5 NBA stars who won a championship in the very first year of joining a new team

#3 Anthony Davis

Los Angeles Clippers v Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis secured a deal to go to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-20 season. He was a stalwart in the team and was key to their hopes of getting to the championship. The season was disrupted by Covid and the remaining half of the season was subsequently played in the Orlando Bubble.

AD continued his brilliance for the Lakers there as he put in some big performances to help the Lakers get to the NBA Finals in 2020. In the six-game series against the Miami Heat, Davis averaged 25.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG and 3.2 APG, all while shooting 57.1% from the field. His ability to produce magic on offense and defense was of great help to the Lakers, as it helped LeBron play with more freedom on the court.

#2 Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard during the 2019 NBA Finals - Game Two

Kawhi Leonard was a two-time NBA champion when he moved to the Toronto Raptors in 2018. He was brought into the team to win the championship for them. Although Kawhi didn't feature in all 82 games during the regular season, he was a mainstay in the team's run to winning the championship.

His brilliant two-way ability helped the Raptors get past many opponents that season. He continued leading the charge for the team during the playoffs. His famous game-winner in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, remains as one of the best clutch shots in the history of the game. Kawhi showed up in the series against Milwaukee and knocked the Greek Freak out before meeting the Warriors in the NBA Finals.

The Raptors were not picked as favorites by many, however, and with injuries to Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, their road to glory was made easier. Kawhi was awarded the Finals MVP for his exemplary performances during the postseason. After winning the ring with the Raptors, Kawhi went to the Clippers and formed a formidable duo with Paul George.