2000
Los Angeles Lakers
Series Flow
4
Wins
2
Losses
Regular Season
67–15
Win–Loss
Playoff Record
15–8
Win–Loss
Finals
4–2
vs Indiana Pacers
Finals MVP
O'Neal
Shaquille
Los Angeles Lakers
67–15Indiana Pacers
56–26Larry Bird's Pacers were a physical, deep team that pushed the Lakers to six games. Reggie Miller was their soul — fearless, clutch, and spectacular. They simply had no one who could guard Shaquille O'Neal.
Finals MVP
Shaquille O'Neal
#34 · Center
38.0
PPG
16.7
RPG
2.7
BPG
61.1%
FG%
One of the greatest individual Finals performances in NBA history. 38 points and 16.7 rebounds per game.
38 PPG in the Finals remains one of the highest per-game scoring averages in Finals history
First of three consecutive Finals MVP awards
How the Series Unfolded
G1 · W
1–0
G2 · W
2–0
G3 · L
2–1
G4 · W
3–1
G5 · L
3–2
G6 · W
4–2
104
LAL
87
IND
Shaq's debut Finals game: 43 points, 19 rebounds. The Pacers had no answer. Phil Jackson's triangle offense dissected Indiana from the start.
Los Angeles Lakers
Shaquille O'Neal
43 pts · 19 reb · 4 blkMade an immediate statement that this was his championship to claim.
IND
Reggie Miller
21 ptsThe Pacers' engine — shot well but found no help against LA's size.
111
LAL
104
IND
Kobe Bryant sprained his left ankle and left the game, but Robert Horry hit a dramatic overtime winner to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.
Los Angeles Lakers
Robert Horry
OT winner · 13 pts"Big Shot Rob" strikes in overtime — his signature moment for the Lakers.
Shaquille O'Neal
40 pts · 24 reb40 and 24. In a win. This was history happening in real time.
91
LAL
100
IND
Without a fully healthy Kobe, Indiana's superior depth prevailed. Reggie Miller (33 pts) shredded the Lakers' defense in front of a raucous home crowd.
IND
Reggie Miller
33 pts · 8 astShot the Lakers out of the building from three with unconscious accuracy.
Jalen Rose
22 ptsGave Indiana a genuine second scorer — crucial in the absence of a healthy Kobe.
120
LAL
118
IND
Shaq's 36 points and 21 rebounds in another OT thriller gave the Lakers a commanding 3-1 lead despite Kobe playing through pain.
Los Angeles Lakers
Shaquille O'Neal
36 pts · 21 reb · OT dominantTook over in overtime — unstoppable when the game was on the line.
IND
Reggie Miller
35 pts · 6 3PMGave everything to tie the game and force OT; not enough against Shaq.
87
LAL
120
IND
Jalen Rose dropped 29 as Indiana blew out the Lakers to stay alive in the series. Kobe's ankle limited his explosiveness significantly.
IND
Jalen Rose
29 pts · 5 rebBest game of his career in a must-win situation.
Reggie Miller
25 ptsIndiana's dynamic duo refused to go quietly.
116
LAL
111
IND
Shaq's championship-clinching masterpiece: 41 points, 12 rebounds. The Lakers won their first championship since 1988 and inaugurated a dynasty at the brand-new Staples Center.
Los Angeles Lakers
Shaquille O'Neal
41 pts · 12 reb · 8 astThe defining image of his career to that point — closing out a championship at his home arena.
Kobe Bryant
26 pts · 10 reb · 4 astPlayed through the ankle to deliver in the championship game — a sign of what was to come.
The Champions
They Pushed Us to the Limit
Larry Bird's Pacers were a physical, deep team that pushed the Lakers to six games. Reggie Miller was their soul — fearless, clutch, and spectacular. They simply had no one who could guard Shaquille O'Neal.
24.3
PPG
48.5%
3PT%
4.3
APG
The most dangerous shooter in the NBA at the time. Hit shot after shot against LA but couldn't overcome the Shaq problem.
19.3
PPG
5.2
RPG
Indiana's second scorer and the player who gave the Lakers the most trouble when Kobe was injured.
History Written in 2000
Los Angeles Lakers
12th NBA Championship — first since 1988
Shaquille O'Neal
First Finals MVP — 38 PPG remains one of the highest averages in Finals history
Phil Jackson
Won his 7th championship as a head coach in his first season with the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
First championship at the Staples Center — inaugurating a new era for the franchise
Kobe Bryant
Played through a serious left ankle sprain for four games — established his reputation for playing through pain
Beyond the Box Score
The 2000 NBA Finals launched one of the great dynasties in professional sports. Phil Jackson had just left the Bulls; Shaq and Kobe had been together but unfulfilled for three seasons. Now, with the triangle offense installed and the new Staples Center gleaming, everything clicked.
Shaquille O'Neal's Finals performance — 38 PPG, 16.7 RPG — is one of the most dominant individual series in NBA history. Robert Horry's overtime winner in Game 2, while Kobe hobbled on the sideline, became one of the iconic moments of the era. The dynasty had arrived.
The Full Story
The Los Angeles Lakers had not won a championship since 1988. Twelve years of near-misses, rebuilding, and expectation. Then Phil Jackson arrived, installed the triangle, and Shaquille O'Neal became unstoppable.
The 2000 Finals was a showcase for one of the most dominant performances in basketball history. Shaq averaged 38 points and 16.7 rebounds against a Pacers team that simply could not guard him. Kobe sprained his ankle in Game 2 and the Lakers survived on Shaq's shoulders and Robert Horry's clutch overtime winner.
When Shaq closed it out in Game 6 with 41 points and 12 rebounds, the dynasty was official. Three titles would follow in the next two years. It had begun.