NBA Finals moments
If roundball is your religion, the NBA Finals did not shortchange on excitement in the 2010s.
The past decade included eye-popping moments, shocking play calls and history-making games.
LeBron James, arguably the greatest player to lace up in the league, finally won his first championship after 13 seasons.
Dirk Nowitzki, a 14-time AllStar who retired at the end of the 2018-19 season, won his only championship during his 21season career.
Two 3-pointers in the closing moments of games changed the course of those series, one of which capped what many analysts are calling one of the greatest games ever played.
And a dynasty was born in Oakland, where the Golden State Warriors advanced to the Finals five times in five years, winning three championships.
Jeff Zillgitt, Mark Medina, Matt Eppers and Heather Tucker, USA TODAY Sports’ NBA team, voted on the top 10 Finals moments of the decade. A look back:
1. James’ block in Game 7
LeBron James – a master of the come-from-behind block – eyed the action the entire way, jumped from outside the restricted-area circle and blocked Andre Iguodala’s layup with 1:50 left in the 2016 game. Two possessions later, Kyrie Irving’s 3pointer put Cleveland ahead 9289 and a James free throw with 10.6 seconds left makes it 93-89. It was a great game punctuated by great individual plays, none more spectacular than James’ block. His play helped Cleveland win the title over the Golden State Warriors. It was the Cavaliers’ first championship and the first major professional sports title in the city since 1964.
2. Green’s 2016 suspension
What if Draymond Green hadn’t been suspended for Game 5? It’s one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. But Green was suspended after the league issued him a flagrant foul for swiping his hand at LeBron James twice near the end of Game 4. That gave him four flagrant foul points, triggering the one-game suspension. The Cavs won Game 5 on the road, Game 6 at home and Game 7 on the road for the championship, the first team to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit.
3. Allen 3-pointer in Game 6
It wasn’t the game-winning shot. It was the series-saving shot. And the backdrop in Miami made it all the more incredible. The Heat were moments from losing the 2013 series to San Antonio, and NBA staffers were near the court, preparing for a Spurs title. On a scramble for the ball following a missed shot, Chris Bosh secured it and threw it to Ray Allen, who backpedaled and made a corner 3pointer, tying the score with 5.2 seconds left and forcing overtime. Miami won and then won Game 7.
4. Warriors’ dynasty begins
The Warriors boasted an innovative offense and old school defense with joy. They had two of the NBA’s best shooters (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson). They had versatile defenders (Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala,
Andrew Bogut). And they had a new coach who made his stars and role players feel empowered (Steve Kerr). They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games in 2015 to win the first of three titles in five trips to the Finals.
5. KD beats LB, wins MVP
As soon as he nailed a 3pointer over LeBron James to cement a Game 3 win for Golden State, Kevin Durant considered himself worthy of any comparisons to James. After eight seasons in Oklahoma City without a title, Durant soon collected his first championship and first Finals MVP after the Warriors won in five games in 2017. And after being criticized for leaving the Thunder and enduring questions about his effort, Durant felt validated for joining the star-stacked Warriors.
6. Smith doesn’t know score
If only J.R. Smith knew the score was tied in 2018 Game 1. Then, Smith would have converted off a putback or passed to an open LeBron James to possibly steal Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. Instead, Smith dribbled out the clock and forced overtime, while James’ playoff career-high 51 points went to waste. Smith later said he knew the score but thought his team was going to call a timeout when he got the rebound, but James said, “I don’t know what JR was thinking.” The Warriors rolled over the Cavaliers in four games.
7. Nowitzki breaks through
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks shared a similar fate for so long: consistently great but not good enough to get over the hump. In his 13th season, Nowitzki and the Mavs finally claimed their elusive title in 2011, taking down the Big 3 – LeBron
James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – and the Miami Heat. Nowitzki averaged 27 points and was named Finals MVP to avenge a heartbreaking loss to the Heat in the 2006 Finals.
8. Kawhi Leonard breaks out
Kawhi Leonard made his star turn in the 2014 Finals as San Antonio avenged a loss to Miami the previous year. After a quiet first two games. Leonard took over in the final three, during which he averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals while shooting 68.6% to earn MVP. The Spurs dominated the Heat by an average of 19 points in three straight wins to clinch the title 4-1.
9. James finally wins first title
LeBron James’ third trip to the Finals in 2012 was the charm as the King finally won his first ring with a dominant MVP performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After flaming out in the Finals the previous year, James averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 4-1 series win. He summed up winning his first championship in his ninth season: “It’s about damn time.”
10. Ron Artest’s big Game 7
Ron Artest, now known as Metta World Peace, struggled with his shot in the first five games of the 2010 series as the Boston Celtics took a 3-2 lead. He re-emerged in Game 6, then was key in Game 7 with 20 points, five steals and a huge 3pointer with about a minute left that put the Los Angeles Lakers up six on the way to an 83-79 win and the 16th championship in franchise history. Artest capped his big shot by blowing a kiss to the home crowd.