The NBA's opening night has always been all about a celebration of the previous season.
The short slate of games are capped off at the home arena of the defending champions, where prior to tip-off, the title holders will witness the unveiling of their championship banner and players receive championship rings.
More often than not, the night ends with the reigning champs adding to the festivities by winning their season-opener. Sometimes, they have to work hard for the win, and sometimes, they blow by their opposition.
But, every once in a while, there's the unexpected upset.
MORE: Every 50-pt game in season openers in NBA history
After the 2021-22 season opener, the league's defending champions are 59-16 (.784) in regular-season openers. With their 127-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, the Bucks improved to 2-0 as champions on opening night.
The Los Angeles Lakers, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships ever, are 11-6 in their 17 season-openers. On the other hand, the Boston Celtics have a stunning record of 15-2 on their banner nights. Their only two losses have come in 1969 and 1974.
Here's a look at how every NBA champion fared on opening night:
| Season | Champion | Opener, Next Season |
| 1946-47 | Philadelphia | Won 79-64 vs. Providence |
| 1947-48 | Baltimore | Lost 84-72 vs. Minneapolis |
| 1948-49 | Minneapolis | Won 81-69 at Philadelphia |
| 1949-50 | Minneapolis | Lost 81-71 at Baltimore |
| 1950-51 | Rochester | Won 101-97 vs. Baltimore |
| 1951-52 | Minneapolis | Won 94-91 vs. Boston |
| 1952-53 | Minneapolis | Lost 69-59 at Milwaukee |
| 1953-54 | Minneapolis | Lost 94-83 at New York |
| 1954-55 | Syracuse | Won 114-113 (OT) vs. Fort Wayne |
| 1955-56 | Philadelphia | Lost 109-103 (2 OT) at Syracuse |
| 1956-57 | Boston | Won 115-90 at St. Louis |
| 1957-58 | St. Louis | Won 104-103 vs. Detroit |
| 1958-59 | Boston | Won 129-125 vs. Cincinnati |
| 1959-60 | Boston | Won 118-116 vs. Detroit |
| 1960-61 | Boston | Won 137-102 vs. Detroit |
| 1961-62 | Boston | Won 149-116 vs. New York |
| 1962-63 | Boston | Won 109-95 at Baltimore |
| 1963-64 | Boston | Won 112-81 vs. Detroit |
| 1964-65 | Boston | Won 102-98 vs. Cincinnati |
| 1965-66 | Boston | Won 121-113 vs. San Francisco |
| 1966-67 | Philadelphia | Won 103-87 vs. L.A. Lakers |
| 1967-68 | Boston | Won 106-88 at Detroit |
| 1968=69 | Boston | Lost 110-108 vs. Cincinnati |
| 1969-70 | New York | Won 114-107 vs. Boston |
| 1970-71 | Milwaukee | Won 110-97 at Phoenix |
| 1971-72 | Los Angeles | Won 129-94 at Kansas City-Omaha |
| 1972-73 | New York | Won 101-100 vs. Detroit |
| 1973-74 | Boston | Lost 126-119 vs. Buffalo |
| 1974-75 | Golden State | Won 89-83 at Cleveland |
| 1975-76 | Boston | Won 129-122 (OT) at Indiana |
| 1976-77 | Portland | Won 106-99 at Seattle |
| 1977-78 | Washington | Won 117-101 vs. New Orleans |
| 1978-79 | Seattle | Lost 98-93 at San Diego |
| 1979-80 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 99-98 at Seattle |
| 1980-81 | Boston | Won 124-100 vs. Washington |
| 1981-82 | Los Angeles Lakers | Lost 132-117 vs. Golden State |
| 1982-83 | Philadelphia | Won 117-114 vs. Washington |
| 1983-84 | Boston | Won 130-123 at Detroit |
| 1984-85 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 121-116 (2 OT) at San Antonio |
| 1985-86 | Boston | Won 120-102 vs. Washington |
| 1986-87 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 113-109 vs. Seattle |
| 1987-88 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 116-113 at Dallas |
| 1988-89 | Detroit | Won 106-103 vs. New York |
| 1989-90 | Detroit | Won 115-104 vs. Milwaukee |
| 1990-91 | Chicago | Won 110-90 vs. Philadelphia |
| 1991-92 | Chicago | Won 101-96 at Cleveland |
| 1992-93 | Chicago | Won 124-123 (OT) at Charlotte |
| 1993-94 | Houston | Won 90-86 vs. New Jersey |
| 1994-95 | Houston | Won 110-92 vs. Golden State |
| 1995-96 | Chicago | Won 107-98 at Boston |
| 1996-97 | Chicago | Lost 92-85 at Boston |
| 1997-98 | Chicago | Lost 104-96 at Utah |
| 1998-99 | San Antonio | Won 89-76 vs. Philadelphia |
| 1999-00 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 96-86 at Portland |
| 2000-01 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 98-87 vs. Portland |
| 2001-02 | Los Angeles Lakers | Lost 87-82 vs. San Antonio |
| 2002-03 | San Antonio | Won 83-82 vs. Phoenix |
| 2003-04 | Detroit | Won 87-79 vs. Houston |
| 2004-05 | San Antonio | Won 102-91 vs. Denver |
| 2005-06 | Miami | Lost 108-66 vs. Chicago |
| 2006-07 | San Antonio | Won 106-97 vs. Portland |
| 2007-08 | Boston | Won 90-85 vs. Cleveland |
| 2008-09 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 99-92 vs. LA Clippers |
| 2009-10 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won 112-110 vs. Houston |
| 2010-11 | Dallas | Lost 105-94 vs. Miami |
| 2011-12 | Miami | Won 120-107 vs. Boston |
| 2012-13 | Miami | Won 107-95 vs. Chicago |
| 2013-14 | San Antonio | Won 101-100 vs. Dallas |
| 2014-15 | Golden State | Won 111-95 vs. New Orleans |
| 2015-16 | Cleveland | Won 117-88 vs. New York |
| 2016-17 | Golden State | Lost 122-121 vs. Houston |
| 2017-18 | Golden State | Won 108-100 vs. Oklahoma City |
| 2018-19 | Toronto | Won 130-122 (OT) vs. New Orleans |
| 2019-20 | Los Angeles Lakers | Loss 116-109 vs. LA Clippers |
| 2020-21 | Milwaukee | Win 127-104 vs. Brooklyn |
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its clubs.
