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This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the NBA Finals series that can be portrayed by NBA 2K14 on PlayStation 4.
The time I’ve spent with the PlayStation 4 version of NBA 2K14 is one of the longest retro basketball gaming kicks I’ve ever been on. It’s been extremely rewarding to play through four full seasons in MyCAREER, leaving me with a save file jam packed with memories that I can pick up again whenever the mood strikes. I also played a number of exhibition games with retro teams and then-current 2014 rosters alike. In short, I was making up for not spending that much time with NBA 2K14 when it was released almost ten years ago.
Much like my extended NBA Live 10 kick in 2021, I’ve felt inspired to continue to explore NBA 2K14 through some Wayback Wednesday features. Today, it’s a look at all of the NBA Finals series that can be portrayed through NBA 2K14 screenshots. As with my features looking back at the players in NBA Live 10 whose rookie jerseys were included as retros, as well as the makeshift classic teams that could be created and using it to reflect on “What If” scenarios, it was an interesting challenge to see just how many NBA Finals series I could represent using NBA 2K14. Let’s take a look back…way back…
Just to set a few ground rules for this exercise, I can only use the classic teams that appear in NBA 2K14 by default. In some cases I’m taking advantage of angles that only spotlight specific players, thus not showing anyone who shouldn’t be present. As such, there are a number of retro squads in NBA 2K14 that can represent multiple NBA Finals series. I’m also not customising the rosters in any way, except to fix a couple of accessories for more accurate screenshots. I was ultimately able to portray five decades of NBA Finals series in NBA 2K14, starting in the 1950s and ending in the 1990s. Without any further ado, let’s wind back the clock, starting with 1957!
1957: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
In the span of twelve months, Bill Russell won an NCAA Championship, an Olympic gold medal, and an NBA Championship. Thus, 1957 not only tipped off the Boston Celtics’ dynasty, but also began cementing Russell’s status as the ultimate winner.
1959: Boston Celtics vs. Minneapolis Lakers
The 1959 Finals was the first chapter in the storied Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry. It was also the Lakers’ first Finals appearance since the George Mikan era, and their first Finals defeat, as Boston bounced back from their loss to the Hawks the previous year.
1960: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
Boston’s third NBA Finals series with the Hawks resembled the teams’ first clash: a seven game series in which the Celtics prevailed. Notably, Ed Macauley – whom the Celtics traded to St. Louis for the rights to Bill Russell – now coached his old team.
1961: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks
Before the Lakers/Celtics rivalry got into full swing, Boston had one final clash with St. Louis. Their 4-1 win was their most decisive victory over their original rivals, and the first title for Tom “Satch” Sanders, who won eight rings alongside Bill Russell.
1962: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
A familiar foe stood between the Celtics and a fourth consecutive title, though they now hailed from a different city. 1962 marked the first of nine Finals appearances for Jerry West, and the Lakers’ first Finals in Los Angeles, but Boston was victorious.
1963: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
With Boston’s win in 1963, Bob Cousy went out on top as a six-time champion (his comeback with the Royals in 1969 not withstanding). Bill Russell wasn’t quite done yet however, with another three consecutive titles and five in total ahead of him.
1964: Boston Celtics vs. San Francisco Warriors
Rivals Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain finally met in the championship round in 1964, with Wilt coming close to averaging 30 points and 30 rebounds per game. Eye-popping stats were no match for superior team play however, as Boston won 4-1.
1965: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
John Havlicek’s famous steal came in 1965, albeit in the Eastern Division Finals and not the championship round. Given the 4-1 series win, which included three blowouts, it makes sense that Hondo’s steal is remembered as the highlight of the 1965 title run.
1966: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Although there is footage of Bill Russell’s career, there’s a limited pool of highlights on YouTube. However, you’ll notice that there’s quite a few of him dunking. While he was known for his defense, the late great Bill Russell could certainly get buckets!
1968: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Had his career not coincided with Russell’s, Mr. Clutch might’ve had multiple rings. As it stands, the Celtics denied the Lakers another championship in 1968. It notably also marked the Lakers’ first NBA Finals appearance while wearing purple and gold.
1969: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers’ acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain secured another epic showdown with the Celtics, but history remembers it as the final triumph of Bill Russell’s legendary career. It’s only fitting that his eleventh and final title came against his greatest rival.
1970: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Willis Reed’s return to the lineup in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals is a story that was told on multiple NBA home videos in the 90s. Reed scored the Knicks’ first four points playing on one leg, while also fearlessly defending Wilt Chamberlain for 27 minutes.
1971: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Baltimore Bullets
After not winning a title in his rookie season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar commented that he now felt like a professional, acknowledging things were tougher in the NBA. Mind you, along with Oscar Robertson, he captured his first title the very next year in 1971.
1972: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks
Talk about a rollercoaster of a season! Elgin Baylor, bothered by injuries, retired nine games into the campaign. The Lakers then set a record that still stands with 33 wins in a row, finished 69-13, and capped it off with their first championship in Los Angeles.
1973: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Knicks and Lakers were no strangers to each other by this point, meeting for the NBA Championship for the third time in four years. New York avenged the previous year’s loss, right down to losing Game 1 and then winning the next four as LA had.
1974: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Former sixth man John Havlicek stepped into a leading role in the 70s, guiding the Celtics to two more titles. The 1974 NBA Finals series is noteworthy for home court advantage seemingly being meaningless, as three of Boston’s wins came on the road.
1976: Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
If you’re old enough to have been around for Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, it’d be understandable if you called that triple overtime thriller the best game a championship series has ever produced. Though the underdogs lost, it remains an incredible story.
1977: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The merger brought Julius Erving to the NBA, and Dr. J immediately made his mark, taking the Philadelphia 76ers to the Finals. However, Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers triumphed, becoming the first Finalists to come back from a 0-2 start.
1980: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Magic Johnson would’ve been an all-time great even if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hadn’t missed the championship-clinching game in 1980. However, starting at centre and winning Finals MVP as a rookie established Magic’s legend in his very first season.
1981: Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
It seems only fitting that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson both won titles before they eventually faced off in the NBA Finals. Their first rings came against fellow legends, though; Julius Erving for Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone for Larry Bird in 1981.
1982: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Magic Johnson and Doctor J once again squared off in the NBA Finals in 1982, and once again, it was the Lakers that were victorious. MVP Magic posted an “unlucky” triple-double of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in the Lakers’ Game 6 win.
1983: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Fo’, fo’, fo’. Moses Malone’s bold proclamation of three Playoff sweeps after joining the 76ers for the 1983 season was a second round blemish away from coming to pass. It remains an impressive Playoff run, topped off by their sweep of Magic and Kareem.
1984: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
At long last, the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson came to the NBA Finals! The Lakers infamously blew out the Celtics in Game 3, leading to Bird calling out his team. Boston rallied to win Game 4 in overtime, and took the series in seven.
1985: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Magic vs. Bird was the marquee matchup, but Kareem was the Finals MVP in 1985. It was also the first Finals to use the 2-3-2 format, the Lakers’ first title victory over the Celtics, and the last time the “NBA World Championship Series” branding was used.
1986: Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
Just as they had in 1981, the Rockets knocked off the defending champion Lakers on route to an NBA Finals appearance, led by a future Hall of Fame centre. The Celtics overcame Houston’s twin towers however, with Bird posting incredible numbers.
1987: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
AKA The One Where Magic Johnson Hits The Baby Skyhook, giving the Lakers an insurmountable 3-1 lead after Bird missed a potential gamewinner of his own. The final championship clash between the two rivals thus gave Magic the edge, 2-1.
1988: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
Despite the Lakers fulfilling Pat Riley’s promise to repeat and James Worthy posting his only career triple-double in Game 7, the story of the 1988 Finals will always be Isiah Thomas’ gutsy performance in a Game 6 loss, playing on a badly sprained ankle.
1989: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers
This time, Pat Riley’s prediction of victory – and trademark of “threepeat” – ended up being a jinx. Injuries and an aging roster caught up with the Lakers, as did a great performance by Joe Dumars, who became Finals MVP before his first All-Star nod.
1990: Detroit Pistons vs. Portland Trail Blazers
After becoming the first team to win Games 3 through 5 under the 2-3-2 format, the Pistons finished off the Trail Blazers to become the third franchise to win back-to-back titles. Isiah Thomas, so close to leading the team to victory in 1988, was MVP.
1991: Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Jordan averaged 31.2 ppg, 11.4 apg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 spg, and 1.4 bpg on route to the first title of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty. Apart from a brief stretch in Game 2, he also primarily guarded Magic Johnson; a fact that many talking heads now get wrong.
1992: Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers
It’s the NBA Finals series that brought us “The Shrug”! The moment came after MJ made his sixth three-pointer, contributing to a record-breaking 35 points in the first half. Clyde Drexler and the Blazers were worthy opponents, but it was the Bulls’ time.
1993: Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns
Pat Riley gets the residuals from trademarking “threepeat”, but the Bulls achieved it, getting the job done against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. MJ retired after leading Chicago to the first threepeat since the 60s, but of course, it wasn’t the end.
1994: Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks
The 1994 Finals are noteworthy for a number of events: Hakeem Olajuwon’s first title, the matchup in the middle with Patrick Ewing, John Starks’ 2-for-18 shooting in Game 7, and the interruption of Game 5 by O.J. Simpson’s infamous freeway chase.
1995: Houston Rockets vs. Orlando Magic
In an eventful campaign that included Michael Jordan’s comeback, the 1995 Finals came down to the defending champion Rockets – underdogs as the sixth seed – and the young Orlando Magic. Once again, Hakeem was the premier man in the middle.
1996: Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle SuperSonics
Are the 1996 Bulls the best NBA team of all-time? They have a case, as even though the Warriors eventually topped their record of 72-10, the Bulls were champions. Their 87-13 combined regular season and Playoff record remains the best mark in history.
1997: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
From MJ’s buzzer beater in Game 1 to The Flu Game to Steve Kerr’s go-ahead jumper in Game 6, the 1997 NBA Finals were full of drama and excitement. As a Bulls fan, the 1997 championship remains a personal favourite, capping off a memorable year.
1998: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
Even though His Airness is the star of The Last Dance, sealing the Bulls’ sixth title with his gamewinner, the matchup of Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone attracted a lot of attention. It also led to one of the biggest celebrity matches in WCW history.
1999: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks
For all its strangeness and moments of ugly basketball, the 1999 season is nostalgic in its own way. The San Antonio Spurs found their feet after a rough start, toppling a New York Knicks team that became the first eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals.
As with my NBA Live 10 features last year, it may seem strange that I’m bothering with an exercise like this. However, to me, it’s part of being on a retro gaming kick. I love exploring everything a game has to offer, and attempting to get creative with its content and features, before I put it aside once again. NBA 2K14 is also one of the best-looking games in the series, so it seemed only appropriate to use it to pay tribute to NBA Finals history. Even though some attention to detail is often lacking when it comes to the classic teams, I still really enjoy playing with them, and appreciate that they can also contribute to the interactive almanac aspect of basketball video games.
