1969 NBA Finals Game 7 vs Los Angeles Lakers

Lore & Background

Before the game, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke ordered balloons with 'World Champion Lakers' printed on them suspended from the rafters, and flyers were placed in every seat detailing celebration plans. The Celtics circulated a memo about these plans in their locker room. Jerry West became furious with Cooke upon seeing the balloons. Bill Russell said to West, 'Those fucking balloons are staying up there.' With only two true guards on the Lakers and West hampered by a hamstring pull, Russell ordered his players to fast break at every opportunity. Los Angeles shot poorly early, and the Celtics led 24-12 after the first quarter, 59-56 at halftime, and 91-76 after the third. Early in the fourth, Wilt Chamberlain incurred his fifth foul. With just over five minutes left and the Lakers trailing 103-94, Chamberlain injured his knee and went to the bench. Behind backup center Mel Counts, the Lakers cut the lead to 103-102 with two minutes left. Chamberlain told coach Butch van Breda Kolff he was ready to return, but the coach said 'we're doing fine without you,' and Chamberlain stayed on the bench.

In Their Own Story

Sweat dripped from Russell's brow as he scanned the court, not merely as an athlete, but as the general of a fading empire. The clock ticked down, each second stretching toward silence. Jerry West drove hard, but the Celtics' defense, anchored by their center, held firm. He simply walked off the court, accepting that the dynasty had concluded on its own terms.

Reader's Guide

The decisive basket was made by Don Nelson, not Sam Jones. The final score was 108-106, a two-point margin. This remains the only time in NBA Finals history that the MVP was awarded to a player on the losing team (Jerry West). It also marked the first time in NBA Finals history that a Game 7 was won by the road team.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 2-0 series deficit to win the championship.
• They remain the only 4th seed team to win the Finals and the second-lowest seeded team overall to win the Finals after the Houston Rockets in 1995.
• Jerry West won the Finals MVP despite being on the losing team, the only time this has happened.
• This was the first year a Finals MVP award was given.