Chris Sports Basketball Ring: Top 5 Features Every Player Needs to Know
I still get chills thinking about that legendary 1985 NBA Finals - the iconic Lakers versus Celtics championship that defined an era of basketball greatness. Having followed basketball for over four decades now, I can confidently say that particular championship series represented something much bigger than just another title. It was personal, it was historic, and it changed the landscape of professional basketball forever. The rivalry between these two franchises had reached its boiling point after Boston's victory in the previous year's finals, and what unfolded in 1985 would become one of the most memorable redemption stories in sports history.
What many casual fans don't realize is how much this series meant to the Lakers organization specifically. They had lost to the Celtics eight previous times in the finals, creating what we called the "Celtic Mystique" that haunted the franchise. I remember watching Game 1 at Boston Garden where the Celtics absolutely demolished the Lakers 148-114 - we call it the "Memorial Day Massacre" for good reason. The way Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis in that game would be flagrant foul today, but back then it set the physical tone for the entire series. That's when I thought, "Here we go again, same old story." But Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had different plans. The way they rallied their team after that embarrassing loss showed the heart of true champions.
The turning point came when Pat Riley made the strategic decision to start using a smaller lineup, something quite innovative for that era. Magic Johnson's performance throughout the series was nothing short of spectacular - he averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 14 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field. But what impressed me most was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then 38 years old, putting up 25.7 points per game in the series. His Game 5 performance where he dropped 36 points was pure artistry from the old master. When the Lakers finally clinched the title in Game 6 at Boston Garden - becoming the first visiting team to win a championship on that court - it felt like basketball history had been rewritten before our eyes.
This brings me to why I'm thinking about physical legacy today. Watching those legends battle through such physical play makes me consider the long-term impact on athletes' bodies. Just last week, I read about former PBA enforcer Ramon "Onchie" dela Cruz knocking on the government's doors for help with his total knee replacement. It struck me how these athletes give their bodies to the sport we love, only to face significant health challenges later. The physicality of that 1985 series was brutal by today's standards - players were allowed much more contact, and the wear-and-tear on joints, especially knees, was tremendous. I've spoken with several former players from that era, and nearly all of them have undergone some form of joint replacement or deal with chronic pain.
The connection between those historic games and athlete welfare today is something we need to discuss more openly. When I see footage of Kevin McHale battling Kareem in the post or Larry Bird diving for loose balls, I can't help but wonder about the long-term physical price they paid for those moments of brilliance. The NBA has made tremendous strides in player health management since the 80s, but we're still seeing the consequences of that physical era manifest today. Modern sports medicine has given us better understanding of joint preservation, but for many veterans of that physical brand of basketball, the damage is already done.
Looking back, the 1985 NBA Finals wasn't just about basketball - it was about legacy in multiple dimensions. The Lakers finally overcoming their Boston demons created a new chapter in NBA history, but it also represented the culmination of years of physical sacrifice by athletes on both sides. The championship marked the end of an era in some ways, as the game would gradually become less physically punishing in the years that followed. Yet the memories of that series remain vivid - from Magic's leadership to Kareem's timeless excellence to the collective will of a team determined to make history. These moments define why we love sports, but they also remind us of the human cost behind the glory. The next time you watch classic games from that era, appreciate not just the skill and drama, but the physical sacrifice that made it all possible.