13 NBA Finals Moments That Still Don’t Feel Real
The NBA Finals are built for legends, but some moments go beyond the box score and end up etched into basketball history. These scenes sparked memes and left fans and players alike asking, “What just happened?” Here are 15 unforgettable Finals moments that prove anything can happen under the brightest lights.
Klay Thompson Shoots Free Throws on a Torn ACL
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, Klay Thompson went down hard after a foul from Danny Green. Then, Thompson limped back onto the court just to hit two free throws after tearing his ACL! Under NBA rules, if he didn’t shoot them, he couldn’t return. He made both, then exited for good.
Ray Allen Sends It to Overtime
Credit: theScore
The Spurs were 19 seconds from a championship in 2013. Arena staff were already wheeling out the yellow rope for the celebration. Then Chris Bosh pulled down a rebound and found Ray Allen, who calmly stepped back to the corner and drained the three. Miami won in OT.
J.R. Smith Dribbles the Wrong Way
Credit: Youtube
George Hill missed a free throw in the final seconds of regulation during Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. J.R. Smith grabbed the rebound with the score tied… and ran out the clock. He later claimed he thought they were ahead. The Cavaliers lost in overtime and got swept.
Jordan’s Last Shot as a Bull
Credit: nbamaniacs
Michael Jordan ripped the ball from Karl Malone and pulled up for a cold-blooded jumper over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals. That shot sealed Chicago’s sixth title. It also closed out Jordan’s run with the Bulls in the most cinematic way possible.
Iverson Stepping Over Tyronn Lue
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Game 1 of the 2001 Finals saw Allen Iverson drop 48 points on a stacked Lakers squad. But what really stuck was the moment he drilled a jumper over Tyronn Lue and casually stepped right over him. The Sixers won in overtime before losing the series, but that image became iconic.
LeBron’s Chase-Down Block
Credit: Reddit
In Game 7, 2016, with less than two minutes left, Andre Iguodala seemed to have a go-ahead layup. Then LeBron James appeared out of nowhere and pinned the shot to the backboard. “The Block” helped preserve a tie and kept the Cavaliers in position to win their first title.
Magic Johnson Plays Every Position
Credit: Rookie Wire
As a rookie, Magic Johnson stepped in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals and played center. Then forward. Then the guard. He finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, eventually leading the Lakers to the title and earning Finals MVP.
The Celtics’ 24-Point Comeback
Credit: flickr
The Celtics were in trouble early in Game 4 of the 2008 Finals, down 24 to the Lakers. Most teams don’t recover from that, but Boston pulled off the largest comeback in Finals history. That win gave them a 3–1 lead and broke L.A.’s momentum for good.
Paul Pierce’s Wheelchair Return
Credit: Youtube
Midway through Game 1 of the 2008 Finals, Paul Pierce collapsed while clutching his knee. He left in a wheelchair, and it looked like Boston’s title hopes were in jeopardy. Just minutes later, Pierce returned and immediately hit two threes. The Celtics won, and speculation followed for years.
Kyrie’s Step-Back Dagger
Credit: Youtube
The Cavs and Warriors were tied at 89 with under a minute to go in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals. Kyrie Irving, guarded by Steph Curry, created just enough space to launch a step-back three. That shot gave Cleveland the lead and capped off the first 3–1 comeback in history.
Willis Reed Walks Through the Tunnel
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Madison Square Garden erupted when Willis Reed limped out of the tunnel before Game 7 in 1970. No one expected him to play—he’d missed Game 6 with a torn thigh muscle. He only scored four points, but his presence rattled the Lakers, and New York clinched its first championship.
Draymond Green’s Suspension
Credit: usatoday
Draymond Green racked up a foul in Game 4 of the 2016 Finals after a scuffle with LeBron James. He was suspended for Game 5, and the Warriors’ 3–1 lead began to slip. Cleveland capitalized, won three straight, and snatched the title. Green later admitted it was his fault.
Jerry West’s 60-Footer
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The Lakers trailed by two in Game 3 of the 1970 Finals. Jerry West launched a prayer from beyond half-court—and hit it. Since there was no three-point line then, it only tied the game. Los Angeles lost in overtime, but the shot is one of the longest and wildest buzzer-beaters.
Robert Horry’s Overtime Explosion
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In Game 5 of the 2005 Finals, Robert Horry drained five three-pointers and scored 21 total off the bench, including the game-winner with 5.8 seconds left. The Spurs took a 3–2 lead and finished the Pistons in seven. That game pushed Horry into “Big Shot Bob” territory for good.
LeBron Cramps in the Heat
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
During Game 1 of the 2014 Finals, the AT&T Center’s air conditioning failed, and temperatures soared above 90 degrees. LeBron James cramped so badly in the fourth that he had to be carried off the court. The Heat fell apart without him, and the Spurs took the opener.