NBA Championships Achieved with Fewest Lottery Picks, Including Bucks, Raptors, Spurs

NBA championship teams often feature numerous lottery picks, though some franchises build title winners with few lottery selections, exemplified by the Denver Nuggets' 2023 championship led by second-round pick Nikola Jokic. The San Antonio Spurs' 2007 and 2003 titles also highlight success with minimal lottery picks, relying on stars like Tim Duncan and international players Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Conversely, teams like the early 2000s Los Angeles Lakers and the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers leaned heavily on multiple lottery picks to secure championships. The New York Knicks, under new coach Mike Brown, are viewed as Eastern Conference contenders but remain behind favorites like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, with a realistic shot at the NBA Finals if they maximize their potential. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff struggles, particularly James Harden's underwhelming Game 7 performance against the Nuggets, have led some analysts to doubt their status as California's top team. Overall, the landscape of NBA title contenders is shaped by a mix of draft strategies, key player performances, and coaching changes.