The 40 Greatest NBA Finals of All Time, Ranked

This was the least flashy Finals of the decade, but Tim Duncan put on a master class that nearly broke the box score. Game 6: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, eight blocks—almost a quadruple-double. It was clinical domination, delivered with the charisma of a middle manager, but no less lethal.

The Nets hung around, Jason Kidd doing everything he could to keep New Jersey’s title dream alive. But in the end, the Spurs’ defense, Duncan’s brilliance, and Popovich’s system proved too much. It wasn’t pretty, but it was pristine—substance over sizzle, from start to finish.