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NBA

Sixth new NBA champion in six years guaranteed: has this ever happened before?

With the Raptors, Lakers, Bucks, Warriors, and Nuggets all out of contention, a new National Basketball Association team is guaranteed to win this year.

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by C. Morgan Engel / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
C. MORGAN ENGELAFP

Minnesota upset the defending champion Denver 98-90 in their Western Conference semifinal series, guaranteeing that the NBA will have a new champion for the sixth consecutive season. Despite being 20 points behind at the end of the first half, the Wolves, who had the best regular-season defense in the league, intensified their defensive efforts in the second half.

They limited the Nuggets to 37 points in the final two quarters and outscored Denver 60-32 after falling behind 58-38 in the third.

The Timberwolves are in the conference finals for the first time since 2004 and will play the Dallas Mavericks, beginning with Game 1 Wednesday in Minneapolis. This also means that we will have a new NBA champion for the sixth year in a row, and that hints at the balance right now in the NBA among the teams and confirms the nonexistence of a true dynasty in these years.

Any conversion that starts on this subject will end up talking about genuine perennial contenders in a way. The greatest beneficiaries are the fans and the basketball enthusiasts because year after year, they can enjoy quality basketball, and we could witness that in the previous series of this year’s NBA Playoffs.

Did it happen before?

The six-year period between a championship winner repeat happened in the 1970s; see 1975-1980′s champions. But if this trend continues into next season, it will set a new record since both the ‘74 and ‘81 winners were the Celtics, who also won in ‘76.

  • 1975 Philadelphia Warriors
  • 1976 Boston Celtics
  • 1977 Portland Trail Blazers
  • 1978 Washington Bullets
  • 1979 Seeattle SuperSonics
  • 1980 Los Angeles Lakers