How does this compare to the actual rate at which the preseason best team on paper wins the title? Because it feels like it's higher than that. Dynasties happen more frequently than this.
This is because trades happen midseason, anybody not in the top 5 odds wise sells off all their good assets, this 'simulation' has nothing to do with how actual real life teams are operated
Good instinct — reality is much more chalk than my sim. Preseason favorites won \~57% of titles from 1992-2010 and 9 of a recent 16-season stretch; the pre-playoff favorite has won \~70% since 1980, though only 3 of 7 from 2019-2025. Against that, my sim's 14.7% says my universe runs way flatter than the real league — details on why in the reply above.