The Impact of Small-Market NBA Teams in the Conference Championships

The presence of three small-market teams in the NBA Conference Championships, such as the current appearances by the Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder, signals a meaningful shift in the league's competitive landscape. For years, the NBA was often dominated by teams in larger markets like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, with their financial clout and star power attracting the most attention and success. The current playoff picture challenges that narrative, showcasing the effectiveness of patient team building through the draft, smart trades, and strong player development.

What's especially striking about these teams isn't just their market size, but their relative lack of traditional "superstars." While players like Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Haliburton are ascending talents, they don't yet carry the same commercial weight as LeBron James, Steph Curry, or Kevin Durant. Instead of relying on marquee names, these teams have thrived on depth, chemistry, and systems that emphasize team play over isolation heroics. Even the New York Knicks, undeniably a large-market franchise, don't neatly fit the superstar model. While their presence adds some big-market appeal, it is worth noting that the Knicks have been largely irrelevant in terms of playoff success for over two decades, making their current run feel more like an underdog story than a return of a dynasty.

Economically and culturally, the ripple effects are substantial. National TV ratings may take a slight dip without big-market glamour or legacy superstars, but the long-term health of the league benefits from competitive balance. Small-market success stories bring hope to other franchises and reinforce that parity is possible in a league often criticized for being top-heavy. Of course, small-market success isn't entirely new. Golden State became a model small-market powerhouse in the 2010s. But unlike the current crop of contenders, the Warriors' dynasty was driven by the emergence of true superstars like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and later Kevin Durant. This year's playoff narrative is different: it's not just that small markets are competing, but that they're doing so without established megastars With three underdog narratives unfolding at once and even the Knicks playing the role of long-suffering contenders, the 2025 playoffs have become a showcase for resilience, front-office excellence, and the power of team-first basketball. It is a postseason that breaks from tradition and might just redefine it.