2009 NBA Finals
On the 4th of June 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic stepped onto the court at Amway Arena for Game 1 of a best-of-seven series that would decide the NBA champion. The Lakers entered as heavy favorites, boasting the second-best record in the league and a history of dominance. The Magic were underdogs, having just shocked the basketball world by defeating LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This matchup carried a unique nickname: the "Disney Series." The Walt Disney Company owned both ESPN and ABC, the networks broadcasting the games. Furthermore, Walt Disney World sat just outside Orlando, while Disneyland lay near Los Angeles. The proximity of these entertainment giants added a layer of cultural significance to the sporting event.
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard stood at the center of this narrative. Both men had been teammates on the United States Olympic team during the summer of 2008, winning gold medals in Beijing. They now faced each other as rivals in the championship round. Bryant had defeated Carmelo Anthony's Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. Howard had advanced past James' Cavaliers. Their paths converged here, creating a showdown between two of the most popular players in professional sports. The anticipation was palpable before a single shot was fired.
The Lakers navigated a treacherous path through the Western Conference playoffs. They faced three physical series against the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. Each series required seven or six games to decide. The team won in five games against Utah, then fought through seven games against Houston. They closed out the Denver Nuggets in six games to reach the Finals. This marked their sixth Finals appearance of the decade and their thirty-first overall, setting an NBA record for total appearances. Analysts picked them as favorites after strong performances in Games 5 and 6 of the conference finals.
Orlando took a different route. They played in the shadows of the number one seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and the defending champion Boston Celtics. Kevin Garnett sat out for the Celtics due to an ACL injury sustained on February 19. The Magic dispatched the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. Then they stunned the Celtics by winning Game 7 at home. Assistant coach Patrick Ewing had publicly guaranteed that Orlando would win that decisive game. The Celtics were previously 32-0 when leading a series 3-2 and 17-3 in Game 7s at home. Orlando defeated the top-seeded Cavaliers in six games. Dwight Howard scored 40 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Game 6 to secure their second Finals appearance since 1995.
Game 1 ended with a 100-75 Lakers victory. Kobe Bryant delivered 40 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. He joined Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, and Jerry West as players to achieve those numbers in a single NBA Finals game. The Magic shot only 29.9 percent from the field. Dwight Howard made just one of six shots, finishing with 12 points.
Game 2 went into overtime. The first quarter saw a combined score of 30 points, setting a record low for an NBA Finals opening frame. Rashard Lewis scored 34 points for Orlando. The game remained tied until late. Derek Fisher stole a pass from JJ Redick and made two free throws. Kobe Bryant hit a jumper to tie the game. Hedo Türkoğlu hit a jumper that was originally called a three-pointer but ruled a two-pointer after replay showed his foot on the line. The Lakers won 101-96 in overtime.
Game 3 marked the first Finals win in Magic franchise history. They shot 63 percent from the field, a Finals record. A Mickaël Piétrus steal from Kobe Bryant sealed the game in the waning minute of the fourth quarter. The Magic took a 108-104 victory.
Game 4 returned to overtime. Dwight Howard set a single-game Finals record with nine blocked shots. He drew fouls on multiple Lakers players early. Trevor Ariza hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to tie the game at 82. Kobe Bryant passed to Pau Gasol for a dunk to cut the lead to three. Fisher hit a pivotal three-pointer over Jameer Nelson to tie the game at 87 with 4.6 seconds left. The Lakers won 99-91 in overtime.
Game 5 concluded the series. The Lakers led by as much as 18 points in the second half. Lamar Odom answered Orlando's run with back-to-back three-pointers. The final score stood at 99-86. David Stern presented the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to the Lakers and the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Trophy to Kobe Bryant.
The Magic shot 63 percent from the field in Game 3, setting a Finals record for best field goal percentage. They also recorded 75 percent shooting in the first quarter of that game. Pau Gasol became the first Spaniard to win an NBA championship. D.J. Mbenga became the first Belgian Congolese player to do so. Bill Walton and Luke Walton formed the third father-son pair to each win a championship as players.
This series marked the last time a trophy silhouette was painted on the center court before the tradition ended in 2010. It was also the final NBA Finals played at Amway Arena. The Magic moved to the Amway Center for the 2010-11 season. Two games went into overtime, Games 2 and 4, both won by the Lakers. This was the seventh time in history that a team losing the previous year's Finals won the title the very next year.
The Lakers' victory brought their franchise total to 15 championships, trailing only the Boston Celtics. Head coach Phil Jackson captured his tenth NBA championship, surpassing Red Auerbach for the most titles ever won by an NBA coach. He also surpassed Scotty Bowman to become the head coach with the most sporting championships across all four major professional sports leagues in North America. The Lakers made one roster adjustment, acquiring Ron Artest from Houston
while sending Trevor Ariza away. They returned to the 2010 NBA Finals and defeated the Celtics in seven games to repeat as champions.
Orlando won 59 games in the following season. Dwight Howard won Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. Vince Carter joined the team after Hedo Türkoğlu left for Toronto. The Magic swept the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs but lost to the Celtics in six games. That series marked the final games held at Amway Arena. Stan Van Gundy was fired after the 2011-12 season. Dwight Howard was traded to the Lakers in 2013 before moving to the Rockets. He later returned to the Lakers in 2019, winning a championship in 2020. This remains the most recent Finals appearance for the Orlando franchise.
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Common questions
Who won the 2009 NBA Finals?
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 NBA Finals by defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. Kobe Bryant received the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Trophy for his performance.
When did the 2009 NBA Finals begin and end?
Game 1 of the series took place on the 4th of June 2009 at Amway Arena. The series concluded with Game 5 shortly after, marking the final date of competition.
Where was the 2009 NBA Finals played?
All games occurred at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. This venue hosted the last NBA Finals game before the tradition of painting a trophy silhouette on the center court ended in 2010.
Why is the 2009 NBA Finals called the Disney Series?
The matchup earned this nickname because Walt Disney World sat near Orlando while Disneyland lay near Los Angeles. The Walt Disney Company also owned ESPN and ABC, the networks broadcasting the games.
How many times have the Los Angeles Lakers appeared in the NBA Finals?
The 2009 series marked their thirty-first overall appearance, setting an NBA record for total appearances. Their victory brought their franchise total to 15 championships, trailing only the Boston Celtics.