A lot goes on in the NBA and as a result, there are many memorable moments. Many players have made great achievements that have earned them a place in the NBA history while some teams have made decisions that will live to be remembered. What are some of the top moments in NBA history? Read on and find out.
Michael Jordan’s ‘The Shot’ Over Craig Ehlo
Michael Jordan is a household name and he had an incredible career. One of the most notable moments of his career was during the 1989 round 5 playoffs. MJ was playing for Chicago Bulls and on May 7th of this year, he made the winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With 3.0 seconds left on the clock, the Cavaliers were leading 100-99. Jordan was able to break away from Larry Nance and make a winning shot over Craig Ehlo just as the buzzer went off. This shot was followed by the iconic MJ celebration where Jordan was seen fist-pumping in the air.
Kobe Bryant’s 81 Points in a Single Game
In 2006, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a 122-104 win against the Toronto Raptors. During this game, Kobe scored a whopping 81 points in 28 of 46 shootings. 7 of 13 3-point range and 18 of 20 foul-line scores.
Kobe’s exemplary performance is only second to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points score in 1962. With Wilt’s scoring having been made without cameras to witness it, Kobe’s 81-points have taken center stage. While the prior sounded more like a legend, the latter unfolded in the full glare of over 18,000 fans and live on camera. It quickly became the top lakers rumors news and made headlines all over the world.
‘The Block’ by Lebron James in 2016
On June 19, 2006, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors were playing Game 7 of that year’s NBA finals. With two minutes left on the clock, the Warrior’s forward Andre Iguodala made a layup attempt that was mysteriously stopped by Lebron. Lebron came from nowhere to pin the ball on the backboard which caused the game to end in a tie. The game went on to overtime where the Cavaliers won and James was MVP.
NBA Players and Fans Fight at the Palace of Auburn Hills
Not everything about NBA history is rosy, but is it not the thorns that make roses so beautiful? Even the worst moments deserve to be remembered. One such event was what is now known as the ‘Malice at the Palace’. This occurred on 19th November 2004. The year’s finals were between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. With just a few seconds left on the clock, the Pacers were leading 97-82 when Indiana’s Ron Artest fouled Detroit’s Ben Wallace who retaliated. This led to players and coaches confronting each other on the pitch. Artest rested on the scoreboard to try and calm down. There and then, a fan threw a beer cup at him. Artest and his teammate, Stephen Jackson, charged towards the crowd starting a chaotic scene. Two fans rushed into the court and the remaining seconds of the game were never played. All the players were later punished with different suspension periods.
Michael Jordan Returns to NBA after 17-Month Retirement in 1995
Did you know that Michal Jackson once played baseball? This was during a 17-month period that saw him retire from basketball only to come back bigger and better.
In 1993, Jordan lost his dad and this really devastated him. This saw him retire from NBA and attempt playing baseball. He was not as successful as he was in basketball and this influenced his decision to rejoin the Chicago Bulls 17 months later. On March 18th, 1995, MJ sent out a press release with two words ‘I’m Back’. His no.23 jersey had been retired by the Bulls so he played with no.45. He was only in the game for 43 minutes and managed to obtain 19 points. The Bulls did not win the game but it was one of the most widely watched NBA games in history. Jordan later led his team to many wins thanks to his discipline and hard work.
Kawhi Leonard’s Buzzer Beater
In 2019, the first Game 7 buzzer-beater was witnessed. It was made by Toronto Raptor’s Kawhi Leonard on a game played against the Philadelphia 76ers. The game was tied at 90-90 and was seemingly heading for overtime. Kawhi took a shot from the corner which hit the headboard and bounced on the rim four times before finally going through. This score allowed the Raptors to qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals. They went on to win the series and finals with Kawhi as MVP.
2013 NBA Finals Winning Three-Pointer by Ray Allen
The 2013 NBA Finals between San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat saw James Lebron greatly disappoint fans. He missed a three-pointer in the last minute. The rebound was received by Bosh who passed it to Ray Allen. Allen made a three-pointer which sent the game to overtime. The game ended in favor of Miami.
Conclusion
The NBA history is rich and needs to be appreciated. Above are the top moments that everyone should at least know about this league.
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