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Here’s a day-by-day overview of significant events, games, and standout performances from this week in NBA history.
**June 15**
**June 15, 2001**
The Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 108-96 in Game 5 of the 2001 NBA Finals and marking the conclusion of the most dominant playoff campaign in league history. The Lakers secured a remarkable 15-1 playoff record, accumulating a .937 winning percentage, both of which are unprecedented in the NBA. Shaquille O’Neal earned the NBA Finals MVP title for the second year in a row, joining legends Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to achieve consecutive Finals MVP honors.
**June 15, 2001**
The NBA achieved a new playoff attendance milestone, with 1,460,086 fans attending games throughout the playoff season.
**June 15, 2003**
Manu Ginobili of Argentina and France’s Tony Parker celebrated with their San Antonio Spurs teammates after defeating the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. They became the first players from their countries to claim an NBA Championship.
**June 15, 2014**
Tim Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to their fifth NBA title, overcoming the Miami Heat 104-87 in Game 5, thereby winning the Finals 4-1. Kawhi Leonard, a rising star, was named Finals MVP, showcasing his remarkable performance throughout the series as the Spurs secured their fifth championship in just 15 years.
**June 16**
**June 16, 1975**
The Milwaukee Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and backup center Walt Wesley to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for center Elmore Smith, forward David Meyers, guard Brian Winters, and swingman Junior Bridgeman.
**June 16, 1988**
An all-time high crowd of 41,732 attended the Pontiac Silverdome to witness the Detroit Pistons prevail over the Los Angeles Lakers 104-94 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, taking a 3-2 lead in the series that ultimately went to seven games, with the Lakers winning.
**June 16, 1993**
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns 111-105 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals held at Chicago Stadium, with Michael Jordan producing a stunning 55-point performance (21-of-37 FG, 13-of-18 FT). Jordan’s 55 points parallels the second-highest single-game score in Finals history, trailing only Elgin Baylor’s 61 points recorded in a game against Boston on April 14, 1962.
**June 16, 1996**
Chicago’s series-clinching game against Seattle garnered an 18.8 rating and a 35 share on NBC, attracting approximately 60 million viewers and marking it as the most-watched NBA game in television history. The average rating for the six-game Chicago-Seattle series stood at 16.7, ranking second all-time behind the 17.9 average rating of the six-game Chicago-Phoenix series in 1993.
**June 16, 1996**
With Michael Jordan scoring 22 points and providing seven assists, Dennis Rodman contributing 19 rebounds, and Scottie Pippen adding 17 points and four steals, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle Supersonics 87-75 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, securing the series 4-2 and clinching their fourth championship in six seasons. Jordan became the only player in history to receive the NBA Finals MVP award four times, averaging 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during the Finals.
**June 16, 1999**
In Game 1 of the 1999 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, 39,514 fans gathered at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Spurs achieved an 89-77 victory, marking the second-largest attendance in NBA Finals history, following the 41,732 record set during the 1988 NBA Finals between the LA Lakers and Detroit Pistons.
**June 16, 1999**
The Los Angeles Lakers appointed Phil Jackson as their new head coach, succeeding Kurt Rambis. This marked Jackson’s return to coaching after taking a year off following a successful tenure with the Chicago Bulls that included six championship wins in eight seasons.
**June 16, 2000**
Reggie Miller executed a four-point play at 4:46 in the first quarter during Indiana’s 120-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals. This marked the sixth four-point play in Finals history and the second occurrence in that series, as the Lakers’ Glen Rice achieved this same feat in Game 4.
**June 16, 2015**
The Golden State Warriors wrapped up the 2015 Finals with a 105-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6, securing their first championship since 1975. Andre Iguodala was honored as the Finals MVP.
**June 17**
**June 17, 1976**
The NBA officially welcomed four former ABA franchises—Denver, Indiana, New York, and San Antonio—into its ranks, increasing the league to 22 teams.
**June 17, 1994**
In a 91-84 victory for New York over Houston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Patrick Ewing tied the Finals record with eight blocked shots, sharing the record with Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal.
**June 17, 2008**
The Boston Celtics celebrated their 17th NBA Championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 in the Finals. Boston’s 131-92 victory in Game 6 marked the largest margin in a closeout win in Finals history. Paul Pierce took home the Finals MVP honors.
**June 18**
**June 18, 1924**
George Mikan was born in Joliet, Illinois.
**June 18, 1932**
The Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), the global governing body for basketball, was established in Geneva, Switzerland.
**June 18, 2013**
In a dramatic Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, Ray Allen hit a crucial 3-pointer at the end of regulation, pushing the matchup between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs into overtime, ultimately leading to a 103-100 victory for the Heat. Miami went on to win Game 7 and the championship.
**June 19**
**June 19, 1988**
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 103-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons to even the NBA Finals series at 3-3. Despite suffering an early sprained ankle, Isiah Thomas scored 43 points for the Pistons, including a Finals record 25 points in the third quarter, and set another Finals record with 11 field goals in that period.
**June 19, 1994**
Hakeem Olajuwon delivered a commanding performance with 30 points and 10 rebounds, contributing to the Houston Rockets’ 86-84 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. This victory forced a seventh game in the Finals for the first time in six years.
**June 19, 2000**
Following the Lakers’ 116-111 victory in Game 6, Shaquille O’Neal was unanimously recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals 2000, receiving all seven votes from a national media panel. O’Neal averaged 38 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.67 blocks over the six-game series, joining Willis Reed (1970) and Michael Jordan (1996) as the only players to capture MVP honors across the All-Star Game, regular season, and Finals in the same year. The Lakers matched the Finals record for fewest turnovers in a game, committing only five.
**June 19, 2016**
LeBron James delivered on his promise to the city of Cleveland by securing the Cavaliers’ first-ever championship. After overcoming a 3-1 deficit, the Cavaliers captured the Finals with a 4-3 victory, winning Game 7 by a score of 93-89. LeBron was named Finals MVP, averaging 29.7 points throughout the series.
**June 20**
**June 20, 1993**
John Paxson’s three-pointer with just 3.9 seconds remaining, alongside Horace Grant’s block on Kevin Johnson’s last-second attempt, enabled the Chicago Bulls to secure a 99-98 win against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. This victory allowed the Bulls to clinch their third consecutive championship, making them the third franchise in league history—after the Boston Celtics and Minneapolis Lakers—to win three titles in a row. Michael Jordan was awarded the NBA Finals MVP for the third straight time, averaging a record-breaking 41.0 points per game along with 8.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
**June 20, 2013**
LeBron James and the Miami Heat achieved their second consecutive NBA championship, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling Game 7 with a score of 95-88. LeBron received the Finals MVP award for the second year running, marking the third consecutive Finals appearance for the Heat and its trio of stars: LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
**June 21**
**June 21, 1988**
James Worthy recorded the first triple-double of his career, achieving 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the Finals. This performance made the Lakers the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1968 and 1969 to defend their title successfully. Moreover, they became the first franchise in NBA history to win three straight seven-game series.
**June 21, 1988**: James Worthy’s triple-double (36-16-10) propelled the Lakers past the Pistons in Game 7 of the Finals.
**June 21, 1997**
The WNBA, the new league for women’s professional basketball, launched its first regular-season games. New York won against Los Angeles 67-57, Houston triumphed over Cleveland 76-56, and Sacramento defeated Utah 70-60.
**June 21, 1999**
The New York Knicks overcame the San Antonio Spurs 89-81 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, ending San Antonio’s remarkable 12-game playoff winning streak in a single series. The Spurs regrouped and went on to win two additional games, claiming their first NBA Championship with a 15-2 record in the playoffs.
**June 21, 2012**
In Game 5, the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106, thereby sealing the NBA Finals 4-1. This victory marked LeBron James’ first championship and the Miami franchise’s second title.
