When people think about sports, they often think of basketball. Two five-player teams compete in this game, with goals scored via dunks or throws to the basket.
Every player has a unique drive and determination to become a major star in the NBA. Inspiring others to never give up on their aspirations, most NBA players nowadays have incredible life stories that are both tragic and exhilarating.
Inspiring and motivating tales from NBA players are presented here.
2005: Robert Horry Conquers the Court After Perfectly Timing His Wake-Up Call
Even if he were to stroll into your neighborhood grocery store, nobody would identify Robert Horry as the best basketball player ever. Even though he has seven rings, he has never been a team’s brightest star. It’s odd because, without him, practically none of those teams would have a chance at winning the title.
The fact that he could sense when he needed to go on a run to win a game and then really did it makes him the best clutch player of all time.
One of the best reasons his colleagues refer to him as Major Player Bob arrived in 2005 while playing for the Spurs of San Antonio. Horry scored 21 points in the second half off the bench in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, when his club was tied with the Detroit Pistons at two games apiece.
Nearly all of them occurred in the fourth quarter or overtime, and given that the Spurs only prevailed by a single point, it’s reasonable to assume that Horry’s performance that night was crucial. This is one of the reasons one can’t avoid watching NBA playoffs today.
The Eight Seed, 1994 One Seed Defeated by Denver Nuggets Jets of Seattle
When the worst playoff team ever beats the best, it makes headlines. This very thing occurred in 1994, in the first round of the Holy Dribbler playoffs, between the Seattle Supersonics and the Denver Nuggets. Because of their two-game lead, no one even considered giving the Nuggets a chance at 500 for the season, and the Sonics were a formidable opponent.
On top of that, Seattle essentially punched their ticket to the second round with victories in the first two games of the five-game series.
As a result, they choked severely. Denver became the first NBA team with eight seeds to defeat a high seed after winning the following three games to win the series. After falling behind 0-3, they rallied to force a seventh game against the Utah Jazz in the second round.
It was merely a three-point loss in Game 7. Even though they came up short, it was obvious that they were vying for the Holy Dribbler trophy.
In 1970, Jerry West sank a clutch shot from 63 feet out.
Even if the story’s finale isn’t the happiest ever, let’s travel back in time to a memorable event.
Jerry West was a legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers, who made it to the 1970 NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks.
The NBA still refuses to acknowledge this because doing so would entail the unthinkable sin of handing the West estate billions of dollars. West could not complete the journey to the opposite end of the court due to the time constraints imposed by the Knicks’ commanding advantage with two and three seconds remaining. He opted to just toss it from a distance of 63 feet and cross his fingers.
That was his finest. Once the bullet entered the target, chaos ensued. Even though three-point shots weren’t commonplace in 1970, West’s half-court miraculous shot still counted for two points, enough to send the game into overtime.
The Knicks, however, rallied and won the game by a score of three, cruising to a seven-game series victory. However, the fact that West’s shot—and not the Knicks’ win—is still being talked about shows that sometimes a memorable moment is more valuable than a championship.
1980: Game 6 of the Finals Won by Magic Johnson, Who Played Every Position
The point guard was Magic Johnson’s usual position. But he could play any position on the court whenever needed, suitable for a Hall of Fame icon. Even though he didn’t usually have to, he did in 1980. He was also bestowed a prize by the hoop gods for his adaptability.
Injuries sustained by Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 5 of the Finals prevented him from participating in Game 6.
In his stead, rookie Johnson, ever the gregarious beaver, offered to play center. And if someone had thought of the t-shirt gun in time, he would have shot it. He also played small forward, power forward, point guard, shooting guard, and probably would have.
Most notably, Johnson was awarded Finals MVP and won the title after effectively playing all five positions. He also grabbed 15 rebounds and scored 42 points. A good way to kick off your professional life.
Larry Bird Performed the World’s Palest Magician Mid-Air Handswap in 1981
Larry Bird felt obligated to steal the show the next moment after seeing his competitor, Magic Johnson, do it so nobody would forget about him. In 1981, he accomplished it by switching hands mid-air like the world’s palest magician. He accomplished just that in the 1981 NBA Finals while playing for the Boston Celtics against the Houston Rockets.
Bird made one of the greatest plays in basketball history in Game 1 when the Celtics were trailing 87–84. After his 18-footer failed, he swiftly snatched the rebound, swapped hands mid-air, and scored. Not even Bill Russell, who was probably paid to provide analysis, could utter a word.
Although it did not lead to the game-winning basket, it did reignite the Celtics’ championship run. Not helping matters was the everlasting shame of losing to a 40-42 squad.
Conclusion
We have woven a tale of victories, disappointments, and resolute resolve into our recollection of the five most illuminating stories from the NBA Playoffs. The Playoffs are always an inspiration to fans all across the globe, and each story shows not just the skill on the court but also the determination and heart that goes into it.
