Game 1 of the NBA Finals often sets the bar for how the series will go. While some players like LeBron James often say it is a feel-out game, Game 1 has immense value to the rest of the series. Through the course of NBA history, Game 1 of the Finals has brought some iconic moments. Let’s revisit some of them.
Top 5 Game 1 Finals Moments in NBA History
Game 1 of the NBA Finals has had it all. From iconic game winners to some spectacular dunks and crafty moves, let’s take a look at some of the best moments.
Larry Bird Recovers His Own Miss
Larry Bird helped the Boston Celtics win three championships in the 1980s. He won his first in 1981, after beating the Houston Rockets 4-2. But in Game 1, Larry showed his craftiness by having one of the most memorable shots in NBA Finals history.
At the same moment Bird fired up a shot, he ran to the basket—knowing that he would miss it—jumped for the rebound, and shot while in the air. That play shows the IQ of one of the greatest players to play this game.
Kobe Bryant Puts the Nets in Place
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal won three championship titles together. Shaq won the Finals MVP in each of those three Finals, but Kobe was no slouch either. In the 2002 Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Kobe made sure to put the Nets in place from the get-go. He dribbled between two defenders and then posterized Todd MacCulloch, a 7-foot center.
Allen Iverson, The Step Over
In the 2001 playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers stormed through opponents, sweeping everyone en route to the Finals. There, they were heavily favored against the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Allen Iverson. But in Game 1, Allen was sensational. The step over Tyronn Lue after a made three-pointer is the one that Philly fans remember to this day. Sadly, the Sixers didn’t win another game, but they managed to get one on one of the best Lakers teams in recent history.
Michael Jordan vs. Bryon Russell – Part 1
Michael Jordan hit a couple of shots over Bryon Russell in the Finals in the 1990s. He even finished his Bulls career with a game-winner over Russell.
But it all began in the 1997 NBA Finals. In Game 1, with the score tied at 82, Jordan got the ball, dribbled, pulled up, and hit the game-winner against Russell and the Jazz. One year later, he would do it again, but in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
Michael Jordan, the Shrug
Before the 1992 NBA Finals, Clyde Drexler was pegged as an equal to Jordan. To be fair, Drexler had an amazing season and finished second in MVP voting behind MJ. With the whole world watching, Michael wanted to remind everyone how much better he was than Clyde. As we saw in “The Last Dance,” he has a tendency to take things personal. MJ hit six threes without missing and then gave the iconic Shrug. Chicago would go on to win the series 4-2, routing the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1, 122-89.
© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post Top 5 Game 1 Finals Moments in NBA History appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.