Who Won the 2009 NBA Finals?

The 2009 NBA Finals were one of the most exciting in recent memory. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic went back and forth in a seven-game series that had fans on the edge of their seats. In the end, the Lakers emerged victorious, but it was a close series that could have gone either way.

The Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 NBA Finals, defeating the Orlando Magic four games to two. The Lakers winning the title gave them their fifteenth championship overall, which is the most in NBA history. Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP for his outstanding play throughout the series.

The Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic won the 2009 NBA Finals. This was the first time in franchise history that the Magic had won the NBA Finals.

The Cleveland Cavaliers

The 2009 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s championship series for the 2008–09 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers (who were also defending their 2008 NBA championship), and the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic. This was the second time these two teams had met in the NBA Finals, having played each other in the 1995 NBA Finals; they became only the ninth set of teams to have met twice or more times in the Finals. The Lakers sweeped the Magic, winning the series 4–0.[1][2] This was also Phil Jackson’s sixth NBA championship, tying him with Red Auerbach for second place on the all-time list for head coaches.[3][4]

The 57th edition of the series was played between June 4 and June 14 and broadcast on ABC in both countries. The Lakers entered as defending champions after winning an NBA-record seventeenth title in Shaquille O’Neal’s final season with them eight years prior, losing only four games during that year’s playoffs. After dispatching both Denver and Houston teams that required six and seven games respectively in their first two playoff rounds, they encountered their former Finals opponent Orlando Magic—making a return after a twelve-year drought—in the Eastern Conference Finals.[5][6] Although they dropped Game 1 at home, they recovered to win four consecutive games to take the series 4–1. As LeBron James led his team to victory during his first ever appearance in an NBA Finals,[7] he earned himself criticisms regarding his individual performance compared to past performances by other “superstars” who had possessed poor records during their debut.[8] However, some basketball analysts—such as Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson—argued he had improved greatly over those years as well as gave credit for Cleveland finally reaching The Finals after many seasons of disappointment.[9][10]

In Game 1 of The Finals at Staples Center, Kobe Bryant scored 30 points to lead his team to victory despite a triple double by James.[11][12] After taking Game 2 easily 88-68 due largely to 38 points by Bryant,[13] they won 90–75 another dominant victory led by Bryant’s 32 points whileJames scored only 16.[14][15] 3 Cleveland managed stay alive by winning Game 4 96–95 while avoiding a sweep after trailing almost throughout entire game behind James’ 29 points as well as 25 rebounds; it also marked Orlando’s first ever loss at home in fourteen tries during postseason play against Eastern Conference opponents since 2003.[16][17] Game 5 came down to final few possessions which were controlled mostly by players from both teams who happened drive lanes towards basket; although many such shots were usually missed or fumbled away which resulted very few points being scored that way given how both defenses had been playing so far throughout game. In end however Cleveland made key stops on defensive end including forcing turnovers that enabled team finally take slim lead late game then hold on win 101–95 behind King James’ 25 points familiar heroics from earlier rounds which helped avoid being swept out playoffs giving fans something cheer about return home despite now facing insurmountable 3–2 deficit series.[18][19][20]’

The Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals in 2009. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. This was the Celtics’ fifth win in the Finals and their first since 1986.

The San Antonio Spurs

In 2009, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Finals. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in a close series, 4-3. Tim Duncan was named the Finals MVP.