Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
After winning all four regular season games between the two teams, nobody predicted the Boston Celtics would be eliminated by the New York Knicks.
The Knicks won two games on the road in TD Garden to set up a chance of an upset, and eventually saw the series through, winning 4-2.
Jayson Tatum’s devastating injury late in Game 4 was a further crushing blow to the Celtics, presenting a serious challenge to their chances of being competitive next season.
The Celtics’ failure to retain the title they won in 2024 saw them become the sixth consecutive team to fail to record back to back successes.
Photo by Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagesLast NBA repeat champions
There have been plenty of repeat champions in the NBA since the association began back in 1947, with the Boston Celtics famously winning eight years in a row between 1959 and 1967.
And despite hopes their 2024 success could turn into a mini-dynasty, Joe Mazzulla’s side have fallen at the first hurdle in their attempts to defend the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Across the past six seasons in the NBA there have been six different champions, and this is set to become seven, making this the first ever time the title has been won by seven different teams in seven seasons.
2024: Boston Celtics2023: Denver Nuggets2022: Golden State Warriors2021: Milwaukee Bucks2020: Los Angeles Lakers2019: Toronto Raptors
The latest failure of a team to defend their crown shines a spotlight on the achievements of the last two teams to do it.
The Golden State Warriors clinched back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018, led by an unbeatable combination of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
If not for the Cavaliers’ stunning comeback in 2016, the Warriors would have won four titles in a row.
The only other team to repeat in the 2010s were the LeBron James inspired Miami Heat, with the big three completed by Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh winning the title in 2012 and 2013.
The Heat made four successive finals, but lost the two either side of their successes.
The 2000s began with the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led LA Lakers three-peating from 2000 to 2002. After that no team managed to repeat back-to-backs until the Heat.
New champions set to write fresh history
The final four teams in the 2025 NBA Playoffs offers an exciting new era for the league, with a quartet of teams desperate to win one championship, let alone two.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have never won the NBA title before.
Meanwhile the New York Knicks have not won since 1973, and are equally as desperate to end their 52-year drought.
Of the four teams, the Thunder are best placed to spark a new dynasty and go back to back, but they must get over the hurdle and first reach the finals, let alone win it.