No. 6 seeds rarely make the conference finals in the NBA Playoffs. In fact, in the history of the 16-team postseason, it’s only ever happened five times.
After eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the chance to do something quite rare.
Last Time a No. 6 Seed was in the Conference Finals
The 2024 Indiana Pacers were the last team to advance to the conference finals. They lost to the Boston Celtics, who advanced to the NBA Finals and won the 2024 championship.
Indiana’s run marked the first time in nearly 30 years that a No. 6 seed advanced that far. Prior to 2024, you’d have to go all the way back to the Michael Jordan interregnum, when the 1995 Houston Rockets played in the Western Conference finals.
In the 1980s, the Chicago Bulls (1989), Phoenix Suns (1984), and Houston Rockets (1981) all played in the conference finals as No. 6 seeds.
Last Time a No. 6 Seed was in the NBA Finals
A No. 6 seed has only advanced to the NBA Finals twice. Both times, it was the No. 6 Houston Rockets.
The first instance was 1981, when Larry Bird’s Celtics beat Houston in the Finals in six games.
The second was 1995, when Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets won the championship, sweeping the Orlando Magic. It’s the only time a No. 6 seed has ever won the Finals.
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