Conference Finals Rule: To win the title, at least one of the two best players must have previously reached the Conference Finals

All NBA champions (1950–2024) satisfy this Rule EXCEPT two teams (2015 GSW, 1956 PHW).

(Note: More precisely, instead of "Conference Finals", I should say the "round before the Finals" since "Conference Finals" didn't always exist or were called something else.)

The Two Exceptions to the Rule

(1) 2015 GSW: Steph, Klay, and Draymond had never made a Conference Finals before. (Indeed, the only member of the team who had previously made a Conference Finals was Barbosa with PHO in '05, '06, and '10.)

(2) 1956 PHW: No player on the team had ever made a Division Finals before.

Possible 3rd Exception

(3) 1977 POR's two best players were Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas. Walton had never made the playoffs before. But Lucas made the 1976 ABA Semifinals (round before the Finals) and the 1975 ABA Eastern Division Finals (ditto). So, I count this team as satisfying the Conference Finals Rule. For those who disagree, this team would be a 3rd exception to the Rule.

Comment: In 2025, none of the best players on OKC or CLE have previously been to the Conference Finals.