The legacy of the NBA Finals is filled with iconic history and moments. As history has shown, Game 7 matchups have particularly shaped the league’s legacies. Among these iconic games, LeBron James stands out as a pivotal figure, having led the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory over the Golden State Warriors in 2016. This historic victory finished with a score of 93-89, making sports history at the same time. James carried his team to the championship, winning the title. He achieved Finals MVP status, netting a tremendous 37-point, 12-rebound Game 7 finale.
The 2016 Finals were especially momentous in this respect, as they featured the Cavaliers pulling off the first-ever comeback from a 3-1 series deficit. This incredible victory over the Warriors not only had miraculous comeback written all over it, but further inscribed James’ leadership and magic in the NBA history books. In Game 7, he made winning plays down the stretch and his hustle was unmeasurable. It was a jaw-dropping performance and only cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
LeBron James holding the MVP trophy he won in the 2013 NBA Finals, when he played for the Miami Heat. He managed this incredible feat again in the 2016 Finals. The Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win the NBA Championship. James’ contributions were monumental in this historic championship run, reflecting James’ ability to use clutch performances in important games to deliver a historic championship run.
The legacy of NBA Finals Game 7 matchups goes way back, long before James’, or anyone’s, accomplishments. In 1988, the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed over the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, with James Worthy taking home the Finals MVP award. It fittingly ended with the Lakers winning the championship in dramatic fashion 108-105, a true testament to their grit and determination to defeat a powerful adversary.
The other big 1980s matchup was in 1984, when Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics went to war with Magic Johnson and the Lakers. It was Larry Bird’s Celtics who prevailed, with Bird named MVP as Boston defeated the Seattle Sonics 111-102. This high stakes matchup deepened the rivalry between these two legendary franchises and is still fresh in the minds of basketball fans.
The New York Knicks left their own indelible stamp on NBA Finals history in 1970 by emerging victorious over the Lakers. The final score of the game isn’t recorded, but since then it’s been an incredibly important moment for the franchise. Willis Reed on his way to winning the MVP award, cementing his legend.
In 1994, Hakeem Olajuwon seized the moment and carried the Houston Rockets to a spectacular championship. They went on to defeat the Knicks in the NBA Finals. It was that epic — and the Rockets won their title in overtime by a score of 90-84. Olajuwon’s brilliant performance was rightly rewarded with the Finals MVP award.
Perhaps no NBA team ever executed this better than the San Antonio Spurs in 2005, when they beat the Detroit Pistons. Tim Duncan took home MVP honors as the Spurs came out on top, adding another chapter to their legacy in NBA history.
Leave a Reply