Connacht also dominated the Guinness PRO12 Dream Team, with seven players, while Bundee Aki and John Muldoon picked up the Guinness Players' Player of the Season and the Guinness PRO12 Chairman's Award respectively.
For Lam this is just the latest chapter in a career that has always defied expectations, whether it was helping Samoa stun Wales at the World Cup or being part of an unfancied Northampton team that won the European Cup back in 2000.
Connacht will host defending Guinness PRO12 champions Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals next Saturday in Galway as a reward for beating the Scottish side in the final round of the regular season.
And while Lam's team may lack the experience and international pedigree of the Warriors, he's hoping his own experience as an outsider will stand the team in good stead.
He explained: "There's no doubt it's a big challenge for us. It was a one in 12 chance, and now it's a one in four chance with three teams who have won it before and have the experience and the international players in the squad.
"For us, it's going to come down to teamwork and what we've done all year and focusing on being better every day, then we've got a great chance.
"I've been involved in that (being the underdog) throughout my career, with Samoa on the big stage, even Northampton who weren't the big dogs back then.
"The lessons I'd taken from that time is that teamwork will always come through. If you work hard enough and build a good culture then you can achieve anything.
"I'm a big dreamer and we have a clear vision. I always believe if you work hard and have a clear purpose then anything is achievable. Certainly I've got a group of people that I work with and a group of players that work hard and have real ambition.
"I knew if we did those sorts of things and concentrated on being better, then we'd have a chance. We were up against the odds in who we are and what we have but it's all about the team."
While Lam's focus may be on his team, there's no question that a number of individuals have played a leading role - none more so than dynamic centre Aki.
In his second season in Galway, the former Chiefs midfielder has been an absolute standout, with one acrobatic finish against Munster set to live long in the memory.
And having played his provincial rugby in New Zealand with Counties Manukau, Aki knows what it's like to confound expectations.
He said: "To think where Connacht were eight years ago and look where we are now, fighting for a final and with a home semi-final, the season is going really great.
"Connacht reminds me of my club team back at home, Counties (Manukau). We would lose by 50 or 60 points every week.
"No matter how well you do, and Counties came a long way, just like Connacht have come a long way, but no matter how good the season is, Connacht are seen as the fourth province.
"The only way you can change that is consistent playing, not just for one year but every year after that. We've just got to keep going as we are.
"Whatever happens, we still have to prove ourselves. We need to put in the hard work and do whatever it takes to change people's perspectives.
"The perspective that no longer is Connacht just the fourth team, Connacht is there to compete with the best."
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