Let’s just admit that fans don’t follow along purely for the love of the sport, but it’s a love for the players that also fuels the fire. Man, have there been some moments when they’ve made the NBA worth watching? From the rivalries to dunk shows and heartfelt moments, here are some of the most memorable moments from the 2000s in the NBA.
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LeBron James and Bronny become first father-son duo
The moment that many Lakers fans were waiting on finally happened! During the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made history and selected Bronny James as the 55th overall pick. Considering that LeBron James had to last 21 years in the league to be able to see this day, we’d say that finally seeing him and Bronny team up as the first father-son duo has been well worth the wait.
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Dame waves goodbye to thunder
Another moment that will forever be cemented in the minds and hearts of NBA fans is when Damian Lillard waved goodbye to Russel Westbrook. Dame is arguably one of the greatest clutch players of all time in the NBA, and when the time was ticking, and everyone was wondering what he was doing in those last few seconds against Oklahoma City, he capped it off with a legendary shot and waved goodbye to Thunder and Westbrook’s legacy.
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Steph Curry’s unstoppable shot
Steph Curry is known for his longshots, but he didn’t have to pull up from near halfcourt to prove himself against Thunder – but he did, and the NBA world thanks him for that unforgettable moment. It became clear that he didn’t just want the win, but he was definitely out to prove just how unstoppable he was.
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Iverson’s step over Ty Lue
Some of the most memorable moments have nothing to do with the finesse of the game but have everything to do with the rivalries, and when Allen Iverson stepped over Ty Lue, it became a signature moment for his career. Looking back, Iverson mentions how he wasn’t a huge fan of it and thinks Lue deserves more respect for the defence he was putting up. That’s some high praise, and it’s safe to say that regardless of whether the act of stepping over Lue was intentional or not, it definitely made for one of the most memorable moments in NBA history in the 2000s.
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LaVine and Gordon’s dunk contest
Who doesn’t love it when players pull out all the stops and go for the dunk? Well, many moments come to mind, but none quite like LaVine and Gordon’s dunk show of 2016. Both dunkers were out in full force and demonstrating their incredible creativity and physicality. Gordon pulled off a mind-blowing under-the-leg finish over the mascot, but Zach LaVine took the prize when he took off from the free throw line and did a between-the-legs jam.
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The Legacy of Linsanity
How many people can say that they outplayed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams? In 2012, Jeremy Lin, who was an undrafted, anonymous guard at the time, did just that, and the legacy of Linsanity still remains one of the most stupefying runs in NBA history.
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Kobe’s finale
Staple’s Center, sixty points, 50 shots and an audience of 20,000 cheering fans. The final moments of Kobe’s NBA career could not have been more spectacular! Right up until the last few seconds, fans were constantly cheering for every attempt, and Kolbe was determined to end it off on a high note and gave everything he had. And what could be more legendary than his two-word signoff, “Mamba Out.”.
Get in on the action
While you might not be on the court, and the players may be taking all the shots, you could be cashing in on more memorable moments in the future by betting on your favourite teams and players. In order to do that, you’ve got to get the latest NBA tips and keep your eyes peeled for the next greatest moments.
Final Thoughts
If only we could go back in time and experience these moments all over again! Well, we can’t do that, but so we’ll just have to look forward to even more memorable moments in the future of the NBA, and we’re sure with the likes of James Duo and the next generation of NBA players hitting the court.
