2000 NBA Championship
The Lakers' first championship of the Shaquille O'Neal–Kobe Bryant era, capped by Shaq's dominant Finals MVP performance.
The 2000 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 1999–2000 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, with the Lakers holding home court advantage. The series featured the number one seeds from both conferences. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in six games to win their first NBA championship since 1988 and their twelfth overall.
Quick Facts
- Champion
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Runner-up
- Indiana Pacers
- Series result
- 4–2
- Finals mvp
- Shaquille O'Neal
- Head coach
- Phil Jackson
- Conference seed
- Western Conference #1
- Dynasty status
- First of Three-Peat
Lore & Background
This marked Indiana's first NBA Finals appearance. The Pacers would not return to the NBA Finals until 2025. Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the series, his first of three consecutive honors, in arguably one of the greatest NBA Finals performances in history, putting up 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Shaquille O'Neal is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000).
Reader's Guide
The Lakers signed Phil Jackson as head coach after being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 playoffs. Jackson built his triangle offense around Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. General Manager Jerry West surrounded them with role players such as Glen Rice, Ron Harper, and A.C. Green. The Lakers posted a 67–15 record, tying for the fifth best record in NBA regular season history. In the playoffs, they defeated the Sacramento Kings in five games, the Phoenix Suns in five games, and the Portland Trail Blazers in seven games. The Pacers finished with a 56–26 record, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, the Philadelphia 76ers in six games, and the New York Knicks in six games to reach the Finals.
Did You Know?
- The Lakers' 67–15 record tied the 1992 Chicago Bulls and 1986 Boston Celtics as the fifth best record in NBA regular season history.
- Shaquille O'Neal set an NBA Finals record with 39 free throw attempts in Game 2.
- The 2000 Finals was the second time a Finals game was played on a Monday night since the NBA switched to the Wednesday-Friday-Sunday rotation in 1991.
- Both teams played their inaugural season at new arenas: the Lakers at Staples Center and the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
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