The 40 Greatest NBA Finals of All Time, Ranked

They called it “The Junior Sky Hook.” Game 4, tie game, seconds left—Magic Johnson floats into the paint and flicks in the winner with that goofy, graceful shot only he could pull off. That was the series in miniature: Showtime brilliance against Celtic muscle.

The Lakers were younger, faster, just a bit hungrier. Kareem still had juice. Worthy was electric. Bird fought, but the Celtics were aging warriors, trying to catch lightning with calloused hands. This was Magic at his peak, the Lakers at full throttle, and the last truly great battle of the NBA’s most mythic rivalry.