Cursed? Since 2019, every team that eliminated the defending champion has failed to win the championship

According to an article written by F/W reporter Vishvisha Kumar. In the beginning of feeling more like a weird NBA hexagon than coincidence, the “Defensive Champion Curse” continues to haunt the team that overturned the previous year’s championship. This playoff, the New York Knicks became the latest victim, eliminating defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2025 playoffs, but losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. For the sixth straight season, the team that eliminated the defending champion failed to win the championship.

It all started in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics eliminated defending champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals. At the time, the Raptors were still riding the wind and waves at the historic climax of 2019, but lacked Kawhi Leonard. Boston blocked them in seven games but couldn't keep the momentum going. They lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and missed the chance to win the championship.

The following year, the Phoenix Suns looked ready to end the drought. In the 2021 playoffs, the Phoenix eliminated the injury-ridden defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. As both LeBron James and Anthony Davis deal with health issues, the Suns took advantage of it and soared all the way to the Finals. However, just when the curse seemed to be about to break, they lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

and then 2022. This time, Boston is back. The Celtics struggled to beat defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in a seven-game series in the second round. Led by Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they advanced all the way to the NBA Finals. However, their championship dream was crushed by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, who beat them in six games.

In 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers also became a believer in the curse. After defeating the Golden State Warriors in the second round six games, many believe LeBron and Anthony Davis have won the championship again among them. But the Denver Nuggets swept them in the Western Conference Finals under the excellent leadership of Nikola Jokic. Once again, the team that eliminated the championship returned empty-handed.

In 2024, the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Denver Nuggets dominance in seven games. Anthony Edwards leads a gritty, defensive team, and the Wolves look like a destined team. But they met Luca Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the league finals and fell in five games.

And now, in 2025, the Knicks beat the Celtics in six games in the second round, ending with Jaylen Brunson’s heroic series, leaving fans dreaming of a return in the Finals. However, like the previous five teams, they ran out of gas and lost to the Pacers in six games.

So who is the last team to eliminate the defending champion and win the championship? 2019 Toronto Raptors. They beat the Warriors in the finals and raised the championship trophy 4-2. Since then, every team that overturned the previous year's championship has failed. Whether it is fatigue, stress or fate, the "Defensive Champion Curse" is very real and has been around for six consecutive years.