In American team sports, the "Three-Peat" has come to represent the highest achievement possible. The Lakers are the last team from the Big Four (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) to have accomplished the feat.

Byron Scott understood that to win the 2002 NBA Finals with his Nets against the Lakers, it was crucial to contain the opposing superstar duo: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Black Mamba was ...

(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Check out a ... Spurs over New Jersey Nets 2002 -- Los Angeles Lakers over New ...

which has now been a bridesmaid in the Finals four times. For those keeping count, that gives L.A. a combined five NBA and WNBA titles in three years. L.A. 71, New York 63 (Aug. 29) L.A. 69 ...

Career laurels: 5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010); 2× NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010); NBA Most Valuable Player (2008); 18× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016); 4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002 ...

While there are several contenders this year, at present the Celtics are -225 to win the 2025 NBA title. Those are the shortest odds in the league. Keep up with the 2024-25 NBA season on FOX!

However, the Nets clinched a Finals berth the previous season, ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty. Unlike the 2002 NBA Finals featuring the monstrous Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe ...

For a certain generation, it’s hard to imagine O’Neal as one of the greatest players. In his prime, he was a punishing, dominant athlete.

NBA Finals MVP odds will usually look like this ... Nikola Jokic's 2023 Finals MVP win was the first by a center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2002. Forwards have won 10 of the past 12 Finals MVPs.

The last time basketball fans saw the adidas Kobe 2 on a basketball court was after the Los Angeles Lakers completed their three-peat by sweeping the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals.

Steph Curry's play in the Warriors' impressive win over the Celtics on Wednesday harked back to the 2022 NBA Finals.

From 1975-2000, there was just one NBA Finals that pitted two teams outside ... three NBA MVPs outside the top-11 media markets. From 2002-24, there were 14. The league is constantly on alert ...