players on the Warriors’ roster, including Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson during critical playoff games.
2018 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors*
Asterisk Reason: A series filled with questionable calls and injuries, including Chris Paul’s hamstring woes and the infamous audit of missed calls in the Western Conference Finals, left a bitter taste in the mouths of many.
2017 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors*
Asterisk Reason: This season saw Kevin Durant join a powerhouse already at the top of their game—an alliance that raised eyebrows across the league. Moreover, Kawhi Leonard’s injury early in the playoffs added to the narrative of a championship marked by questionable circumstances.
Continuing down this list, you’ll see names like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics repeated as champions whose titles have often faced scrutiny not necessarily due to their skill, but rather the series of unfortunate events affecting their opponents.
Each case presents its own tale, with champions benefiting from circumstances that, when looked at under a microscope, could raise questions of legitimacy. For every title celebrated with parades and trophies, there’s a narrative that serves as a reminder of how thin the line can be between victory and controversy.
In the grand tapestry of basketball history, the debate over these asterisks adds an additional layer, reminding fans that even in winning, questions of fairness and luck can haunt a franchise’s legacy. So, as the Thunder bask in their celebrated moment, it’s worth pondering how history might frame this championship in the years to come. What does it mean to capture a title, and at what cost? Those are the questions that linger, long after the final buzzer sounds.
