If appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated is some indication of national relevance, than it’s easy to understand why the Cleveland Cavaliers & Golden State Warriors are the most recent NBA teams to appear there, and also why it’s been a very long time since some other NBA teams have been featured on the cover.
It’s not necessarily a cover specifically about a team. Like in the last one about the Boston Celtics (2011), it’s simply a Celtics player (Rajon Rondo) on the cover during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
There are 31 covers here, not 30, because the Seattle Supersonics, a franchise that turned into the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, gets a cover, back from 1996, the last time they made the NBA finals (losing to the Bulls and Jordan).
And it’s incredible how long it’s been since anyone really cared about the Milwaukee Bucks.
Golden State Warriors & Cleveland Cavaliers (June 1)
Oklahoma City Thunder (April 6)
Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls (February 23)
New Orleans Pelicans (December 8, 2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (August 25, 2014)
San Antonio Spurs (June 23, 2014)
Brooklyn Nets (October 28, 2013)
Miami Heat (June 1, 2013)
Memphis Grizzlies (May 20, 2013)
New York Knicks (February 27, 2012)
Los Angeles Clippers (December 5, 2011)
Dallas Mavericks (June 20, 2011)
Boston Celtics (February 21, 2011)
Orlando Magic (April 20, 2009)
Philadelphia 76ers (October 27, 2008)
Phoenix Suns (April 23, 2007)
Denver Nuggets (October 23, 2006)
Indiana Pacers (October 24, 2005)
Detroit Pistons (May 9, 2005)
Minnesota Timberwolves (May 31, 2004)
Washington Wizards (February 17, 2003)
Charlotte Hornets, the old version (May 21, 2001)
Sacramento Kings (February 19, 2001)
Portland Trail Blazers (May 29, 2000)
Toronto Raptors (February 28, 2000)
Utah Jazz (June 1, 1998)
Atlanta Hawks (May 19, 1997)
Seattle Supersonics, no longer exist (June 10, 1996)
Milwaukee Bucks (February 22, 1982)
