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The 15 Greatest NBA Finals Moments of All Time

By YPB Team

The NBA Finals have produced some of basketball's most iconic and heart-stopping moments. From Willis Reed's legendary entrance to LeBron's chase-down block, which moment stands above all others?

  1. Jordan's Last Shot — ranked #11
    Jordan's Last Shot
    Michael Jordan's series-winning jumper over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals — the final moment of the Bulls' dynasty — became the most iconic image in basketball history.
    1000pts
  2. Dr. J's Baseline Reverse Layup — ranked #22
    Dr. J's Baseline Reverse Layup
    Julius Erving's behind-the-backboard scooping layup in Game 4 of the 1980 Finals left Magic Johnson calling it 'the greatest move I've ever seen in a basketball game.'
    862pts
  3. Cavaliers' 3-1 Comeback — ranked #33
    Cavaliers' 3-1 Comeback
    In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the only team in NBA history to win a championship after trailing 3-1, completing a miracle comeback against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
    801pts
  4. Jordan's Flu Game — ranked #44
    Jordan's Flu Game
    Despite suffering severe illness — widely attributed to food poisoning — Michael Jordan poured in 38 points in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, collapsing into Scottie Pippen's arms after the final buzzer.
    632pts
  5. LeBron's Chase-Down Block — ranked #55
    LeBron's Chase-Down Block
    LeBron James sprinted down the court in the final minute of Game 7 in 2016 to swat Andre Iguodala's layup off the backboard, preserving a tie that Cleveland eventually won in overtime.
    632pts
  6. Magic's Sky Hook — ranked #66
    Magic's Sky Hook
    Magic Johnson's baby sky hook with two seconds left in Game 4 of the 1987 Finals sealed an improbable Lakers win over the Celtics in what Magic called the greatest play of his life.
    548pts
  7. Ray Allen's Corner Three — ranked #77
    Ray Allen's Corner Three
    With 5.2 seconds left in a do-or-die Game 6 in 2013, Ray Allen back-stepped to the corner and swished a three-pointer that saved the Heat's season and became one of the most clutch shots ever made.
    449pts
  8. Willis Reed's Entrance — ranked #88
    Willis Reed's Entrance
    In Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, an injured Willis Reed limped onto Madison Square Garden's court, instantly energizing the Knicks to their first championship over the Lakers.
    448pts
  9. Shaq's Three-Peat Dominance — ranked #99
    Shaq's Three-Peat Dominance
    Shaquille O'Neal's historic run of three consecutive Finals MVPs from 2000 to 2002 produced some of the most physically dominant individual performances in championship history.
    448pts
  10. Dirk's Signature Fadeaway — ranked #1010
    Dirk's Signature Fadeaway
    Dirk Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway became the signature image of the Mavericks' 2011 championship run, where he outdueled LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in an iconic underdog triumph.
    448pts
  11. Steph Curry's 2022 Finals MVP — ranked #1111
    Steph Curry's 2022 Finals MVP
    After seven years of championships, injuries, and criticism about his Finals record, Stephen Curry delivered an unmatched 34-point Game 6 performance to finally claim the MVP trophy.
    329pts
  12. Allen Iverson's Crossover on Byron Scott — ranked #1212
    Allen Iverson's Crossover on Byron Scott
    Iverson's explosive 48-point explosion in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals against the heavily-favored Lakers — including stepping over Tyronn Lue — was the greatest individual Finals performance of the era.
    329pts
  13. OG Anunoby's Game-Winner — ranked #1313
    OG Anunoby's Game-Winner
    OG Anunoby's buzzer-beating mid-range jumper for the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals delivered Madison Square Garden its most electric moment in decades.
    329pts
  14. Kyrie's Three Over Curry — ranked #1414
    Kyrie's Three Over Curry
    Kyrie Irving's step-back three over Stephen Curry with 53 seconds left in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals put Cleveland ahead for good, completing the greatest comeback in championship history.
    0pts
  15. Magic Plays Center — ranked #1515
    Magic Plays Center
    In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, a 20-year-old Magic Johnson started at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and dropped 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch the championship.
    0pts

#sports638#basketball124#nba98#classics479#legends374#all-time312

Comments

Curry holds two of these fifteen moments: the 2022 Finals MVP, and Kyrie Irving's three in Game 7 of 2016, where he was the man being shot over: https://youpick.best/articles/stephen-curry-ranked-many-ways

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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