MEMORABLE NBA MOMENTS
Dream Team dominates 1992 Barcelona Games
The first U.S. men’s Olympic team to feature active NBA players, the 1992 Dream Team has been described as one of the greatest sports team ever assembled and is credited with helping spur global interest in basketball. Featuring 11 future Hall of Famers, many at the peak of their NBA careers, the team went 8-0 at the Barcelona Games and rolled to the gold medal by an average winning margin of 43.8 points.
Bulls reach 70 wins, breaking Lakers’ record
No team in the league’s 75-year history has traveled through the NBA like the 1995-96 Bulls, who set a league record by winning their 70th game. There was the daily atmosphere of mass hysteria. The players were worshiped and adored. With a collection of the most intriguing personalities in sports history in Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson, they also may have been the most scrutinized team in the league’s history. As The Boston Globe once wrote, the Bulls managed to do what most cynics thought impossible: give meaning, vitality and panache to an otherwise interminable, meaningless and ho-hum six months known as the NBA regular season.
LeBron’s ‘The Decision’ and celebration
In one of the most defining moments of his career, James famously announced after the 2010 season he’d be taking his talents to South Beach in the ESPN special “The Decision.” James’ announcement to leave the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of forming a super team with the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh made him a villain for several years after. It remains the most-watched studio show in the network’s history with nearly 10 million viewers. To compound matters, the Heat staged an over-the-top introduction in which he said the Heat would win “not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven …” NBA titles. They won two before he left.
Michael Jordan’s ‘I’m back’ fax
Rumors had been swirling about Jordan ending his 17-month retirement since he had begun practicing with the Chicago Bulls earlier in the month. Now it was time to make it official. But when
Jordan wanted to announce he was returning to the NBA after a short stint in baseball, there was no social media instruments he could use. So Jordan spread the news by sending a fax to reporters.
After rejecting a number of press releases written by his agent David Falk, Jordan took out a piece of paper and wrote his own statement. It was two words: “I’m back.”
LeBron’s incredible ’07 Game 5
The numbers are still staggering: James scored the Cavaliers’ final 25 points and 29 of their last 30 to defeat the heavily favored Pistons 109-107 in double overtime. He shot 11-for-14 from the field over the final 16 minutes and finished with what was then a playoff career-high 48 points. Cleveland took a 3-2 series lead, then won Eastern Conference finals Game 6 to reach the NBA Finals for the first time.
Bill Russell, Celtics win eighth consecutive title
Russell and the Boston Celtics established the league’s greatest dynasty in the 1950s and 1960s, winning an incredible 11 NBA championships in 13 years, including eight in a row from 1959-66. Russell was stellar against the Lakers in the 1966 Finals, averaging 23.6 points and 24.3 rebounds in a seven-game series win.
Vince Carter dunk
Some consider Carter’s performance in 2000 the greatest in the league’s history. The player known as “Half Man, Half Amazing” put on a stunning display that blended his athleticism and grace on his way to winning the contest that season. On the signature dunk of the night, Carter put the ball between his legs off a bounce pass from Raptors teammate Tracy McGrady, taking inspiration from a picture he’d seen in a magazine a week before the contest – even though he’d never once tried it in practice.
Wilt Chamberlain quintuple-double
Even though Chamberlain played his final NBA game in 1973, he still holds 72 NBA records, many considered unbreakable. Near the top of that list is his quintuple-double, the first and only one in NBA history. In a March 18, 1968, game, Chamberlain had 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks and 11 steals (blocks and steals were not official stats at the time).
Magic Johnson wins All-Star MVP after retiring
Despite retiring early in the season due to his positive HIV diagnosis, Johnson was voted a starter by fans for the 1992 All-Star Game. Johnson led the Western Conference to a 153-113 victory with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The game ended with 14 seconds left when Johnson hit a final 3-pointer and players from both teams ran onto the court to congratulate him.
Darryl Dawkins shatters the glass – twice
Known as “Chocolate Thunder” for his signature powerful dunks, Dawkins shattered two backboards with slams in a three-week span in 1979 while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. His glassbreaking exploits led the NBA to adopt breakaway rims to prevent further dunking destruction.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s game-winning sky hook
In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar ended one of the most memorable NBA Finals games in history with his signature skyhook to give the Bucks a thrilling double-overtime win against the Celtics. Trailing 3-2 in the series and on the road for Game 6, Abdul-Jabbar saved a broken play and scored from the right baseline in the closing moments of the second OT for a 102-101 Bucks victory.
Allen Iverson steps over Ty Lue
Allen Iverson scored 48 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 107-101 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But that was just a small part of the story of that night. During the overtime period, Iverson drove and used his trademark crossover before scoring on a 16-foot fadeaway jumper. After draining the shot, Iverson stepped over Lue for one of the most iconic moments in playoff history.
Derek Fisher’s game-winner vs. Spurs
When Tim Duncan sunk a miracle running jumper over Shaquille O’Neal from the top of the key to put the Spurs up 73-72 with 0.4 left on the clock in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference finals, it put the Spurs up 73-72. Turn out the lights? Not so fast. With Gary Payton inbounding, Derek Fisher broke free to the left elbow and launched a fadeaway, swishing an improbable 18-footer for the win. The Lakers would go on to win the series in six games.
Malice in the Palace
On Nov. 19, 2004, Indiana’s Ron Artest jumped into the stands to confront a Detroit Pistons fan who threw a drink at
him as he was laying on the scorers table. What came next was one of the more infamous moments in sports history. There were just 45.9 seconds remaining in the game when absolute mayhem erupted in The Palace.
It had been a tough, physical game and tensions were high. Despite trailing 97-82, some Pistons starters were still in the game. Ben Wallace attempted a layup when Ron Artest fouled him from behind, slapping him across the back of the head. That led to players and coaches from both teams to confront each other on the court. To calm himself, Artest lay on the scorers table. Then a fan threw a cup of beer, hitting Artest. Artest ran into the crowd, followed by his teammate Stephen Jackson, leading to a chaotic scene. Artest and the Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal swung at two fans who rushed to the court. Artest was suspended for the remainder of the season (73 games). Jackson (30 games), O’Neal (25) and Anthony Johnson (five) also were suspended. Wallace received a six-game suspension.
Slam-dunk contest – MJ from free throw line
By 1987, Michael Jordan had established himself as a high-flying, electrifying star – who could dunk with authority and style. He had appeared in previous dunk contests and didn’t win. At the 1987 All-Star Game, he participated again and pulled off an amazing dunk, taking off from the foul line. Julius Erving did a similar dunk at the 1976 ABA All-Star Game. Jordan took it to the next level. While Erving’s dunk was fantastic, it was relatively straightforward. Jordan did a
double-clutch with the ball in his right hand, feet moving like he was walking on air and tongue out.
KD causes a stir by heading to Warriors, wins two Finals MVPs
Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City had a 3-1 series lead against Golden State in the 2016 Western Conference finals. And lost the series. Then, Durant decided that if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. He teamed up with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to win titles in 2017 and 2018 with Durant earning Finals MVP in both seasons. Durant received plenty of criticism for his decision but he has the rings and trophies to show for it. Injuries to Durant and Thompson derailed their 2019 Finals and then Durant bolted for Brooklyn.
3-point shot introduced
Initially on a one-year trial basis, the 3-point line was adopted by the NBA for the 1979-80 season. Since its introduction to the NBA, it has completely changed the way basketball is played. George Mikan, a five-time NBA champion with the Minneapolis Lakers, once said the 3-pointer would “give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable to fans.”
When introduced, the 3-point line was positioned at a distance of 22 feet from the hoop in the corners and at a distance of 23 feet and 9 inches to the top of the arc. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is credited with making the NBA’s first 3pointer, in a 114-106 win over the Houston Rockets.
Gimpy Isiah Thomas carries Pistons
While Willis Reed’s coming out of the tunnel for the Knicks in the 1970 NBA Finals is all the rage, some believe Isiah Thomas’ performance on a bum ankle was more impressive. In Game 6 of the 1988 Finals, Thomas scored 25 points in the third quarter, despite a sprained ankle suffered late in the period.
Thomas scored 43 and had eight assists. Magic Johnson called it Thomas’ greatest game, but the Pistons lost 103102 to the Lakers and dropped Game 7 two days later. With his ankle still bothersome, Thomas was a non-factor in Game 7.
Michael Jordan’s final shot
With Game 6 of the NBA Finals hanging in the balance and the Chicago Bulls trailing the Utah Jazz, there was little suspense who was taking the Bulls’ final shot: Michael Jordan. But Jordan’s heroics began earlier. With the Bulls trailing by three in the final minute, Jordan first scored on a drive.
Then he stripped the ball from Karl Malone at the defensive end. Finally, he buried the game-winning shot, a 20footer with 5.2 seconds left – complete with the iconic image of Jordan posing with his right hand in the air as the ball dropped through the nets – that gave the Bulls an 87-86 victory and their sixth championship in eight years.
Tim Donaghy conspires to fix NBA games
Donaghy, a former NBA referee, was part of the biggest betting scandal to rock the league. After admitting to betting on the games he officiated, Donaghy served 15 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to transmit gambling information during the 2006-07 NBA season.
Warriors dynasty, 3 titles in 5 years
The Golden State Warriors had the talent with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green. Golden State hired Steve Kerr as coach and helped maximize that talent. Golden State appeared in five consecutive Finals, including the first four against Cleveland. They won in 2015, lost in 2016, acquired Kevin Durant and won two back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 and lost to Toronto in 2019. Along the way, Curry won two MVPs, Thompson, Durant and Green were AllStars and Kerr was named coach of the year when Golden State went 73-9 in 2015-16, setting a record for most wins in a season.
Heat-Knicks brawl
Late 1990s basketball was not always pleasant on the eye with Miami coach Pat Riley and New York coach Jeff Van Gundy employing harsh defensive tactics. So when the two teams met in the 1998 playoffs, you could expect a slugfest. Because it was also a slugfest with a brawl in their 1997 playoff series. In Game 4 in 1998, the Heat’s Alonzo Mourning and the Knicks’ Larry Johnson – once teammates with Charlotte – exchanged punches with neither really connecting. The moment was marked by Van Gundy running onto the court, slipping and grabbing Mourning’s leg – with Mourning dragging the disheveled Van Gundy across the floor.
Isiah Thomas’ 16 points in 94 seconds
The Pistons were on the rise but hadn’t broken through in the 1984 playoffs. And the finale of this five-game series was moved to Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena because of a scheduling conflict (tractor pull) at the Silverdome in nearby Pontiac. Trailing by eight points late in the game, Pistons guard Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in 94 seconds as Detroit tied the score and forced overtime. However, the Pistons couldn’t stop Bernard King, who had 44 points, and the Knicks eliminated the Pistons.
Bulls complete second 3-peat in eight seasons
It is unlikely that any team will ever match or exceed the Boston Celtics’ eight straight championships in the 1960s. The Chicago Bulls came the closest when they won six titles in eight seasons, interrupted only by Michael Jordan’s foray into baseball. The two three-peats cemented Jordan’s legacy as perhaps the greatest player. Could the Bulls have won eight straight titles if Jordan hadn’t retired? Some observers believe so.
Kawhi Leonard gets the bounce in Game 7
In his first and only season with Toronto in 2018-19, Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to the title, made possible by his winning buzzer-beater in Game 7 of the Eastern finals against Philadelphia. It was the first buzzer-beater in a Game 7. His 15-foot fadeaway shot over the Sixers’ Joel Embiid hit the rim four times before falling through the hoop for a 92-90 victory. The ball left his hands with 0.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and it seemed an arena full of fans went quiet waiting to see what happened.