Unlikely Teams Rise: A New Trend in NBA Finals Performance Over the Last Five Years

North American journalist and NBA expert analyst **Lev Akabas** has shared a chart that highlights a remarkable trend in NBA Finals over the last five years.

Photo: Sportico

In recent seasons, teams that were not considered favorites at the start of the season have increasingly reached the Finals. From 2020 to 2025, clubs ranked below 10th in the preseason championship contender list made it to the final stage, a stark contrast to only three instances of this occurring between 1985 and 2019.

As of now, the series score in the Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers stands at 3-2 in favor of Oklahoma. The sixth game is scheduled for the night of June 20.