The best of this day in NBA sports history. June 15. Kawhi’s rise, foreign champions, record attendance, and Lakers’ 15-1 record. What happened on this day in NBA sports history?
Kawhi’s Rise
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, the winningest trio in NBA postseason history, led the San Antonio Spurs to their fifth NBA title, defeating the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James. He led the Heat with 31 points and 10 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who beat them the previous year. The game ended 104-87, and the series ended 4-1. Rising star Kawhi Leonard was the NBA Finals MVP.
It was the Spurs’ 12th victory by 15 or more points, the most in postseason history. The Spurs outscored their opponents by 214 points in the postseason. Miami had won 11 consecutive series, tying the fifth-longest streak in NBA history.
Foreign Champions
Argentine Manu Ginóbili and Frenchman Tony Parker celebrate the San Antonio Spurs victory over the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals, both becoming the first players from their respective countries to win an NBA championship.
Both players were key to Greg Popovich’s playing system, which, for many years, kept the San Antonio Spurs among the constant title contenders. The dynasty they managed to form with Duncan earned them multiple championships.
Record Attendance
The NBA set in 2001 a playoff attendance record, with 1,460,086 in attendance.
Lakers’ 15-1 record
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated Allen Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers 108-96 in Game 5 of the 2001 NBA Finals, completing the most dominant playoff run in NBA history. It earned them their 13th championship. The Lakers achieved a 15-1 record and a .937 winning percentage in the 2001 NBA Playoffs, both NBA records. That record would last for 16 years until the Golden State Warriors went 16-1 in the 2017 playoffs.
Shaquille O’Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second consecutive season, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards.
Final Thoughts: This Day In NBA Sports History
When I remember hearing the name Kawhi Leonard seriously for the first time it was precisely during that final between the Spurs and the Miami Heat. For me, it was incredible to hear about a player who could face the flagship player of the league, LeBron James, Leonard was up to the task defensively, and that alone would have been enough to say that he did his job well. Still, he also demonstrated offensive participation, showcasing the abilities that have taken him to the top among the league’s elite players.
If you missed the last article entitled This Day In NBA Sports History, read about it here on June 14.
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