NBA Finals history · Revival
The 1980s: Magic, Bird and the league’s great revival
The Finals became appointment television as Los Angeles and Boston offered opposite coasts, opposite styles and two superstars whose rivalry lifted the entire league.
What defined this era
The Finals became appointment television as Los Angeles and Boston offered opposite coasts, opposite styles and two superstars whose rivalry lifted the entire league.
A personal rivalry can make an entire league easier to follow.
The Lakers and Celtics won through contrasting but equally coherent identities.
Detroit’s arrival showed that every era eventually meets its successor.
Championship timeline
How the Finals changed
1980–82
Two rookies restore two powers
Magic Johnson started at center and scored 42 to clinch the 1980 title. Larry Bird’s Celtics won in 1981, and Los Angeles returned in 1982 to establish the decade’s two central powers.
NBA Finals1980LOS ANGELESLAKERSPHILADELPHIA76ERSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · Magic’s arrival
Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Finals1981BOSTONCELTICSHOUSTONROCKETSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · Bird’s first title
Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets
NBA Finals1982LOS ANGELESLAKERSPHILADELPHIA76ERSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · Showtime returns
Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers
1983
Philadelphia interrupts
Moses Malone joined Julius Erving and predicted a dominant playoff run. The 76ers went 12–1, swept Los Angeles and gave Erving the NBA championship missing from his résumé.
1984–87
Bird and Magic meet in June
Boston won the physical 1984 Finals. Los Angeles answered in 1985, Boston dominated Houston in 1986, and the Lakers won the rivalry’s final championship meeting in 1987.
NBA Finals1984LOS ANGELESLAKERSBOSTONCELTICSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · rivalry renewed
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics
NBA Finals1985LOS ANGELESLAKERSBOSTONCELTICSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · the Garden breakthrough
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics
NBA Finals1986BOSTONCELTICSHOUSTONROCKETSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · Boston’s peak
Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets
NBA Finals1987LOS ANGELESLAKERSBOSTONCELTICSCOMPLETE SERIESNBA Finals · the junior skyhook
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics
1988–89
The Bad Boys take the stage
The Lakers survived Isiah Thomas’s injured 25-point quarter to repeat in 1988. Detroit returned the next year, swept an injured Los Angeles team and carried the league into a more physical age.
Watch the era
Games that explain the decade
Lakers vs 76ers
1980 NBA Finals Game 6
Celtics vs 76ers
1981 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7
Celtics vs Lakers
1984 NBA Finals Game 4
Celtics vs Lakers
1984 NBA Finals Game 7
Lakers vs Celtics
1987 NBA Finals Game 4
Pistons vs Lakers
1988 NBA Finals Game 6
Lakers vs Pistons
1988 NBA Finals Game 7