Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman): "I don't deserve this! To die like this!"
Will Munny (Clint Eastwood): "Deserve's got nothing to do with it!"
-- Unforgiven, 1992, directed by Eastwood
As I occasionally (but not annually) do, I am ranking Playoff teams by how much they, and their fanbases, deserve to win a World Championship. This time, the NBA:
20. Oklahoma City Thunder, West 1st seed.
May Deserve Because: They've proven themselves to be worthy champions. And their fans have proven themselves worthy of a great team, which was not obvious when the team arrived in 2008.
May Not Deserve Because: They just won the title last year. They don't need another. Ownership sure doesn't deserve it: These are the guys who moved the Seattle SuperSonics, and they're now trying to build a new arena -- to replace the new arena they already have! What gives? Also, it's a conservative city, in a very red State. They don't deserve another title!
19. Miami Heat, East 10th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Honestly, I can't think of a good reason, unless you mean finally throwing off 27 years of conservative Mayors last year. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are interesting players, but not especially deserving. South Florida has a lot of ex-New Yorkers and ex-New Jerseyans, but, by itself, that doesn't help much.
May Not Deserve Because: One of America's most conservative cities, in one of America's most conservative States. They've won the title as recently as 2013, and been in the Finals as recently as 2023. There's no "guy to root for." And there's a reason those ex-New Yorkers and ex-New Jerseyans moved there: Because they wanted to get away from the multicultural society that their area has become.
18. Boston Celtics, East 2nd seed.
May Deserve Because: Boston is a liberal city, in a liberal State. And... that's about it.
May Not Deserve Because: The Celtics won the title as recently as 2024, and they've won more than any other team. They don't need another. And it's not like they have a great player who wasn't a part of that 2024 team, and hasn't won one.
17. Los Angeles Lakers, West 4th seed.
May Deserve Because: Los Angeles is a liberal city, in a Blue State. And that's about it.
May Not Deserve Because: They last won in 2020. How many more do they need? LeBron James certainly doesn't deserve another title.
16. San Antonio Spurs, West 2nd seed.
May Deserve Because: Victor Wembanyana is a special player.
May Not Deserve Because: They're in Texas. They last won in 2014, not that long ago. And Wembayana is only 22. He will, most likely, have many more chances. To put that in perspective: When they won their 1st NBA titles, LeBron James was 27, Michael Jordan was 28, Wilt Chamberlain was 30, Oscar Robertson was 32, Julius Erving was 33, and Jerry West was 34.
15. Golden State Warriors, West 10th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: San Francisco is regarded as the liberal city, and California as the Blue State. Steve Kerr is rightly one of the most admired men in the NBA, maybe the most admired, now that Gregg Popovich has retired from coaching. Steph Curry is beloved. He and some of the Warriors have won titles, but his brother Seth Curry and Jimmy Butler have not. But Butler won't win one this time, as he is unavailable due to a season-ending injury.
May Not Deserve Because: The Dubs have dominated the West, winning it 6 of the last 11 seasons, including 4 NBA Championships. They don't need another. I wouldn't mind if they did, especially if they beat a Red State team in the Finals. But they don't need it.
14. Denver Nuggets, West 3rd seed.
May Deserve Because: Denver is a liberal city, in a Blue State. Nikola Jokić is probably the best player in the world this season.
May Not Deserve Because: They won in 2023, which is very recent. Nobody on the team needs a title all that badly.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers, East 4th seed.
May Deserve Because: Cleveland is a liberal city. And the city has won only 1 World Championship since 1964, so they deserve it. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are legends who probably deserve to win a title.
May Not Deserve Because: Cleveland's status as a liberal city, but it hasn't been able to turn Ohio away from being a Red State. Harden is a jerk. And that 1 title was the Cavs, only in 2016.
12. Houston Rockets, West 5th seed.
May Deserve Because: Houston is a liberal city. The Rockets haven't won a title, or even been to the Finals, since 1995.
May Not Deserve Because: Houston is still in Texas, among the reddest of the Red States. As a city, it last won a title in 2022, with the Astros *. And their biggest star is Kevin Durant, not exactly a player who needs another title.
11. Toronto Raptors, East 5th seed.
May Deserve Because: Toronto is a liberal city, in a liberal country. Brandon Ingram deserves a title.
May Not Deserve Because: The Raptors only won in 2019.
10. Orlando Magic, East 8th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Orlando has never won a Championship, in any sport, unless you count the Orlando Pride winning the National Women's Soccer League title in 2024.
May Not Deserve Because: Florida is a Red State. And the Magic have no "He really deserves it" guy.
9. Atlanta Hawks, East 6th seed.
May Deserve Because: Atlanta is a liberal city. The Hawks haven't won a title since 1958, when they were in St. Louis. Indeed, since coming to Atlanta in 1970, they've only made the Conference Finals twice, in 2015 and 2021.
May Not Deserve Because: Georgia is still a Red State. Atlanta has proven itself to be a rotten sports city. While the Hawks haven't won a title, the city last won one only in 2021, with the Braves. And there's no especially-deserving player.
8. Phoenix Suns, West 7th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: The Suns have never won a title in 55 seasons, going 0-3 in the Finals. The only title for an Arizona-based team is the 2001 Diamondbacks *. Devin Booker deserves a title. And the Phoenix area is full of ex-Chicago people.
May Not Deserve Because: One of America's most conservative cities, and it's in what's usually still a Red State.
7. Charlotte Hornets, East 9th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Charlotte is a blue city that, on occasion, has made North Carolina a Blue State. While Raleigh won a Stanley Cup in 2006, Charlotte has never won a title, with the Hornets never having reached the Conference Finals, and the Carolina Panthers having gone 0-2 in Super Bowls.
May Not Deserve Because: North Carolina is still a blue State, and there's no "guy to root for."
6. Detroit Pistons, East 1st seed.
May Deserve Because: Detroit is a liberal city, usually turning Michigan to be a Blue State. The city hasn't had a title since the 2008 Red Wings, and the Pistons haven't won since 2004 or been in the Finals since 2005. Just 2 seasons ago, they completed a run of season with only 20, 23, 17 and 14 wins, including a 28-game losing streak, tied for the longest losing streak in NBA, and major league sports, history. Their comeback under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff (son of former NBA coach Bernie) and general manager Trajan Langdon (former Duke star) has been remarkable.
May Not Deserve Because: The only reason I can think of is that they don't have a standout "He deserves it" guy. Cade Cunningham might be on his way, but he's not a legend yet. And 2004 wasn't that long ago.
5. Philadelphia 76ers, East 7th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Philadelphia is a great city. It's a liberal city. Pennsylvania is a Blue State. It's been 43 years since they last won it all. It would make a few people I know happy, since I only live only 64 miles away. Joel Embiid deserves a title.
May Not Deserve Because: Their fans have been known to be a bit rough. And Kyle Lowry already has a title, with the 2019 Toronto Raptors.
4. Los Angeles Clippers, West 9th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Los Angeles is a liberal city, in a Blue State. The Clippers are not the lordly Lakers: The franchise has been playing for 56 years, as the Buffalo Braves from 1970 to 1978, the San Diego Clippers from then until 1984, and the Los Angeles Clippers since. Their fans have suffered, especially in comparison to Laker fans. Bradley Beal deserves a title, but he is injured an unavailable. And they are no longer owned by the racist real-estate developer Donald Sterling. They are owned by Steve Ballmer, one of the more sympathetic super-rich guys.
May Not Deserve Because: Head coach Tyronn Lue has already won a title, with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. So has Brook Lopez, with the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks. Other than that, no big reason.
3. Portland Trail Blazers, West 8th seed, play-in team.
May Deserve Because: Portland is a liberal city, and it keeps Oregon a Blue State. It's been 48 years since they last won it all, although the Portland Thorns won the NWSL title in 2022. Damian Lillard deserves a title, but has been injured all season.
May Not Deserve Because: Can't think of a good reason, although one of the current Blazers, Jrue Holiday, already has 2 titles, with the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks and the 2024 Boston Celtics. So he doesn't need another. It would help his Hall of Fame candidacy, but it wouldn't assure his election.
2. New York Knicks, East 3rd seed.
May Deserve Because: New York is the greatest city in the world, a liberal city in a Blue State. But unless you want to count the WNBA or soccer teams, it hasn't won a World Championship in any sport since the Giants in 2012. The Knicks haven't won one since 1973 -- 53 years. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Brunson and OG Anuoby are good guys who deserve a title. It's time.
May Not Deserve Because: Knick fans already think they know more about basketball than anybody. They might become insufferable if their team actually wins another title. And does James Dolan actually deserve a title? No.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves, West 6th seed.
May Deserve Because: Minneapolis is a liberal city, in a Blue State, and has suffered this calendar year. The City and the State have not won a title in any sport since the 1991 Twins. The T-Wolves have played since 1989, and while they've been to the Conference Finals in each of the last 2 seasons before this one, the city hasn't been to the NBA Finals since the 1954 Minneapolis Lakers. And if we're going by who's played a long time to earn a title, the T-Wolves have the most guys: Mike Conley Jr., Rudy Gobert, Kyle Anderson and Julius Randle.
May Not Deserve Because: I can't think of a good reason, unless you boycott Minneapolis-based Target, which has its name on both the T-Wolves' arena and the Twins' ballpark.
So there you have it: The Minnesota Timberwolves deserve to win the 2026 NBA Championship, more than any other team.
2 comments:
NC is a blue state?
I said, "on occasion," but it turns out that even that was a stretch: Obama won it in 2008 with 49.7 percent, and that's the only Democratic win since Carter in 1976. Bill Clinton almost won it with 42.6 in the 3-way race of 1992, Obama lost it with 48.3 in 2012, Hillary got 46.1, Biden 48.6, Kamala 47.6. Aside from the economic emergency of '08 and Carter the Southerner in '76, the Democrats haven't won it since the Southern switch.
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