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Los Angeles Lakers: Five best NBA Finals in team history

By Jason Reed

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Kobe Bryant #24 and head coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers pose with NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during Media Day at the Toyota Center on September 25, 2010 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Kobe Bryant #24 and head coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers pose with NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during Media Day at the Toyota Center on September 25, 2010 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers’ best NBA Finals: 1. 1985 vs. Boston Celtics

The only thing that could top the last time that the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals is the first time that the Lakers beat the Celtics in the Finals. After countless years of falling short against Boston, the Lakers finally broke the streak in 1985 in the height of the Showtime era.

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The Lakers and Celtics had met in the NBA Finals eight times prior to the 1985 NBA Finals and the Lakers were 0-8 in those matchups. Boston defeated them seven times from 1959 to 1969 and had defeated them the year prior in a grueling seven-game series that the Lakers came up just short in.

The Lakers wanted redemption in 1985 and that is exactly what they got. This series did not even take seven games as the Lakers beat the Celtics in six.

A total of nine Hall of Famers (five on LA, four on Boston) squared off in this series and it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that took home the NBA Finals award, which was only the second time in his career that he was given the honors.

This was vintage Kareem and was the last truly dominant version of him we saw as he averaged 25.7 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Magic averaged 18.3 points and 14 assists while James Worthy averaged 23.7 points per game.

The series was tied at two games apiece and with Games 6 and 7 in Boston, the series favored the Celtics. However, the Lakers were able to win in The Forum in Game 5 and finish the series off in six behind a combined 57 points from Worthy and Kareem and a triple-double from Magic.

Next. Why Shaq and Kobe would not have won more rings. dark

The Lakers would beat the Celtics again in 1987, which was the last time the two teams squared off in the NBA Finals until 2008.

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