Helena Frye
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA World Championship Series, winning their ninth NBA Championship. The series was a rematch of the previous year's finals, in which the Celtics had won. The Lakers' victory was led by Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, while the Celtics were led by Larry Bird. The 1985 NBA Finals marked the first loss for the Larry Bird-led Celtics since 1958, and it was also the last time the NBA World Championship Series branding was used, as it was replaced by NBA Finals branding the following year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Season | 1984-85 |
| Winners | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Runners-up | Boston Celtics |
| Series | 2-3-2 |
| Number of Games | 6 |
| MVP | Larry Bird |
| Leading Scorer | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| Coach | Pat Riley |
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What You'll Learn
Los Angeles Lakers won the 1985 NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 1985 NBA Championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 1984 NBA Finals. This was the Lakers' ninth NBA championship, and it marked the first loss for the Larry Bird-led Celtics.
The 1985 NBA Finals featured the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference playoff champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference playoff champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics were aiming to repeat as NBA champions for the first time since the 1968-69 season, while the Lakers sought to avenge their loss to the Celtics in the previous year's finals.
The Lakers entered the 1984-85 NBA season with a mission, utilising the effective Showtime offense that had brought them success in the past. They finished the regular season with a 62-20 record, earning the Western Conference lead with 62 wins. The team underwent some changes, with James Worthy taking over as the starting small forward from Jamaal Wilkes, and Byron Scott earning more minutes as the backup to Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper.
In the playoffs, the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets, going 11-2 across the three playoff rounds. The Celtics, on the other hand, finished the regular season with a 63-19 record and won 63 games, securing the NBA's best record for the second straight season.
The 1985 NBA Finals implemented a 2-3-2 format, with the first two games in Boston and the next three in Los Angeles. The Lakers recovered from a Game 1 loss, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 30 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 8 assists leading the way. Michael Cooper also contributed 22 points, including several clutch outside jumpers. The Lakers pulled away in the second half of Game 2, winning 136-111 and evening the series at 1-1. Abdul-Jabbar's performance made him the league's all-time leading playoff scorer.
The Los Angeles Lakers' victory in the 1985 NBA Finals was a historic moment in the team's history, avenging their previous loss to the Celtics and claiming their ninth NBA championship title.
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The Lakers beat the Boston Celtics
The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the culmination of the 1984-85 season, with the Los Angeles Lakers facing off against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers emerged victorious, claiming their ninth NBA Championship title and avenging their loss to the Celtics in the previous year's finals.
The Lakers, led by Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, went up against Larry Bird and the Celtics in a highly anticipated rematch. The series followed a 2-3-2 format, with the first two games taking place in Boston and the next three in Los Angeles. The Celtics, coming off a successful season with 63 wins, had home-court advantage for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, the Lakers had compiled an impressive 62 wins, determined to bounce back from their painful loss in the 1984 championship series.
The first game saw a significant 34-point differential, with the Celtics taking an early lead in the series. However, the Lakers quickly recovered, thanks to stellar performances by Abdul-Jabbar and swingman Michael Cooper in Game 2. Their momentum continued into the second half, where they pulled away with a commanding lead and ultimately won the game 136-111, evening the series at 1-1. Abdul-Jabbar's performance in this game cemented his place as the league's all-time leading playoff scorer.
As the series progressed, the Lakers demonstrated their determination and skill, ultimately clinching the championship and making history. This victory marked the first time the Lakers had beaten the Celtics in an NBA Finals matchup, adding another layer of significance to their triumph. The 1985 championship series propelled the NBA to new heights, showcasing the talent and rivalry between these two iconic teams.
The Lakers' victory in the 1985 NBA Finals is remembered as a pivotal moment in the league's history, with the team earning its ninth championship title and solidifying its place in the annals of basketball greatness.
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This was the Lakers' ninth NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 1985 NBA Championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in what was their ninth NBA Championship. The Lakers had lost to the Celtics in the previous year's finals, and the 1985 championship series was a rematch between the two teams. This time, the Lakers avenged their previous loss, winning the series 4-2.
The 1985 NBA Finals featured the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference playoff champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference playoff champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics had home-court advantage for the second year in a row, having finished the regular season with a 63-19 record, while the Lakers compiled a 62-20 record. The Lakers were led by Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, while the Celtics were led by Larry Bird.
The series was historic and marked the first loss for the Larry Bird-led Celtics in the NBA Finals, having won in 1981 and 1984. The Lakers' victory was also significant as it was the first time they had beaten the Celtics in the NBA Finals. The rivalry between the two teams propelled the NBA to new heights, with future Hall-of-Famers on both sides battling it out in what was considered pro basketball's most polarizing rivalry.
The Lakers' win in 1985 was their ninth NBA Championship in franchise history. Their previous championships came in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, and 1982. The Lakers have gone on to win several more championships since 1985, adding to their impressive NBA legacy.
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The Celtics had won the 1984 NBA Championship
The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the culmination of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 1983–84 season. The championship series featured the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. The Celtics had home-court advantage, and the series was played in the 2–2–1–1–1 format.
The 1984 championship series was a rematch of the Celtics and Lakers after their rivalry was revived in 1979 with the entry of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird into the league. The Lakers and Celtics had met seven times previously in the NBA finals, with the Celtics winning each time. The 1984 series was the first championship that the Celtics claimed at home since 1966.
The Celtics were led by Larry Bird, who won his first MVP award that season. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Bird was complemented by 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, first-time All-Star and Sixth Man Award winner Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Gerald Henderson, and Danny Ainge. The Celtics won 62 games to lead the league.
The Lakers were led by Magic Johnson, who earned the nickname "Tragic Johnson" from Celtics fans due to several errors in Game 4 of the 1984 finals. The Lakers also featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who required an oxygen tank during the "Heat Game" (Game 5) due to the extreme heat in the arena.
The series went to seven games, with the Celtics winning the deciding game 111–102. This was the Celtics' second NBA championship in three years, having also won in 1981. The Celtics looked to repeat as NBA champions in 1985 for the first time since the 1968–69 season but lost to the Lakers in the finals.
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The 1985 NBA Championship was the last to be branded as the NBA World Championship Series
The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association's 1984-85 season. It featured the defending NBA and Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics were seeking to repeat as NBA champions for the first time since the 1968-69 season. They had home-court advantage for the second year in a row, finishing the regular season with a 63-19 record. The Lakers, meanwhile, compiled a 62-20 record and were looking to bounce back from their loss to the Celtics in the previous year's championship series.
The Lakers entered the 1984-85 NBA season with a mission, employing the effective Showtime offense and running away with the Western Conference-leading 62 wins. The team underwent slight changes, with James Worthy replacing Jamaal Wilkes as the starting small forward, and Byron Scott earning more minutes as the backup to both Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper. In the playoffs, the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets, going 11-2 in the three playoff rounds. The Celtics, on the other hand, won 63 games, with Larry Bird winning the MVP award for the second consecutive season, and Kevin McHale winning the Sixth Man Award for the second year in a row.
The 1985 NBA Finals implemented a 2-3-2 format, with Games 1 and 2 in Boston and the next three games in Los Angeles. The Lakers recovered from their loss in Game 1, dubbed the "Memorial Day Massacre", behind Abdul-Jabbar's impressive performance of 30 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 8 assists. Lakers swingman Michael Cooper also contributed 22 points, including several clutch outside jumpers. The series was tied at 1-1, with the Lakers pulling away in the second half of Game 2 and winning 136-111. Abdul-Jabbar became the league's all-time leading playoff scorer, surpassing Lakers guard Jerry West. The 34-point differential set a new record for a Finals game between the Celtics and Lakers, a record that stood until the 2008 NBA Finals when the Celtics defeated the Lakers 131-92.
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Frequently asked questions
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 1985 NBA Championship.
The Lakers played against the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Championship.
The final score of the 1985 NBA Championship game was 136-111, Lakers.
