The best of this day in NBA sports history. June 21st. LeBron James’ first championship, the Spurs’ 15-2 playoff record, first WNBA game, and James Worthy’s Finals MVP. What happened on this day in NBA history?
LeBron James’ first championship
The Miami Heat, featuring a “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook 121-106 in Game 5, winning the NBA Finals 4-1. It was the first title for James, who was named Finals MVP after one of the best performances of his career, averaging 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
This marked the second championship for the Miami Heat, who had lost the previous year to Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Spurs’ 15-2 playoff record
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 89-81 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, breaking San Antonio’s record streak of 12 consecutive playoff wins. The Knicks became the second team in NBA history to enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and defeat the No. 1 seed. They knocked off the Miami Heat.
They then defeated Dikembe Mutombo’s Atlanta Hawks, sweeping them in four games. The conference finals were played against Reggie Miller’s Indiana Pacers, who won in six games despite being without their starting center, Patrick Ewing, for the first two games of the series. Unfortunately for the Knicks, the Spurs earned two more wins to secure their first NBA championship, posting a 15-2 record in the 1999 NBA Playoffs.
First WNBA game
The WNBA, the new professional women’s basketball league, kicked off its regular season with its first games, where the New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 67-57 in Los Angeles. A crowd of 14,284 turned out to witness the two teams’ first game, with Penny Toler scoring the first point.
James Worthy’s Finals MVP
James Worthy recorded his first career triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Detroit 108-105 in Game 7 of the Finals, becoming the first NBA team to successfully defend their title since the Boston Celtics. They did so 20 years earlier in 1968 and 1969.
In that series, Isiah Thomas came into Game 6 with an injured ankle and still managed to set a record for points in the third quarter with 25. The Lakers also became the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive seven-game series (4-3 over Utah, Dallas, and Detroit).
Final Thoughts: This Day In NBA Sports History- June 21
If you missed the last article entitled This Day In NBA Sports History, read about it here on June 20.
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