Nike News
16 wins. That’s how many games you need to win in the postseason to secure an NBA title and guarantee yourself a page in the NBA history book. To commemorate the 16 games a player must win to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, Nike is dropping 16 iconic basketball shoes worn by NBA stars in defining moments in each player’s quest for NBA royalty.
Check them out below:
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The shoe commemorates Kobe’s game-winning shot in the waning seconds of Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2006 Western Conference playoffs. Kobe finished the game with 24 points and 8 assists.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378053840580609
Kevin McHale’s iconic clothesline Lakers bad boy Kurt Rambis on a breakaway dunk attempt is often the clip shown to demonstrate how lit the game was in the 80’s.
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Pippen became only the 12th player to record a triple-double in a Finals game: 15-12-12, and becoming the pivotal element in a Bulls three-peat.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378316265635841
After receiving a cheap shot from Lakers forward Slava Medvedenko in the second half of the 2004 Finals, Rasheed took over: scoring 26 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and leading the Pistons to an 88-80 win.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378422788341761
30 points and 40 rebounds in Game 7 of the Finals. Yes, you read that correctly.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378522759548929
The UConn legend led the Minnesota Lynx to its first-ever championship just six months after she was drafted.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378617315938304
Kawhi Leonard dropped 29 points in Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals in his junior season as a pro. The Spurs would go on to rout the Heat, 4-1, and Leonard would earn Finals MVP.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378710635008002
Bullets’ Wes Unseld hit two anxiety-inducing free throws in Game 7 of the 1978 NBA Finals against the SuperSonics, sealing the victory and delivering Washington D.C.’s first-ever championship.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378814142066689
In 1983, Moses Malone nearly predicted his Sixers would sweep the Bucks–declaring “Fo,’ fo,’ fo,’” before dropping just one game and amending his declaration to “Fo,’ Fi,’ Fo.’”
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983378916373966851
In Kevin Durant’s quest transform into the Kevin Durant we know today, he led his Thunder team by the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs before losing to LeBron and the Heat in the 2012 Finals. Despite losing, KD averaged 30.6 points per game on 54.8-percent shooting.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983379011618287616
In Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, LeBron scored 29 of the Cavs’ final 30 points, including 25 straight and all 18 of their overtime points to catapult him to his first ever Finals appearance.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983379099782529024
All I have to do is write ‘Dr. J’s “The Scoop”‘ and the image is already playing in your head.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983379253549973505
Did MJ push off Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals to secure his sixth championship and his sixth Finals MVP? The answer is no. He did not.
https://twitter.com/heidiburgett/status/983379465085452288
If it weren’t for Ray Allen’s game-tying three in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, LeBron would not have repeated as champion.
[h/t Nike]