While it’s true that a No. 1 seed has fallen to a No. 8 seed only six times in the NBA playoffs, the Bucks’ loss to the Heat doesn’t come close to topping the list of the biggest upsets in league history, especially if we delve into the numbers. After all, the Bucks’ regular season winning percentage was only 17 percentage points higher than that of the Heat, a difference that seems minor compared to some of the more dramatic upsets of yesteryear.
Consider, for example, Dirk Nowitzki‘s Dallas Mavericks. They were defeated by the “We Believe” Golden State Warriors in a series that left many stunned. Then there are the 1999 playoffs when Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, and their Miami Heat team, despite being the top seed, were ousted by the No. 8 New York Knicks in the first round.
Let’s delve deeper and explore some of the most shocking upsets in NBA history below.