Yahoo Sports NBA contributor Tom Haberstroh takes a look at his latest ‘Big Number’ and how a run of recent NBA champions have quickly fallen out of the playoff picture just a couple of seasons after taking home the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Video Transcript
I’m Tom Haverstraw and you’re watching the big number.
Today’s big number is two as in the two year champion curse.
Here’s what’s crazy.
The last five NBA champions have fallen out of title contention within two years and the Denver Nuggets are threatening to become yet another victim of the twoyear curse.
So 2018 Warriors, 2020 miss the playoffs.
2019 Raptors, 2021 miss the playoffs.
2020 late 2022 missed the playoffs.
2021 bucks in 2023 1st round L to the Miami Heat and in 2022 Golden State Warriors won the championship and two years later, they missed the playoffs.
Of course, we’ll see what happens with the 2023 Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets definitely took a step back this off season losing Contus Caldwell Pope to the Orlando Magic when he signed a three year $66 million contract with another team and they replaced him with Dario Saric.
The Nuggets failed to make the conference finals this past year and basically punted on free agency.
Things are trending in the wrong direction for the last five NBA champions missed the playoffs entirely.
In the second year following the title and in a loaded Western conference, the Denver Nuggets could be next in line if history serves, just look at that crazy championship curse of two.
I’m Tom Haberstroh and that’s the big number.