What if?

What if Golden State Warriors had won?

Real result: Milwaukee Bucks beat Golden State Warriors 108–95 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by January 3, 2016, 22 days later, after 2 reigns that never happened.

The alternate belt: Mavericks → Heat

What if Los Angeles Lakers had won?

Real result: Milwaukee Bucks beat Los Angeles Lakers 120–104 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by February 11, 1972, 33 days later, after 5 reigns that never happened.

The alternate belt: Kings → Rockets → Celtics → Knicks → Celtics

What if Boston Celtics had won?

Real result: Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics 92–83 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by December 28, 2008, 3 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.

The alternate belt: Warriors

What if Boston Celtics had won?

Real result: New York Knicks beat Boston Celtics 97–80 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by December 3, 1957, 5 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.

The alternate belt: 76ers

What if Milwaukee Bucks had won?

Real result: Chicago Bulls beat Milwaukee Bucks 110–103 · the game

It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by November 5, 1971, 241 days later, after 10 reigns that never happened.

The alternate belt: Knicks → Lakers → Bulls → Lakers → Bulls → Lakers → Bucks → Lakers → Bucks → Celtics

What if Los Angeles Lakers had won?

Real result: Washington Wizards beat Los Angeles Lakers 109–102 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by March 24, 2000, 8 days later.

The alternate belt: Spurs

What if Boston Celtics had won?

Real result: Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics 95–94 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 13, 1986, 37 days later, after 7 reigns that never happened.

The alternate belt: Nets → Hawks → Pistons → Hawks → Celtics → Hawks → Celtics

What if Washington Capitols had won?

Real result: Indianapolis Jets beat Washington Capitols 94–78 · the game

It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by February 22, 1949, 77 days later, after 9 reigns that never happened.

The alternate belt: Bombers → Capitols → Pistons → Lakers → Bombers → Lakers → Kings → Capitols → Warriors

What if Detroit Pistons had won?

Real result: Orlando Magic beat Detroit Pistons 113–105 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by April 27, 2026, 2 days later.

The alternate belt: Magic

What if Orlando Magic had won?

Real result: Detroit Pistons beat Orlando Magic 116–109 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 1, 2026, 2 days later.

The alternate belt: Pistons

What if Detroit Pistons had won?

Real result: Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit Pistons 116–109 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 11, 2026, 2 days later.

The alternate belt: Cavaliers

What if Cleveland Cavaliers had won?

Real result: Detroit Pistons beat Cleveland Cavaliers 115–94 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 17, 2026, 2 days later.

The alternate belt: Knicks

What if Detroit Pistons had won?

Real result: Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit Pistons 125–94 · the game

The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Detroit Pistons, not New York Knicks.

What if Cleveland Cavaliers had won?

Real result: New York Knicks beat Cleveland Cavaliers 115–104 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 21, 2026, 2 days later.

The alternate belt: Knicks

What if New York Knicks had won?

Real result: San Antonio Spurs beat New York Knicks 115–111 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 10, 2026, 2 days later.

What if San Antonio Spurs had won?

Real result: New York Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs 107–106 · the game

History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 13, 2026, 3 days later.

The alternate belt: Knicks