Last Year NBA Champions: A Complete Breakdown of Their Championship Journey

Looking back at last year's NBA championship run, I still get chills thinking about how that team defied expectations at every turn. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've seen championship teams come and go, but this particular squad had something special - that undeniable chemistry that transforms good teams into legendary ones. What struck me most was how they handled pressure situations, especially when you consider that moment early in the playoffs when their lead ballooned to as much as eight points and had opponents searching for answers. I remember watching that game thinking, "This is where champions separate themselves from contenders."

The journey began long before the playoffs, of course. Throughout the regular season, they maintained a consistent 58-24 record, which honestly surprised many analysts who'd predicted they'd finish around fourth in their conference. I'd been skeptical myself during the preseason, particularly about their bench depth, but boy was I wrong. Their second unit ended up being one of their greatest strengths, outscoring opponents' benches by an average of 12.3 points throughout the postseason. What impressed me wasn't just the statistics but how seamlessly their role players adapted to different situations. During that critical Game 3 in the second round, when their star player was struggling with foul trouble, the bench stepped up in ways I haven't seen since the 2014 Spurs championship team.

Speaking of that eight-point lead moment - it became the defining turning point of their entire playoff run. I've rewatched that quarter probably a dozen times, and each time I notice something new about their defensive adjustments. The coaching staff made this brilliant decision to switch to a zone defense that completely disrupted the opponent's rhythm. The other team's coach was visibly frustrated, calling two timeouts within three minutes, but nothing seemed to work. Their point guard, who I've always believed is criminally underrated, recorded three steals during that stretch alone. Statistics show they forced five turnovers in just under four minutes, converting every single one into points. That's championship-level execution that you just can't teach.

What many casual fans might not appreciate is how much their championship was built on defensive fundamentals rather than flashy offense. They held opponents to just 103.2 points per game in the playoffs, which is remarkable in today's high-scoring era. I've always been a defense-first kind of basketball fan, so watching them rotate seamlessly on defense was pure poetry. Their communication on switches was so crisp you'd think they had telepathy. During the conference finals, they limited the league's highest-scoring team to their lowest playoff output in three years - just 98 points in the closeout game. That's not just good defense, that's historic.

The finals series itself was a masterpiece of strategic adjustments. I've never seen a team adapt so quickly between games. After losing Game 1 by 12 points, they completely overhauled their offensive sets and came back to win Game 2 in convincing fashion. Their star player, who I'll admit I had doubts about in clutch situations earlier in his career, averaged 34.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in the finals - numbers that put him in conversation with all-time great performances. What made it more impressive was his efficiency - shooting 51% from the field and 42% from three-point range against one of the league's best defensive teams.

Their championship-clinching game was one for the ages. I'll never forget that final possession where they secured the rebound with 12 seconds left, up by three points. The arena was deafening, but their players moved with this incredible calmness that only comes from absolute belief in each other. When the buzzer sounded, you could see the pure emotion on their faces - the culmination of an 98-game journey that began with training camp nine months earlier. They finished the playoffs with a 16-6 record, which doesn't fully capture how dominant they were in crucial moments.

Reflecting on their championship run, what stands out to me isn't just the trophy or the parade, but how they represented the best of team basketball. In an era where player movement and superteams dominate conversations, they proved that continuity, culture, and collective buy-in still matter. Their core had been together for three seasons, growing through playoff disappointments before finally breaking through. As a basketball traditionalist, that narrative resonates deeply with me. They didn't take shortcuts or make dramatic roster changes - they trusted their process and each other. That eight-point lead moment early in their journey wasn't just a statistical anomaly; it was the first glimpse of their championship DNA. And honestly, watching that unfold reminded me why I fell in love with this game in the first place.