If you had to narrow it down to one what-if per franchise, which one makes the cut?
I'll give examples using the team I support (the Celtics):
Injuries - KG's injury in 2009. The Celtics had a scorching start to the season, but lost in 7 to the Magic. KG's absence let Dwight loose on the boards, & the next year when they did make the finals the Big Ticket had clearly lost a step.
Deaths - Len Bias in 1986. Red Auerbach had drafted a potentially transcendent player to back-up the greatest frontcourt in the history of professional basketball. Instead, a cocaine overdose killed him hours after being drafted No. 2.
Draft Picks - Kedrick Brown in 2001. Know who the Celtics had wanted to draft? Tony Parker. Unfortunately then-GM Chris Wallace was overruled by Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach.
Suspensions - Ime Udoka in 2022. Just months after taking the Celtics to the NBA finals, the former Spurs assistant was suspended for inappopriate relations with a female employee.
Made/missed shots - Artest's 3-pointer in 2010. I will always believe we'd have stolen that game if ~~Ron Artest~~ Metta World Peace doesn't drive that dagger through our hearts.
The greatest NBA What if of all time is What if Sabonis comes over when he's drafted in 1986?
The Sabas that we got in the mid-90's was ravaged by overuse injuries and the USSR running him into the ground with no rest. His feet were basically in cement and he still crushed people basically being unable to move.
If that run and gun team with Porter, Drexler, Kersey, and Uncle Cliffy that made the finals in 90 and 92 had young Sabas at the 5 instead of Kevin Duckworth it alters many legacies.
He was that good and would've fit in that well with that team.