The Greatest NBA Finals of All Time

What are the best-ever matchups in the history of the NBA Finals?

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Image via Complex Original
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The NBA Finals are once again upon us, and every year it feels like we end up wildly swinging towards one end of the “greatest Finals ever” or “worst Finals ever” spectrum. Last year, we really did have one of the greatest series of all-time, one that was competitive throughout and contained iconic moments like Ray Allen’s three pointer in Game 6.

Perhaps that is really what makes a Finals truly great: a mix of competitive games, a long series, and one or several iconic moments that live on in the highlight reels well after the series has been concluded. We’ll always remember Will Reed hobbling around Madison Square Garden, Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis, and Isiah Thomas playing on a badly sprained ankle, certainly much more than we’ll remember the results themselves.

The Finals are a showcase for the league’s best, and often that brings out a lot of animosity between the two teams. The Celtics and Lakers have met in the Finals an astonishing 12 times, which has played an instrumental role in making them basketball’s greatest rivalry. While we don’t quite see that yet from the Spurs and Heat, give it time. Maybe it’s coming.

While there have been plenty of duds and a large number of mediocre efforts, these are the 20 Greatest NBA Finals of All Time.

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20. 2006: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks

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19. 1987: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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18. 2005: San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons

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17. 1992: Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers

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16. 1977: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

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15. 1993: Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns

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14. 1976: Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns

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13. 1997: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz

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12. 1985: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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11. 1957: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks

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10. 1980: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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9. 1962: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

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8. 2010: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

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7. 1978: Washington Bullets vs. Seattle SuperSonics

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6. 1970: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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5. 1998 Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz

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4. 1988: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons

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3. 1969: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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2. 2013: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

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1. 1984: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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