The NBA has always been a source of thrilling moments, and each decade has brought its unique share of unforgettable highlights. In the 1980s, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird headlined a golden era that saw the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics dominate. Magic’s “junior, junior sky hook” in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals against the Celtics epitomized clutch performance. The Lakers took the series in six games, adding another trophy to their cabinet. Magic’s versatility allowed him to play all five positions with incredible efficiency, a feat highlighted by his 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The ’90s undoubtedly belonged to Michael Jordan. His “Flu Game” in the 1997 NBA Finals cemented his legacy. Despite suffering from a virus, Jordan scored 38 points to lead the Bulls to a crucial Game 5 victory over the Utah Jazz. Another iconic Jordan moment came in 1998 when he hit “The Shot” over Bryon Russell to win his sixth and final championship. This shot not only showcased Jordan’s clutch gene but solidified the Bulls’ place in history with six titles in eight years, an efficiency rate of 75% in the Finals.
The early 2000s featured the dominance of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. Shaq’s sheer power and Kobe’s scoring prowess led to a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. Shaq’s performance in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals, where he scored 18 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter alone, remains legendary. The Lakers’ dominance during this period was unparalleled, capturing titles with an average winning margin of 14 points per game in the 2001 playoffs.
The late 2000s to early 2010s saw the rise of the Big Three era with the Boston Celtics and later the Miami Heat. In 2008, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen led the Celtics to their first championship since 1986. Pierce’s memorable Game 1 in the 2008 Finals, dubbed “The Wheelchair Game,” where he returned heroically after an apparent knee injury, inspired fans and teammates alike. The next wave of dominance came when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh formed their trio in Miami. LeBron’s Game 6 performance against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, where he scored 45 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, silenced critics and propelled the Heat to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
The mid-2010s to present have seen the Golden State Warriors’ revolutionary approach to the game. Led by Stephen Curry’s otherworldly three-point shooting, the Warriors clinched their first title in 2015. Steph’s performance in Game 5 of the 2015 Finals, where he drained seven threes and scored 37 points, shifted the series in the Warriors’ favor. The arrival of Kevin Durant in 2016 made them virtually unstoppable, capturing titles in 2017 and 2018. Durant’s back-to-back Finals MVP performances, coupled with the Warriors’ 73-win regular season in 2016, redefined efficiency in basketball.
The pandemic-shortened 2020 season brought its unique challenges, culminating in the “Bubble Championship” won by the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James, then 35, led the Lakers to victory over the Miami Heat, securing his fourth NBA title. His ability to maintain peak performance over a 17-year career, as evidenced by his Finals MVP award at such a stage, reaffirms his place among the greats. Anthony Davis’s buzzer-beater in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets further highlighted the high stakes and drama of the bubble environment.
Each era has had its champions, but what ties them all together is their ability to rise in the defining moments. From Magic’s versatility and Jordan’s clutchness to Shaq and Kobe’s dominance, LeBron’s longevity, and the Warriors’ revolutionizing of the game, the history of NBA Champions is a tapestry of excellence and unforgettable instances. If you want to dive deeper into the historical specifics, check out the nba champions by year for a detailed breakdown of each season’s champions.