I still remember that buzzer-beater in 2019 like it was yesterday - Kawhi Leonard's shot bouncing four times on the rim before dropping through the net against Philadelphia. That moment perfectly captures what makes the NBA playoffs so magical, and it's exactly why I wanted to take this journey through the past decade of champions. Having followed basketball religiously since my college days, I've developed this tradition of rewatching championship highlights every offseason, and let me tell you, these past ten years have given us some absolutely incredible basketball stories.
The Golden State Warriors really defined this era, didn't they? I mean, winning four championships between 2015 and 2022 is just ridiculous when you think about it. Their 2015 team felt like this fresh, exciting group that changed how basketball was played - all that ball movement and three-point shooting was just beautiful to watch. But honestly, their 2017 squad might have been the most dominant team I've ever seen. With Kevin Durant joining that core, they went 16-1 in the playoffs, which is just absurd. I remember arguing with friends about whether any team in history could beat them in a seven-game series.
Then there were the teams that fought through real adversity. The 2016 Cavaliers coming back from 3-1 down against a Warriors team that had just won 73 games? Still gives me chills. LeBron's block and Kyrie's three-pointer in Game 7 - those moments become instant legends. The 2019 Raptors were another team that just captured everyone's imagination. Kawhi was playing like a man possessed throughout those playoffs, and that team had such incredible chemistry. I'll never forget watching their parade celebrations - an entire country celebrating their first NBA championship.
What's fascinating to me is how different these championship teams were constructed. The Lakers' 2020 bubble championship was such a strange but remarkable achievement. Playing in isolation, without fans, dealing with all the mental challenges - that team showed incredible resilience. Then you have the 2021 Bucks, who built through the draft and patient development. Watching Giannis score 50 points in the closeout game against Phoenix was one of the most dominant individual performances I've ever witnessed in a finals game.
The recent back-to-back championships by the Denver Nuggets in 2022 and 2023 really showcase the beauty of organic team building. They drafted Nikola Jokic in the second round, for goodness sake! Their 2023 championship run was particularly impressive because they just looked so methodical and unstoppable. I remember watching them dismantle opponents with this beautiful, pass-heavy offense that felt like a throwback to earlier eras of basketball.
Looking at all these champions, what strikes me is that there's no single blueprint for success. You have superteams like the Warriors, homegrown squads like the Bucks and Nuggets, and everything in between. But they all shared this incredible mental toughness when it mattered most. The playoff intensity is just different - every possession feels magnified, every decision scrutinized. These champions all had that special ability to elevate their games when the lights were brightest.
As someone who's probably watched too much basketball over the years, I've come to appreciate how each championship tells its own unique story. The 2022 Warriors returning to glory after people had written them off, the 2023 Nuggets proving that small-market teams can win it all - these narratives make the NBA so compelling year after year. What I love most about following these championship journeys is seeing how different teams solve the same puzzle of winning 16 playoff games. Each champion leaves its own distinctive mark on the game, and honestly, I can't wait to see what the next decade of champions will bring to this incredible sport we all love.