Winning one championship is impressive. Winning two is even better. But winning three straight? That’s a different level of greatness. The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to become the first team in NFL history to do so, but Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green isn’t convinced they’ll pull it off.
As a four-time champion, Green knows firsthand how challenging it can be to maintain success in professional sports, especially after making it to the top. The grind, the pressure, and the physical toll all add up over the years. And when it comes to securing three consecutive titles, Green believes the odds are stacked against the Chiefs.
The Challenge of 3-Peating in American Pro Sports
Green isn’t just talking from a basketball perspective. He’s applying his experience in a team sport where the grind is real, and every team brings their best effort. In a recent interview, Green explained why the road to a third straight title is so tough. “It’s very hard to do, I can say that from experience. You gotta stay healthy. You need every right break. And those breaks don’t just always go your way,” Green said.
My man Draymond Green has had a vendetta against the #Chiefs all season long…
Is he finally ready to admit he was wrong about the 2x defending Super Bowl champs?! pic.twitter.com/0nQoilSixG
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 18, 2025
The Chiefs’ run for the three-peat is impressive, but Green’s words hit home.
“When you aren’t getting better and you’re just getting by, winning games, and not getting better, that’s gonna catch you in the playoffs,” he continued. For a team that has been winning but not necessarily improving, the Chiefs might face their toughest test yet as they move through the postseason.
Three-peats in Other American Pro Sports Leagues
In fact, the history of three-peats in sports is a tough one. In the NHL, it’s only happened five times, although a few of them occurred when the league only had six teams. The first to do so were the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won three consecutive titles from 1947 to 1949 and again from 1962 to 1964.
The Montreal Canadiens became the second team to do so, winning five in a row from 1956 to 1960, and then completing their second three-peat by winning four in a row from 1976 to 1979. The New York Islanders were the most recent NHL team to win a three-peat, capturing four straight titles from 1980 to 1983.
The NBA has seen its own fair share of three-peats. The Minneapolis Lakers were the first to do so, winning titles in 1952, 1953, and 1954. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls famously pulled off two three-peats: first from 1991 to 1993, and then again from 1996 to 1998. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers also achieved the feat from 2000 to 2002. And let’s not forget the Boston Celtics, who won eight straight championships from 1959 to 1966, a streak that could be seen as multiple three-peats.
In Major League Baseball, only four teams have completed the three-peat. The New York Yankees did it three times — the first, a four-peat from 1936 to 1939, then a five-peat from 1949 to 1953, and their third three-peat from 1998 to 2000. The Oakland Athletics were the only other MLB team to achieve this, completing their run from 1972 to 1974.
The Chiefs haven’t lost to the Houston Texans since 2019, and they’ve won the last four meetings between the two teams. But with Houston on a roll and nothing to lose, they could pose a real threat to Kansas City’s hopes of securing their third straight title.
As Green pointed out, it’s not just about winning games. It’s about improving and staying sharp.
