The 40 Greatest NBA Finals of All Time, Ranked

Shaquille O’Neal was a force of nature, plain and simple. He averaged 38 points and 17 rebounds in the series, making the Pacers look like practice dummies in the paint. But it wasn’t all dominance—Kobe Bryant hobbled through an ankle injury, then exploded in Game 4 overtime to steal a game in Indiana.

That moment hinted at his eventual stardom. These Finals launched the Shaq–Kobe dynasty and gave Los Angeles a new era of swagger. Indiana fought hard, and Reggie Miller had his moments, but this was the year LA’s empire began—with a whole lot of brute force.