Best Moments From Lakers-Celtics Rivalry
- Updated: June 11, 2018
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have one of the fiercest rivalries in sporting history. LA Lakers have 16 championships, 31 conference titles and 23 division titles while the Celtics have 17 championships, 21 conference titles and 22 division titles. The 2 NBA teams have come up against each other in the finals 12 different times since 1959. The competition between these two sides has captured the imagination of basketball fans not only in the USA, but all over the world. The frenzy between the two sides reached new heights in 2010 when tickets were being sold for up to $115,900 for the much anticipated 7th game of the finals. Here are some of the greatest moments between these two legendary teams:
The 60’s
The 1960’s belonged to the Boston Celtics, and they were able to beat the Lakers in each of their five NBA Finals encounters. The Celtics won 9 championships out of 10 in this decade, as well as 9 conference titles. Players such as Bill Russell and John Havlicek were able to keep the Lakers at bay for a number of years, despite the Lakers boasting the likes of Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Elgin Baylor.
The 80’s
During the 1980’s, the Lakers or the Celtics featured in each and every NBA finals encounter. This era was epitomized by the rivalry between Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Lakers and Larry Bird of the Celtics. Throughout the decade, the two players were constantly compared to one another, with many noting the similarities in their play. Despite their courtside rivalry, the two players grew to respect each other so much that they eventually became good friends.
1999-2000
The 1999-2000 season was the dawn of a new era of basketball players for the Lakers, that included the likes of Shaquille O’Neale and Kobe Bryant. The LA Lakers were able to win the championship, boasting an impressive 36-5 home record. The season didn’t go too well for the Celtics though, who finished outside the playoffs, and were lambasted by fans and the media alike.
2010
Kobe Bryant was able to lead the Lakers to victory against the Celtics in what was an unforgettable 7-game series. The final match ended 83-79 to the Lakers, and it was Kobe Bryant’s performance that made all the difference, as he scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, and was eventually named the Most Valuable Player of the season.
2015 Celtics Honouring Kobe
Despite the animosity between the two sides, the Celtics decided to honour LA Laker nemesis, Kobe Bryant on his last ever trip to Boston. Just like “Magic” Johnson, Kobe Bryant was a huge part of their ongoing rivalry, so the Celtics paid homage to the star player by presenting him with a piece of the parquet floor, that he had played so many times on.
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