Should've Been Winners (NBA Finals)



The NBA Finals are played every year, and every year there is a winner.  The right team doesn't always win though.  No, sometimes the universe makes a mistake and the wrong team wins.  But how do we know who these "Misplaced Winners" are?  

Well, this blog circles around one thing, and that's the Iowa Connection.  So, obviously every NBA Champion should have at least one Iowa Connection, but not every one does.  Either I've missed the connection (possible!), or the universe messed up.  Thanos snapped his fingers and the Warriors won.  So lets look at those Iowa-less NBA Champions and see who it should have been.

If this universe happened, here number of titles these Iowa Connections would have gained:

  • 9 - Don Nelson
  • 4 - Kyle Korver
  • 2 - Harrison Barnes
  • 2 - Kelvin Cato
  • 2 - Jeff Hornacek
  • 2 - B.J. Armstrong
  • 2 - Jimmy Rodgers
  • 2 - John Johnson
  • 2 - Fred Brown
  • 2 - Willie McCarter
  • 1 - Justin Hamilton
  • 1 - Nick Collison
  • 1 - Will Blalock
  • 1 - Paul Shirley
  • 1 - Jamal Tinsley
  • 1 - Matt Bullard
  • 1 - Terry Stotts
  • 1 - Steve Alford
  • 1 - Bill Fitch
  • 1 - Kevin Kunnart
  • 1 - Dave Gunther
  • 1 - Stacey Arceneaux

Note : I only go back to 1962.  1961 was the first year I could not find an Iowa Connection in the NBA.  Of the 58 NBA Championships covered here, 39 have been Iowa-less. (Maybe less, I'm always finding connections)


2018/2017

Wrong Winner : Golden State Warriors

Correct Winner : Cleveland Cavaliers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kyle Korver, Pella

2016

Wrong Winner : Cleveland Cavaliers

Correct Winner : Golden State Warriors

Iowan who should've been champs :


2014

Wrong Winner : San Antonio Spurs

Correct Winner : Miami Heat

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Justin Hamilton, ISU

2013

Wrong Winner : Miami Heat

Correct Winner : Golden State Warriors

Iowan who should've been champs :


2012

Wrong Winner : Miami Heat

Correct Winner : Oklahoma City Thunder

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Nick Collison, Orange City

2010

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Utah Jazz

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kyle Korver, Pella

2009

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Denver Nuggets

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • George Karl, Iowa

2008

Wrong Winner : Boston Celtics

Correct Winner : Utah Jazz

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kyle Korver, Orange City

2007

Wrong Winner : San Antonio

Correct Winner : Detroit Pistons

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Will Blalock, ISU

2006

Wrong Winner : Miami Heat

Correct Winner : Detroit Pistons

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kelvin Cato, ISU

2005

Wrong Winner : San Antonio

Correct Winner : Phoenix Suns

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Paul Shirley, ISU

2004

Wrong Winner : Detroit Pistons

Correct Winner : Indiana Pacers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Jamal Tinsley, ISU

2003

Wrong Winner : San Antonio

Correct Winner : Dallas Mavericks

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

2002

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Charlotte Hornets

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Matt Bullard, Iowa

2001

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Milwaukee Bucks

Iowans who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa
  • Terry Stotts, Cedar Falls

2000

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Utah Jazz

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Jeff Hornacek, ISU

1999

Wrong Winner : San Antonio Spurs

Correct Winner : Portland Trailblazers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kelvin Cato, ISU

1995

Wrong Winner : Houston Rockets

Correct Winner : Chicago Bulls

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • B.J. Armstrong, Iowa

1990

Wrong Winner : Detroit Pistons

Correct Winner : Chicago Bulls

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • B.J. Armstrong, Iowa

1989

Wrong Winner : Detroit Pistons

Correct Winner : Phoenix Suns

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Jeff Hornacek, ISU

1988

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Dallas Mavericks

Iowan who should've been champs :


1987

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowan who should've been champs :


1983

Wrong Winner : Philadelphia 76ers

Correct Winner : Milwaukee Bucks

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1982

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowans who should've been champs :


1980

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Seattle Supersonics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • John Johnson, Iowa
  • Fred Brown, Iowa

1978

Wrong Winner : Washington Bullets

Correct Winner : Seattle Supersonics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • John Johnson, Iowa
  • Fred Brown, Iowa

1977

Wrong Winner : Portland Trailblazers

Correct Winner : Houston Rockets

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Kevin Kunnart, Iowa

1975

Wrong Winner : Golden State Warriors

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1973

Wrong Winner : New York Knicks

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1972

Wrong Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1971

Wrong Winner : Milwaukee Bucks

Correct Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Willie McCarter, Drake

1970

Wrong Winner : New York Knicks

Correct Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Willie McCarter, Drake

1967

Wrong Winner : Philadelphia 76ers

Correct Winner : Boston Celtics

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1965/1964

Wrong Winner : Boston Celtics

Correct Winner : Los Angeles Lakers

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Don Nelson, Iowa

1963

Wrong Winner : Boston Celtics

Correct Winner : San Francisco Warriors

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Dave Gunther, Iowa

1962

Wrong Winner : Boston Celtics

Correct Winner : St. Louis Hawks

Iowan who should've been champs :

  • Stacey Arceneaux, ISU


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