Top 10 greatest moments in NBA history

Every season, the NBA concocts scenarios and anecdotes, each more incredible than the last. So, naturally, in 79 years of history, there is a lot to say about the Big League.

Today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to rank the 10 greatest moments in NBA history based on the following criteria, listed in order of importance: impact on the collective memory, decisiveness and revolutionary nature.

10) Adoption of the 3-point line : Jerry West, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain… All these players wrote their legends in an NBA without a 3-point line. While today shots from the car park are part of our daily lives as basketball fans, this has not always been the case. The turning point came in 1976 when the ABA merged with the NBA. The problem was that these four new franchises were used to the 3-point line and their fan bases were clamouring for the rule to be introduced. Initially reluctant, a Major League in the midst of stagnation finally decided to introduce the line in 1979 in order to mitigate the dominance of the big men. While players were initially reluctant, Larry Bird’s exploitation of this new standard caused a tsunami. It changed everything: positions, player profiles, systems, game plans, organisations… EVERYTHING! It’s almost like a new sport, given how different the Splash Brothers’ Warriors are from Bill Russell’s Celtics. There was a before and after 1979. While its revolutionary nature is undeniable, its presence in the collective consciousness is less so.

9) Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd : Here again, in terms of moments that changed the history of the NBA forever, we’re doing pretty well. Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd. These three names probably don’t mean anything to you. And yet, these basketball players broke the colour barrier in the Major League. Like post-war society, segregation was rampant in the NBA. In its early years, the North American league was exclusively for white people. At least until 1950. Chuck Cooper became the first African American to be drafted, then Naft Clifton became the first to sign an NBA contract, and finally Earl Lloyd became the first to play in a game. These three basketball players experienced segregation and carried a heavy burden throughout the season. By their own admission, they found themselves in an uncomfortable position. But their self-sacrifice opened the doors to a plethora of legends. Much like its predecessor in the rankings, its revolutionary aspect is far from matching its popularity, which is our number one criterion.

8) KAJ’s skyhook in the 1974 finals : Let’s leave the extra basketball behind and return to the court. In eighth place is the apotheosis of one of, if not the most iconic move in NBA history: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook. Three years after winning his first title with the Milwaukee Bucks, the reigning MVP faced the Boston Celtics in the finals. It was a series in which The Captain averaged 32.6 points and 12.1 rebounds. But the Milwaukeeans went into Game 6 trailing 2-3. It was a game that would go down in basketball history for its dramatic storyline. Until crunch time, Oscar Robertson’s teammates were leading the score. But the Celtics equalised in the final seconds and took the home team into overtime. The same thing happened again after five minutes of extra time when John Havlicek equalised at the very end. But this time, the situation was different! With 7 seconds left, Boston was leading on the scoreboard (110-101). Everyone was getting ready to take the champagne out of the fridge to celebrate yet another Celtics title when, coming out of a timeout, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rose above two players, raised his right arm and released his famous skyhook, which ended with a switch. 102-101, Milwaukee had done it! Although the Celtics ultimately won Game 7, this clutch shot from an impossible angle epitomises this legendary move. However, it is difficult to rank it higher due to the final result of the series.

7) Ray Allen’s shot in 2013 : If tomorrow the term ‘clutch’ had to be summed up in one action, the choice would naturally fall on Ray Allen’s three-pointer at the end of that night in Texas. There have been many legendary shots in the playoffs. We have seen killer shots that have turned a game or a series around, and we will see more. But when it comes to the most clutch shot in history, that date, 18 June 2013, ticks all the boxes. To fully understand how significant this moment was in NBA history, you need to know the context. Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. Tim Duncan’s Spurs were up one game and leading by three points with 20 seconds left (95-92). For several minutes, the stands at the Kaseya Center had been slowly emptying. Even the Heat fans understood: there would be no back-to-back championship for LeBron James’ team. Kawhi Leonard left the door ajar by missing one of his free throws, but the window of opportunity was minimal. Even more so when the King missed the shot that would have tied the game. However, Florida retained possession and Ray Allen had a few seconds to step back, jump and sink an extremely difficult contested shot at 0ºC. That’s EXACTLY what he did! The forward literally saved an entire city. This three-pointer mentally kills the Spurs, who go on to lose overtime and Game 7. There is little to criticise: it is ‘only’ Game 6 and this shot did not ‘revolutionise’ the NBA. But whatever happens, this paragraph will remain engraved in gold letters in the history books of the Big League.

6) Magic Johnson in the 1980 finals : Imagine Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry, Oscar Robertson or John Stockton playing even one playoff game as centre. It seems completely WTF! And yet, that’s exactly what happened on the evening of 16 May 1980. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 40 points in Game 5, the Lakers faced a huge problem: The Captain was injured in the ankle and would miss Game 6, which could mean the end of their title hopes. But who could replace him? Bunny Chones, Spencer Haywood or Jamaal Wilkes? No: it would be young rookie point guard Magic Johnson! His 2.06 metres and just under 100 kg would help him, but on the other side were Julius Erving and Darryl Dawkins. Far from being fazed, Magic delivered one of the greatest individual performances of all time in an NBA Finals game. His basketball IQ, his versatility, his ball handling… For 40 minutes, the point guard gave the impression that he had spent his entire childhood playing centre. Although the 76ers were still in the game at half-time, the Lakers stepped up a gear in the third quarter to seal their victory. With 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, he ultimately had THE most prolific game of his career in the finals. The fact that it was Game 7 allowed him to edge out Ray Allen. But in the Top 5 are an unbeatable record and… the two GOATs of the sport.

5) I’M Back : 3 words… 3 words that changed the end of the millennium. Three words that shook the entire NBA. Three words that announced Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA courts, 18 months after his retirement. This story begins in October 1993, when the three-time NBA champion announced his retirement to everyone’s surprise. It was a shock to the basketball world. But this announcement was nothing compared to what awaited basketball fans in March 1995. With a simple fax saying ‘I’m back’, Jordan sent shockwaves around the world and instantly put the NBA back in the media spotlight. It was unprecedented! We all know what happened next. After a half-season warm-up, Michael Jordan enjoyed a second prime. He won two more regular season MVPs, achieved another three-peat and established himself as the undisputed GOAT. At least, until a new king came along…

4) The Decision : Yes, ‘The Decision’ ranks higher than ‘I’m Back’ in our ranking. And for one very specific reason: through this show, LeBron James profoundly transformed the NBA on a sporting, economic and cultural level. To put it in context, we are in the off-season, more precisely on 8 July 2010 at 3:28 a.m. (French time). After seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the King is a free agent. The question then arises: will he continue to fight for his beloved franchise or join another, more competitive project? LBJ decides to announce the suspenseful decision himself on television with great fanfare. A big first! In front of more than 13 million viewers, he announces that he will play for the Miami Heat. This was a real bombshell in the world of sport. Alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he would form one of the most iconic trios in the history of the Major League. The trio went on to reach four finals in four seasons, winning one back-to-back title, as detailed in our Top 10 best teams of all time. But beyond the court, The Decision changed the way the NBA works. It marked a definitive break with the traditional codes of loyalty to a franchise. This declaration also accelerated the era of superteams, reinforced the attractiveness of large markets, changed the relationship between players and success, and imposed a new focus on communication. However, The Decision remains less iconic than the members of our podium.

3) Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points 🥉 : On 2 March 1962, an NBA match was held that seemed completely insignificant. So much so that the Philadelphia 76ers had to play the game in a modest arena on the outskirts of town. No TV coverage, very few fans… Only a few journalists and a radio station were present for what was one of, if not the greatest individual performances of all time in the NBA! Facing the Knicks, who were without their two centres (and incidentally bottom of the regular season table), a certain Wilt Chamberlain wreaked havoc in the paint. The visitors had no choice but to foul him repeatedly. More precisely: 63 Nevertheless, it didn’t work and the points kept coming. At the start of the fourth quarter, the 76ers were no longer looking to win, but to make history by giving every possible and imaginable ball to their leader. So much so that with six minutes to go, Wilt Chamberlain scored his 100th point of the game. The 4,100 spectators stormed the court before the game ended. The photo of The Big Dipper holding a white sheet of paper with a simple 100 hastily written on it immediately became iconic. To this day, no one has even come close to breaking this record. The question remains: could anyone ever do better? To be continued. However, the fact that this game took place during the regular season prevents it from reaching the Top 2.

2) The Block 🥈 : This isn’t just any block, it’s THE Block. The one that changed the history of two franchises, one season and one legend forever. And for once, we’re not talking about a dunk or a shot from the car park, but a defensive play. To understand the importance of this move, we need to set the scene. Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. On one side, the Warriors’ Splash Brothers at their peak, coming off the greatest regular season in Major League history. On the other, the Cavaliers, led by a vengeful King who came back from nowhere after trailing 3-1 in the series. In crunch time, the scoreboard showed a perfect tie: 89-89. Every possession, every basket, every point could make the difference. And just as Andre Iguodala was about to sink his lay-up after a strong defensive phase, LeBron James came out of nowhere to slam the ball onto the backboard. Not only did this move deny the Warriors two easy points, but combined with Kyrie Irving’s three-pointer, it sealed the fate of the season. Cleveland clinched its first title, Golden State failed to achieve the back-to-back that was within its grasp, and LeBron James finally showed that he can be the undisputed leader of an NBA champion. This play could have taken the top spot. But in the end, as with our ranking of the best NBA players of all time, it was MJ who had the last word.

1) The Last Shot 🥇 : In the world of basketball, nothing excites fans more than baskets. Lay-ups, mid-range shots, tomahawks, three-pointers… Whatever form it takes, the shot decides the outcome of a match. Add to that the last basket in the last minute of the GOAT’s final dance, and you get ‘The Last Shot’ – surely the most iconic shot in Major League history. Even Hollywood wouldn’t have dared to write such an exaggerated scenario. One game separates the Bulls from the Holy Grail before they travel to Utah for Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Throughout the game, the two teams are neck and neck. But with 20 seconds left, the Jazz lead by a single point. Michael Jordan’s adventure is coming to an end. And naturally, it’s up to him to win the game. After dancing around Bryon Russell, he clinches the title for Chicago with a clinical mid-range shot, silencing Salt Lake City in the process. This basket cannot be summed up as just an ultra-clutch play. No, we are talking about a lens that traces the entire journey of the kid from Brooklyn. An ode to the greatest poet our sport has ever known. A distillation of storytelling and sporting achievement. A single play that sums it all up.