The Greatest NBA Finals of All Time
Contents
- The most exciting NBA Finals ever
- The best players in the NBA Finals
- The most dominant teams in the NBA Finals
- The most surprising NBA Finals results
- The most controversial NBA Finals moments
- The best individual performances in the NBA Finals
- The most memorable NBA Finals moments
- The most heartbreaking NBA Finals moments
- The funniest NBA Finals moments
- The most unforgettable NBA Finals
The 2015 NBA Finals were the greatest of all time. The Golden State Warriors led by Stephen Curry took on the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James
The most exciting NBA Finals ever
The NBA Finals are the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
The best players in the NBA Finals
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the Championship Series of the NBA and the conclusion of the sport’s postseason. All Finals have been played in a best-of-seven format, and contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference (formerly Divisions before 1970), except in 1950 when the Eastern Division champion faced the winner between the Western and Central Division champions.
The most dominant teams in the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual Championship Series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion.
Throughout NBA history there have been some truly dominant teams that have appeared in the Finals. These teams have included some of the greatest players to ever play the game and they have often gone on to win the championship.
In recent years the Golden State Warriors have been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA Finals They have appeared in the Finals five times since 2015, winning three championships. The Warriors are led by two-time MVP Stephen Curry and All-Stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
The Warriors are not the only team to be dominant in the NBA Finals The Los Angeles Lakers have appeared in 31 Finals, winning 16 championships. The Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history and they have had some truly great teams over the years.
The Chicago Bulls also had a period of dominance in the 1990s, appearing in six Finals and winning six championships. The Bulls were led by Michael Jordan who is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time.
These are just a few of the most dominant teams in NBA Finals history. There have been many other great teams that have had success in the Finals, but these three teams stand out as being among the best.
The most surprising NBA Finals results
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion.
In nearly 50 years of the NBA Finals there have only been two teams that have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship.
The first team to do it was the 1969-70 Boston Celtics They were down 3-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers but won three straight games to take home the title. The Celtics were led by legendary Head Coach Red Auerbach and stars Bill Russell and John Havlicek.
The other team to pull off the comeback was the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers They were down 3-1 against the Golden State Warriors but won three straight games, including aGame 7 on the road. The Cavaliers were led by Lebron James Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
The Warriors had set the regular season record with 73 wins, but they ended up losing in one of the most surprising results in NBA Finals history.
The most controversial NBA Finals moments
The most controversial NBA Finals moments are often the ones that fans can’t stop talking about long after the fact. Here are a few of the most talked-about moments in NBA Finals history.
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World: On May 7, 1969, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals the Los Angeles Lakers’ Elgin Baylor hit a half-court shot to beat the Boston Celtics 111-110. The shot was later dubbed “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
The Block Heard ‘Round the World: On June 1, 1998, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Chicago Bulls’ Scottie Pippen blocked a last-second shot by Utah Jazz player Karl Malone that would have tied the game. The block is considered one of the greatest defensive plays in NBA history
The Malice at the Palace: On November 19, 2004, in a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons a fight broke out between players and fans at Detroit’s Palace of Auburn Hills. The incident is considered one of the worst meltdowns in sports history.
The best individual performances in the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The annual seven-game series determines the league champion, which receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The winning team of the series receives the Clarence S. Carrier Championship Ring.
Lebron James is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has appeared in nine NBA Finals winning four championships (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020). In 2012, he led the Miami Heat to a victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game This performance earned him his first Finals MVP Award
In 2013, James again led the Heat to victory over the Thunder in seven games. He averaged 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game for the series, and was named Finals MVP for the second consecutive year.
The 2016 NBA Finals saw James and the Cleveland Cavaliers face off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in what would become one of the most iconic rivalries in sports history. After losing the first two games of the series, James and the Cavaliers went on to win four straight games to take home their first championship in franchise history. For his efforts, James was named Finals MVP for a third time.
In 2020, James led the Lakers to victory over fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard and the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game for the series, James was once again named Finals MVP – becoming only one of two players in NBA history (Michael Jordan is the other) to have won four Finals MVP Awards *
The most memorable NBA Finals moments
The NBA Finals is the highlight of the Basketball season Every year, the best teams in the league face off in a seven-game series to decide who will be crowned the champion.
There have been some incredible moments in NBA Finals history. From game-winning shots to dominant individual performances, the Finals always seem to produce unforgettable moments.
Here are some of the most memorable NBA Finals moments of all time:
1. Michael Jordan’s Flu Game (1997)
In one of the most impressive individual performances in NBA Finals history, Michael Jordan played through flu-like symptoms to lead the Chicago Bulls to victory in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals Jordan finished the game with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals as the Bulls went on to win the series in six games.
2. Magic Johnson’s Baby Skyhook (1980)
With the Lakers trailing by one point with just seconds remaining in Game 4 of the 1980 NBA Finals Magic Johnson took matters into his own hands. The rookie point guard drove towards the basket and hit a signature “baby skyhook” over multiple Boston defenders to give Los Angeles a one-point lead. The Lakers would go on to win the game in overtime and eventually take home the championship.
3. Ray Allen’s Three-Pointer (2013)
In one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA Finals history, Ray Allen hit a clutch three-pointer to send Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals into overtime. The shot helped propelthe Miami Heat to victory and even up the series at three games apiece. The Heat would go on to win Game 7 and capture their second straight championship.
4. Kobe Bryant’s Buzzer Beater (2002)
With just seconds remaining in Game 2 of the 2002 NBA Finals Kobe Bryant hit a fadeaway jumper over Tyronn Lue to give the Los Angeles Lakers a two-point lead. The shot sealed an eventual Lakers victory and gave them a commanding 2-0 lead in what would be a dominant four-game sweep of New Jersey Nets
The most heartbreaking NBA Finals moments
The most heartbreaking NBA Finals moments are often the ones that happen in the final seconds of the game. These are the moments when a team’s hopes and dreams are dashed in an instant, and the pain of defeat is felt by everyone involved.
For fans, these moments can be hard to watch. But they are also the moments that make the NBA Finals the greatest spectacle in all sports. Here are some of the most heartbreaking NBA Finals moments of all time.
1) The Shot
In 1998, the Chicago Bulls were trailing the Utah Jazz by two points with just seconds remaining in Game 6 of the NBA Finals The Bulls had one last chance to win it, and they gave the ball to their star player Michael Jordan Jordan drove to the basket and hit a jump shot over Jazz defender Bryon Russell to give the Bulls a 90-88 lead with just seconds remaining. The shot is now considered one of the greatest clutch shots in NBA history and it helped Jordan cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
2) The Missed Free Throw
In 2016, the Golden State Warriors were leading the Cleveland Cavaliers by two points with less than 10 seconds remaining in Game 7 of the NBA Finals The Cavaliers had one last chance to tie or win the game, but they needed to make two Free throws to do so. Cavs guard Kyrie Irving stepped to the line and made his first free throw but he missed his second. The Warriors then secured possession of the ball and won their second consecutive NBA Championship For Irving, it was a devastating moment that will likely haunt him for years to come.
3) The Block
In 2014, Lebron James and his Miami Heat were trailing by two points against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs with less than 20 seconds remaining in Game 6 of the NBA Finals James had possession of the ball and was driving to basket when Spurs defender Kawhi Leonard jumped up and blocked his shot from behind. The Spurs then went on to win Game 6 in overtime, clinching their fifth NBA Championship For James, it was a crushing moment that overshadowed an otherwise brilliant performance in what was one of his best seasons ever.
4) The Fumble
In 2002, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers were leading Jason Kidd’s New Jersey Nets by two points with less than 30 seconds remaining in Game 5 of finals series when O’Neal fumbled away an alley-oop pass from Bryant. The Nets then went on to score four quick points off turnovers and win Game 5 by two points, taking a 3-2 lead in what would ultimately be a six-game series victory for them. It was a costly mistake by O’Neal that led directly to a Nets victory, and it undoubtedly left him feeling heartbroken after what should have been a triumphant moment for him and his Lakers teammates.
5) The free throw Rebound
In 2016, Draymond Green of te Golden State Warriors was fouled while shooting a three-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining in Game 7 of Geen’s rookie season against te Cleveland Cavaliers while down two points 96–98 He made all three resulting Free throws giving de Warriors de lead which dey did not relinquish winning de game en route te deir first championship In Green’s post-game press conference he said “I’ve dreamed about making that play my whole life” Had Green missd even only one shot te Cavaliers wouwd have gotten de rebound en had Te opportunity te tie or take de wead making dese free throws some among de most important en impactful ever
The funniest NBA Finals moments
Although the NBA Finals are mostly a time for serious basketball action there have been plenty of funny moments throughout the years. From players slipping on the court to Air balls and celebrate fails, here are some of the funniest Finals moments captured on camera.
One of the most infamous funny Finals moments happened during game six of the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz With the Bulls up by two points, Jazz player Karl Malone was fouled by Dennis Rodman with just 7.9 seconds left in the game. As Malone went to shoot his free throws Rodman decided to take a nap on the court and ended up falling asleep! Although Malone made both free throws the Jazz ultimately lost the game in overtime.
Another memorable funny moment happened during Game Seven of the 2000 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers As Lakers player Shaquille O’Neal went to shoot a free throw Pacers player Reggie Miller decided to give him a little bit of a push. O’Neal missed his free throw and Miller was given a Technical foul but it was still a hilarious moment captured on camera.
The 2006 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks also had its fair share of funny moments. Late in game five, Heat player Dwyane Wade slipped on the wet court while trying to defend Mavericks player Jason Terry. Wade ended up falling on his backside and Terry scored an easy layup as a result. Luckily for Wade, his Heat team went on to win that game and ultimately took home the championship.
These are just a few of the many funny moments that have happened during past NBA Finals games Although players are usually trying their best to avoid making mistakes during such an important series, sometimes things don’t go as planned and we all get a good laugh as a result.
The most unforgettable NBA Finals
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the championship series of the NBA, a Professional Basketball league in North America The annual event finishes the NBA’s playoff season which begins in late April or early May.
The Finals themselves were originally named the BAA Finals prior to the 1949–50 season when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merged with the National Basketball League to become the NBA. Since 1949, it has been played between the champions of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference (also named as such since 1970), except in 1950 when the Eastern Division champions faced Western Division champions due to regular season cancellations caused by a league-wide players’ strike. The Eastern Conference/Division leads with 27 championships, while the Western Conference/Division has earned 21 titles.
The Boston Celtics have appeared in more NBA Finals than any other team, with 21 appearances and 17 wins. The Los Angeles Lakers have appeared in 16 Finals and won 11 times, while their rivals, the Boston Celtics have appeared in 21 Finals games with 17 wins. The Miami Heat have appeared in six Finals, winning three times while representing both the Eastern and Western Conferences.