This Day In NBA Sports History: June 16, 1975-2015
The best of this day in NBA sports history. June 16. Andre Iguodala wins Finals MVP, a 4-point play, Phil Jackson to the Lakers, a packed Alamodome, Michael Jordan’s fourth Finals MVP, 60 million viewers, 55 in the finals, a crowd of 41,732, and Milwaukee trades Kareem to Lakers. What happened on this day in NBA history?
June 16, 2015
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97 in Game 6 of the 2015 Finals, clinching the Bay Area team’s first championship since 1975. Andre Iguodala was named Finals MVP, becoming the first MVP not to start every game for his team.
LeBron James, making his fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, led his team in points, rebounds, and assists, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. Stephen Curry became the last player to win both the season MVP and the championship in the same season. Two years earlier, James achieved the same feat with the Miami Heat but was also named Finals MVP.
June 16, 2000
Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers completed a four-point play in Game 5 of the 2000 Finals. It matched the feat achieved by Glen Rice of the Lakers in Game 4 two games earlier, marking the second time this achievement has been accomplished in the same series. Miller’s four-point play at 4:46 of the first quarter of Indiana’s 120-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals was the sixth four-point play in NBA Finals history and the second in this series.
June 16, 1999
The Los Angeles Lakers named Phil Jackson head coach, replacing Kurt Rambis. Jackson returned to the NBA after a year off from coaching, having led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in eight years. In his first season, he led the Lakers to the best record in the NBA and their first championship since 1988. Jackson implemented his famous triangle offense and forged a dynasty that would win three consecutive championships.
June 16, 1999
Marking the second-largest attendance in NBA Finals history 39,514 fans attended the Alamodome in San Antonio for the 1999 NBA Finals Game 1 victory against the New York Knicks. The crowd watched the Spurs win 89-77.
The record crowd was 41,732 when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Detroit Pistons on June 16 in the 1988 NBA Finals.
June 16, 1996
Michael Jordan became the only player to win the NBA Finals MVP award four times, after averaging 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in the NBA Finals. Led by Jordan’s 22 points and 7 assists, Dennis Rodman’s 19 rebounds, and Scottie Pippen’s 17 points and 4 steals, Chicago defeated Seattle 87-75 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. They won the series 4-2 and secured the Bulls’ fourth NBA championship in six seasons.
June 16, 1996
Chicago’s series-clinching victory over Seattle garnered 18.8 million viewers and a 35 million viewer share on NBC. The game drew approximately 60 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA game on television in history. The six-game series between Chicago and Seattle averaged 16.7 million viewers, ranking second in history. It was behind only the 1993 Chicago-Phoenix series, which averaged 17.9 million viewers.
June 16, 1993
Chicago defeated Phoenix 111-105 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at the Chicago Arena. Jordan erupted for 55 points (21-of-37 from the field and 13-of-18 from the free throw line). Jordan’s 55 points tied for the second-most in a single game in Finals history. Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Finals scoring record, with 61 points on April 14, 1962, against the Boston Celtics. Rick Barry also scored 55 points for San Francisco against Philadelphia on April 18, 1967.
June 16, 1988
41,732 spectators, the largest attendance in NBA playoff history, turned out for the Pontiac Silverdome to watch the Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-94 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.
June 16, 1975
The Milwaukee Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and reserve Center Walt Wesley to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Center Elmore Smith, Forward David Meyers, Guard Brian Winters, and Forward Junior Bridgeman.
Final Thoughts: This Day In NBA Sports History
If you missed the last article entitled This Day In NBA Sports History, read about it here on June 15.
