The NBA is one of the most entertaining sports leagues in the world, with some of the very best athletes around playing in the NBA championships. We love to see an upset, and whether or not it features in the Championship odds list, a shock result is always possible.
There have been some amazing NBA Finals over the years, and while it can be hard to narrow it down, in this article we’ll be shortlisting the 10 most entertaining of all time.
1. The 2017 NBA Finals
The 2017 NBA Finals is the most recent entry into our list as we work our way back through time to pick the very best NBA Finals. What made the 2017 edition so memorable was that the series went the full seven games, with the Golden State Warriors eventually coming out on top in an absolutely thrilling battle that made it one of the most entertaining in recent years.
2. The 2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals were another fantastic edition of the championship, which saw some great basketball played by both teams. The Los Angeles Lakers eventually emerged victorious after a hard-fought seven-game series against their rivals, the Boston Celtics. Once again, this was a hugely popular final with over 18 million people watching on average, and it was talked about for weeks afterwards.
3. The 2006 NBA Finals
The Miami Heat were a force to be reckoned with in the 2006 NBA championships, overcoming the Dallas Mavericks to emerge victorious in the NBA Finals. This was achieved despite strong opposition from Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks, resulting in a truly great value-for-money spectacle for basketball fans. At the time, it was one of the most watched NBA Finals ever, and for good reason.
4. The 1998 NBA Finals
Who didn’t love the Chicago Bulls in the ‘90s? The 1998 NBA Finals turned out to be somewhat of a one-sided affair, thanks to the Bulls being as good as they were; the Utah Jazz was just not on their level, much like many other teams at the time. Featuring the likes of Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, that Chicago Bulls team was truly special, and we won’t see a team like it for quite some time.
5. The 1987 NBA Finals
Magic Johnson was a truly great player, and it’s such a shame that only a very lucky few were able to see him play during his prime – the man was unlike anyone else. His LA Lakers team were a spectacle to behold on the court, and not even Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics were good enough to stop the Lakers’ insane rampage to victory in the 1987 NBA Finals, as much as they tried to cause an upset.
6. The 1978 NBA Finals
The 1978 NBA Finals were one of the best to date, with the Washington Bullets comfortably defeating the Seattle SuperSonics 4-3 in the end. The final game was hugely entertaining due to the fact that it featured some great basketball from both teams. Basketball has changed a lot since this game was played, but it’s still fondly remembered by fans for the entertainment it provided.
7. The 1975 NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors are truly a force to be reckoned with in the current NBA era, thanks to the genius of Stephen Curry, but things weren’t always so golden for the Warriors. In fact, this emphatic 4-0 1975 Finals win against the Washington Bullets ushered in a 40-year titleless drought for the Warriors, which finally ended in 2015.
8. The 1969 NBA Finals
A game for the ages that featured some of basketball’s very best, including Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Jerry West. While the 1969 NBA Finals was expected to be a one-sided affair, in the end it went the full seven games, with the unfancied Boston Celtics defeating the LA Lakers 4-3, despite them being strong favorites.
9. The 1967 NBA Finals
The 1967 NBA Finals were another excellent edition of the championships, which saw some great basketball played by both teams. The Philadelphia 76ers eventually emerged victorious after a hard-fought six-game series against their rivals, the San Francisco Warriors. The game was hugely anticipated prior to the clash, and was one that was fondly remembered for weeks afterward.
10. The 1962 NBA Finals
The final game on our list is the 1962 NBA Finals, which was contested by the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers, with the former eventually coming away with the win after finishing 4-3 on top. The final game ended in overtime, marking only the second occasion that had ever happened, which is why it’s remembered for being such a nail-biting game.