Who Played In The 2012 Nba Finals?

The 2012 NBA Finals were the championship series of the 2012 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat defeated the Western Conference champions Oklahoma City Thunder 4 games to 1 to win their second NBA title.

The Teams

The 2012 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, which was played between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the series 4 games to 2.

The Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The Heat play their home games at American Airlines Arena, and have won three NBA championships.

The franchise began play in 1988 as an expansion team, where after a period of mediocrity, the Heat would gain relevance during the 1990s following the appointment of former head coach Pat Riley in 1996, who would lead them to nine playoff appearances in as many years. In 2002, after losing in the Eastern Conference finals to the New Jersey Nets, Riley resigned as head coach, handing the reigns over to Stan Van Gundy. Under Van Gundy, and following a trade for Shaquille O’Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami qualified for its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006; they went on to lose that series to Dallas four games to two.

In 2010, after losing in back-to-back NBA Finals against the Lakers and Boston Celtics, Riley returned as team president and helped lead them to acquire Chris Bosh from Toronto and Dwyane Wade from free agency; forming a Big Three. The trio helped lead Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. Following their 2013 championship run, LeBron James elected to return to his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. In just his second season back with Cleveland, James led them to defeating the Golden State Warriors in 2016 for their first ever championship; becoming the first team since besides Miami (in 2012 and 2013) that LeBron James had not been on that won an NBA title during his time with the franchise. Two years later in 2018 James again departed from free agency signing with Los Angeles Lakers; where he currently plays today alongside Anthony Davis (whom they acquired via trade), forming one of if not currently considered by some “the best duo” or “new Big Three” currently playing together today.

In 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic large postponements and cancellations took place; including for seasons like the WNBA’s which was set to have started its season in May but didn’t start until July 25th due at least partially in response to nationwide protests following George Floyd’s murder that had taken place earlier that month by police officer Derek Chauvin who pled guilty on all charges related to Floyd’s death on March 29th 2021 almost a year later; with their season shortened from 34 regular season games down too 22. The NBA had also been postponed near indefinitely due at least partially because several players had tested positive for COVID-19 including multiple All-Stars such as Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets who ended up sitting out practically the entire 2020-21 regular season only playing 23 games averaging over 27 points per game before returning late near playoffs helping lead his team too their first ever Finals appearance since he joined them via free agency prior too last season; with them eventually losing too LeBron James’ Lakers 4 games too 2 however Durant did win Finals MVP averaging over 32 points per game throughout playoffs while shooting over 52% from field goals including almost 42% from three point range showing he had returned fully healthy after fully recovering from his previous Achilles tendon injury he had suffered during 2019 NBA Finals while still being member of then Golden State Warriors helping them win that year’s championship defeating Kyrie Irving’s then Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games too 0 giving him his 2nd ever Finals MVP award which up until this past season was most recent one received by any player other than LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard who had won it 2018 & 2019 respectively while members of Toronto Raptors & Leonard would end up winning it again 2020 after joining Los Angeles Clippers via trade helping lead them too their first ever Finals appearance defeating then defending champion Golden State Warriors 4 games too 2 becoming only player ever receive 3 Finals MVP awards other than James himself who has won record setting 4 such awards himself most recently 2016 while still being member of then Cleveland Cavaliers prior too returning home where he played first 7 seasons professionally winning 1st ever championship 2010 defeating then defending champion Los Angeles Lakers led by Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol 4 games too 2 giving him 1st ever Finals MVP award average 28 points per game including shooting 48% from field goals throughout series en route securing what is considered “Cleveland Sports Curse” breaking 52 year long professional sports championship drought city had been dealing with since 1964 when then Browns defeated then Baltimore Colts 27–0 win 1964 NFL Championship Game at old Municipal Stadium infamously known simply as “The Drive” & “The Fumble” game following which they lost next 3 AFC Championship Games consecutively 198719881989 teams coached respectively by Marty Schottenheimer Bill Belichick & Bud Carson squandering opportunity return Super Bowl following each heartbreaking losses mainly due key players errors costly turnovers respectively Earnest Byner fumble short yard line while driving score game tying touchdown late 4th quarter when Browns leading Denver Broncos 38–31 Round 2 AFC Playoffs 1987 famously known simply as “The Fumble”; Scott Norwood wide right last second field goal attempt while trailing Buffalo Bills 20–19 heading into final play Super Bowl XXV 1991 despite Bills missing earlier 35 yarder himself couple minutes earlier allowing Browns potentially tie game up drive down field rather than run out clock which they did eventually leading kneel down final seconds Bills ran out clock resulting 20–19 Bills victory; remains only time Browns appeared Super Bowl franchise history; & Frank Reich come backbuffalo comebacksuper bowlhistory comebacks nfl greatest comebacks greatest come backs down 35 points biggest nfl comeback biggest nfl combacks nfl largest comeback lar gest nfl comebacks trailing 28 points entering fourth quarter 1992 AFC Wild Card Playoff Game arguably biggest comeback any playoff game any sport history overcame deficit secure 41–38 overtime victory Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon Oilers never recovered blowing 28 point halftime advantage en route sinking what many consider among greatest collapses single game history any sport let alone football seeing how serious accusations blown call officiating well Oilers blatantly running out clock rather than attempting score themselves taking apparent intentional safety rather playing prevent defense allowing Browns score touchdown make 2 point conversion close gap 28 points tie game 3838 late fourth quarter before going onto win 41–38 overtime

The Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Thunder franchise was originally established in Seattle, Washington as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. The team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became known as the Thunder.

The Thunder are one of the most successful teams in recent years. They have made the playoffs eight times since moving to Oklahoma City, including five trips to the NBA Finals. They won their first NBA Championship in 2018.

The Thunder roster is full of young talent, including All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The team is coached by Billy Donovan and managed by General Manager Sam Presti.

The Players

The 2012 NBA Finals featured two very talented rosters. The Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat, were led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The Western Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, were led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.

LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history. Discussions ranking him as the greatest basketball player of all time have often accompanied his accomplishments and superiority on the court. James’ playing style has been compared to that of National Football League wide receiver Jerry Rice, as well as Mike Ditka, who once said that “LeBron James is the most dominant player I’ve ever seen.” At 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 250 pounds (113 kg), he has played center, power forward, small forward, and point guard. A four-time NBA MVP, a three-time Finals MVP, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, James is considered by many to be one of the most accomplished athletes of his generation.

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade (born January 17, 1982) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has nicknamed “Flash” or “D-Wade”. Wade was born in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. He attended Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn and played college basketball at Marquette University. Wade was drafted fifth overall by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft.

In his third season, Wade led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history and was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wade won a gold medal as a member of the United States men’s basketball team. In the 2008–09 season, Wade led the NBA in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title. With LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Wade helped guide Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. During this time, Wade established himself as one of the best shooting guards in the league. After dealing with various injuries over his career, including shoulder and knee soreness that sidelined him for most of the 2015–16 season, on July 7, 2016, Wade was released by Miami after 13 seasons with franchise to join his hometown Chicago Bulls as a free agent on a two-year deal worth $47 million.

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh played power forward for the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals. He is 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds. Bosh was born on March 24, 1984, in Dallas, Texas. He played college basketball at Georgia Tech before being drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Bosh spent seven seasons with the Raptors, averaging 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. In 2010, he joined the Miami Heat, where he won two NBA championships alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Bosh averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game during the 2011-12 NBA season.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has played one season in the NBA, during which he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Durant has also been a member of the United States national basketball team, winning a gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook (born November 12, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a five-time NBA All-Star and earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 2016. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), he plays the point guard position and is known for his explosive speed and athleticism. Westbrook played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who then relocated to Oklahoma City six days later.

James Harden

James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Arizona State, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009. Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In 2012, he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year with the Thunder and helped lead them to the NBA Finals that year. He was traded to Houston before the start of the 2012–13 season. During his time with the Rockets, he became one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers and earned recognition as one of its best shooting guards, winning the MVP Award in 2018.

The Coaches

Erik Spoelstra

Erik Spoelstra (born November 1, 1970) is an American professional basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Spoelstra has led the Heat to seven playoff appearances, four NBA Finals appearances, and back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

Spoelstra was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Jon Spoelstra (1944–2015), then-general manager of the Buffalo Braves, and his Filipina wife Esther (née Lucido). He is a graduate of both Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, California and the University of Portland. At Portland, he played basketball under head coach Jack Ramsay.

In 1997, Spoelstra joined the Miami Heat as an assistant video coordinator under Pat Riley. He was promoted to assistant coach/video coordinator two years later. In 2001, he became an assistant coach under Stan Van Gundy. After working as an advance scout for one year due to Van Gundy’s firing midway through the 2005–06 season, he was promoted to lead assistant for new head coach Riley for 2006–07.

When Riley resigned as head coach prior to the start of the 2008–09 season citing health reasons, Spoelstra was named as his replacement. He became one of the youngest head coaches at age 37 years old.

Scott Brooks

Scott Brooks (born July 31, 1965) is an American basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Houston Rockets. He has also served as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards. Brooks played college basketball for UC Irvine from 1983 to 1987. He began his coaching career as a player-coach for Tulsa in the World Basketball League in 1990.