NBA Stars Who Requested A Trade And Immediately Won An NBA Championship With A New Team
- Moses Malone is the only reigning MVP traded on this list
- Clyde Drexler, Earl Monroe, Mark Aguirre, and Pau Gasol were all traded during the regular season
- Anthony Davis is the most recent NBA star to be traded and deliver an NBA championship in his first season with his new team
During their careers, NBA players are faced with tough decisions every day. Whether those are on-the-court decisions or ones made off the court, NBA players often are tasked with difficult decisions that come with monumental ramifications. One of these decisions includes, for many, finally making a decision to request a trade from their current team. Usually, when a player reaches his breaking point with a franchise, he will request a trade out of that situation which prompts an influx of backlash.
Fans can turn on the requesting player in an instant, citing taking an easy way out to a better situation, much like things are turning out for Damian Lillard in 2023. The trade could be a detriment to that player’s career, with the results not matching the expectations once it goes through. Then, there are the situations that do play out in that player’s favor. The instances in which the traded player becomes a big part of an NBA championship almost immediately upon arrival.
These instances are rare throughout NBA history. They are so rare in fact, we have listed the 10 most prominent examples of a player requesting a trade and immediately winning an NBA championship with their new teams. These players seized an opportunity only given to few during their NBA careers while simultaneously verifying that their decision was well worth the risk.
These are the NBA players who requested a trade and immediately won an NBA championship with their new teams.
Earl Monroe To The New York Knicks (1971)
Credit: Fadeaway World
In the 1967 NBA Draft, the Baltimore Bullets would name Earl Monroe their selection with the second overall pick. Monroe would be spectacular with the Bullets, winning Rookie of the Year for the 1968 season averaging 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Monroe would continue to excel for the next four and a half seasons, earning two All-Star selections and averaging 23.7 points and 4.6 assists over his time with the team.
A bitter contract dispute with the Bullets would lead to Monroe demanding his way out of Baltimore despite helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 1971. After three games in 1971-72, the Bullets suspended Monroe while they weighed their options. Finally, a deal was reached with the New York Knicks, who would receive Monroe in exchange for Mike Riordan and Dave Stallworth. The rest is history.
In 60 games for the Knicks in 1972, Monroe would average 11.4 points and 2.2 assists, but the team would lose in the NBA Finals to the Lakers. The Knicks would cash in on their deal in 1973, though. That season, Monroe helped lead the Knicks to their second NBA championship averaging 15.5 points and 3.8 points per game. Monroe finally found his home and remained with the Knicks for eight and a half seasons to end his career.
Moses Malone To The 76ers (1982)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Back in the late 70s and early 80s, Moses Malone had established himself as one of the best players in the NBA. From 1977 through 1982 with the Houston Rockets, Malone would win two MVP awards and lead the team all the way to the 1981 NBA Finals. Over this time with Houston, Malone would average 24.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. After his 1982 MVP season, Malone was set to be a restricted free agent and had no intentions of returning to the Rockets.
Malone would demand that even if The Rockets were willing to match any other team’s offer, he wanted out and the 76ers were his first choice. With finances in the toilet, the Rockets agreed to send Malone to the Sixers for Caldwell Jones and a first-round draft pick. With the deal, the 76ers hoped they could finally get over the championship hump.
In his first season with Philadelphia, Malone was unstoppable and would win the 1983 MVP award averaging 24.5 points and a league-leading 15.3 rebounds per game. Malone would then go on to lead the Sixers to their first NBA championship since 1967. Malone would claim Finals MVP honors on top of his MVP victory as the Sixers swept the Lakers in four games. It was the most impactful trade in the Philadelphia 76ers' history and still is to this day.
Mark Aguirre To The Detroit Pistons (1989)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Mark Aguirre is easily one of the best players in Dallas Mavericks' history. In 1981, Dallas made Aguirre their first overall pick in the NBA Draft. He would go on to earn three All-Star selections in seven and a half seasons with the team while also aiding in their establishment as a legitimate NBA franchise. Unfortunately, after seven seasons, Aguirre’s feud with the press and his teammates had reached a boiling point, forcing them to deal their star forward.
Aguirre would be traded to the Pistons in exchange for Adrian Dantley and a first-round draft pick. The deal reunited Aguirre and Isiah Thomas, who grew up together in Chicago. With his new team, Aguirre became their x-factor that very season. In 36 games with Detroit, he would average 15.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game en route to an NBA championship over the Lakers. In 1990, Aguirre would play a pivotal role in yet another NBA title in 1990 as the Pistons went back-to-back with a win over the Trail Blazers in the Finals.
Clyde Drexler To The Houston Rockets (1995)
Credit: Fadeaway World
For most of the 1980s and early 1990s, Clyde Drexler was one of the very best players in the NBA. As far as shooting guards go, Drexler was second to just Michael Jordan in the NBA and in many ways, was thought to be better than Jordan at a point in time. Drexler was a perennial All-Star and led Portland to two NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992 but fell to two all-time great teams in the Bad Boy Pistons and the Michael Jordan-led Bulls.
With Portland heading toward a rebuild, Drexler was in no mood to be a part of it so late in his career. He would force a trade to the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets in the 1994-95 season, pairing him with center Hakeem Olajuwon. Drexler would average 21.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in 35 games for the Rockets after the trade as they stormed toward the playoffs.
In the NBA playoffs, Drexler would average 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 22 games played. The Rockets would win their second straight NBA championship as Drexler became an NBA champion for the first time. Although Olajuwon gets most of the credit, there is no doubt that Houston would not win that NBA title without Clyde Drexler.
Shaquille O’Neal To The Miami Heat
Credit: Fadeaway World
During the early 2000s, there was no player on the same level as Shaquille O’Neal with the Lakers. From 2000 through 2002, Shaq would lead the Lakers to three straight NBA championships while winning all three Finals MVP awards and dominating the NBA as we have never seen before. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, egos would collide between Shaq and fellow star teammate Kobe Bryant.
After a very public feud between the two megastars, the Lakers had to decide between them. In the end, they chose to ship O’Neal to Miami in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and two draft picks. In his first season with the Heat, Shaq was dominant, finishing second in MVP voting, but the real prize would come the next season.
Alongside yet another superstar shooting guard in Dwyane Wade, O’Neal and the Miami Heat would capture the NBA championship over the Dallas Mavericks. Although he wasn't his usual self, Shaq was as important as anyone to their championship run. O’Neal would average 18.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 23 playoff games and took home his fourth NBA championship in a seven-year span.
Pau Gasol To The Los Angeles Lakers (2008)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Pau Gasol is as accomplished as any player in Memphis Grizzlies history. In six and a half seasons with the team, Gasol was named a Rookie of the Year, and an All-Star once, and averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Toward the mid-2000s, the Grizzlies began to struggle mightily on the court, having some of their worst seasons in team history.
Gasol, frustrated with the direction of the team, publicly demanded a trade. Gasol was granted his wish with a deal to the Los Angeles Lakers and a pairing with Kobe Bryant. That season, the Lakers would advance to the NBA Finals but fall to the Celtics in six games. Gasol and Bryant would make up for it in 2009 and 2010, winning back-to-back NBA championships over the Celtics and Magic. In his time with the Lakers, Gasol would average 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game and have his jersey retired by the team in 2023.
Kevin Garnett To The Boston Celtics (2008)
Credit: Fadeaway World
For the first 12 seasons of his career, Kevin Garnett grew up before our eyes with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett gave everything he could to the franchise during that time which included an MVP run in 2004 and a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Despite his best efforts, Minnesota kept falling short, and Garnett saw and had enough by the late 2000s.
Garnett would have his wish answered when the Timberwolves facilitated a trade to the Boston Celtics to unite Garnett with both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. In his first season with the team in 2008, Garnett would claim the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award and averaged 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. In the playoffs, Garnett and the Celtics would win the NBA championship over the Lakers in six games. Garnett would average 20.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Garnett would remain with the Celtics for a total of five seasons. He helped them appear in two NBA Finals while, of course, winning the 2008 championship. While the Boston Big Three didn't accomplish all of what they set out to do, the 2008 title run is still one of the most memorable runs in the last 25 years.
Kawhi Leonard To The Toronto Raptors (2018)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Of all the deals on this list today, the deal that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto is the one that comes with the most drama. Leonard had become a superstar with the Spurs early in his career with an NBA championship, Finals MVP, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name. During the 2017 playoffs, Leonard would hurt his ankle, an injury that would spell the end for him in San Antonio.
After playing just nine games in 2018, Leonard accused the Spurs’ medical staff of mishandling his injury and promptly requested a trade out of Texas. The damage between Leonard and the team had become irreparable and he would soon be dealt to the Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round draft pick.
Leonard’s first and only season with the Raptors would be one of the most miraculous seasons for a player in NBA history. During the regular season, Kawhi would average 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, but that was nothing compared to what happened next. Against all odds, Leonard would lead the Raptors to their first NBA championship in team history. In the playoffs, he would average 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game to slice through the competition. He would also take home Finals MVP honors for their six-game series win over the Warriors, Leonard’s second career Finals MVP.
Anthony Davis To The Los Angeles Lakers (2019)
Credit: Fadeaway World
As the first overall pick in the 2012 draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Davis was already on his way to becoming an NBA superstar. Over the next seven seasons, Davis would take the reins of the Pelicans franchise as a perennial MVP contender and All-Star. In his seven seasons with the Pelicans, Davis would earn six All-Star selections, an All-Star MVP award, three All-NBA First Team selections, and three All-Defensive Team selections.
Even with all of his individual success, Davis was not satisfied with the way things were trending on a team level. Davis would very publicly demand a trade out of New Orleans, citing differences in what he wanted and where the team was headed. In the summer of 2018, his wish would be granted when the Pelicans traded him to the Lakers in a massive deal that paired Davis with LeBron James in L.A.
Davis’ first season with the Lakers would be one he would never forget, or any of us would to be fair. The COVID-19 virus would send the world into a frenzy and shut down the NBA for months until they decided to open things back up in a bubble format in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Davis and James would completely take over the Bubble, leading the Lakers to their 17th championship. In the NBA playoffs, Davis pushed the Lakers over the top as NBA champions. He would average 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Although Davis has struggled with injuries ever since, the Lakers make the deal for Davis 10 times out of 10, knowing it would bring them an NBA title. In 2023, Davis sported a bit of a comeback in the NBA playoffs as the Lakers fell in the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 22.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game to lead the Lakers.
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