With the Sacramento Kings starting their season 0-3, many people are discussing what that might mean for their championship aspirations this season. I was curious and wanted to see how many teams that eventually won the championship that season opened the year with a losing streak (a streak being 2+ games).
In NBA history, 6 teams have started the year 0-2 or worse and went on to win the title. Almost all of them were coming off of a trip to the Finals or winning the championship.
Source: Basketball Reference
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers won NBA Championship vs New York Knicks in 5 games (4th in 5 years)
Started season 0-2
10 point loss at Milwaukee Hawks
24 point loss at New York Knicks
Finished season 46-26 (52 win pace)
1st seed in Western Division
Best record in the league
Won NBA Championship vs Syracuse Nationals in 7 games
1954-55 Syracuse Nationals
1953-54 Syracuse Nationals lost NBA Championship vs Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games
Started season 0-2
3 point loss vs Minneapolis Lakers
23 point loss at Boston Celtics
Finished season 43-29 (48 win pace)
1st seed in Eastern Division
Tied for best record in the league with Fort Wayne Pistons (Syracuse got homecourt in the Finals)
Won NBA Championship vs Fort Wayne Pistons in 7 games
1957-58 St. Louis Hawks
1956-57 St. Louis Hawks lost in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics in 7 games (Game 7 2OT)
Started season 0-2
25 point loss vs Boston Celtics
17 point loss to New York Knicks (neutral site)
Finished season 41-31 (46 win pace)
1st seed in Western Division
3rd best record in the league
Won NBA Championship vs Boston Celtics in 6 games
1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers
1980-81 Los Angeles Lakers lost in first round 2-1 vs Houston Rockets
Started season 0-2
1 point loss vs Houston Rockets
2 point loss at Portland Trail Blazers
Finished season 57-25
Best record in Pacific Division
1st seed in West
3rd best record in the league
Fired Paul Westhead 11 games into the season (7-4) after a heated argument between Westhead and Magic at halftime led to Magic telling the media he was requesting a trade; replaced by Pat Riley (50-21)
Won NBA Championship vs Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers
1983-84 Los Angeles Lakers lost NBA Championship vs Boston Celtics in 7 games
Started season 0-2
1 point loss at San Antonio Spurs
11 point loss at Dallas Mavericks
Finished season 62-20
Best record in Pacific Division
1 seed in the West
2nd best record in the league
Won NBA Championship vs Boston Celtics in 6 games
1990-91 Chicago Bulls
1989-90 Chicago Bulls lost Eastern Conference Finals to Detroit Pistons in 7 games
Started season 0-3
8 point loss vs Philadelphia 76ers
1 point loss at Washington Bullets
2 point loss vs Boston Celtics
Finished season 61-21
Best record in Central Division
1 seed in Eastern Conference
2nd best record in the league
Won NBA Championship vs Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games
Time will tell if the Sacramento Kings will overcome their lottery hangover and develop into the contender they were expected to be entering this season.
Edit - I missed the 1958 St. Louis Hawks originally who had the two worst opening losses of all these teams. Six teams, not 5.