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The 7 Best NBA Playoff Series of All Time

by Jeremy Block - 3/31/2025

Best NBA Playoff series Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors

Alright, let’s talk about the NBA playoffs -- because, let’s be real, the real magic often happens before the Finals. Sure, everyone remembers the championship games, but it’s the battles that happen earlier in the postseason that deliver some of the most insane drama and unforgettable moments. 

From all-time greats going head-to-head, to unexpected upsets, the NBA postseason has given us some unforgettable series that we can’t help but talk about forever. These are the 7 best playoff series that didn’t end with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

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1. 2000 Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers

If you’re a fan of jaw-dropping comebacks, this one’s for you. The 2000 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers is the stuff of legends. The Lakers had to fight their way back from a 3-1 series deficit. And in Game 7, they found themselves trailing by 15 points with just over 10 minutes left. It seemed like Portland was on the brink of closing it out, but the Lakers weren’t done yet.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led an unforgettable comeback, outscoring the Blazers 32-13 in the final quarter. Bryant finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while O’Neal added 18 points and 17 rebounds. The Lakers pulled off an 89-84 victory, completing one of the most incredible comebacks in NBA history. This win set the stage for their eventual three-peat and remains a legendary moment in NBA playoff history.

2. 1994 Western Conference Semifinals: Denver Nuggets vs. Seattle SuperSonics

If you love a good underdog story, this series is one for the books. The 1994 Western Conference Semifinals between the Denver Nuggets and the Seattle SuperSonics delivered one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history. The Sonics, led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, finished the regular season with the best record in the West and were heavily favored. But the Nuggets didn’t care about their regular season success.

Denver, led by Dikembe Mutombo and a group of scrappy underdogs, shocked the basketball world by coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win the series, 3-2. In Game 5, Mutombo had a monster 15-rebound, 8-block performance, leading the Nuggets’ to a massive, unexpected victory that will always be remembered as the NBA equivalent of David vs. Goliath.

3. 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks

In the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Bulls and Knicks went toe-to-toe in a series that could’ve been sponsored by the UFC, because the intensity was off the charts. Chicago, fresh off their first championship, as led by none other than Michael Jordan, while the Knicks were stacked – with Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, and John Starks ready to make life difficult for anyone who dared to step on the court.

This series was more than just basketball -- it was a straight-up street fight in the form of a sports event. The Knicks weren’t afraid to rough up the Bulls, and every game looked like it could’ve been settled in a cage match. But In Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Jordan dropped 29 points and showed everyone why they call him “His Airness.” He hit clutch shots when it mattered most, and the Bulls moved on to the next round, but not without bruises and battle scars.

This series was a perfect example of 90s playoff basketball -- gritty, intense and full of bad blood. The kind of rivalry that made you love the game even more.

4. 2007 Western Conference Semifinals: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks

In 2007, the Golden State Warriors, the No. 8 seed, decided to throw the whole “underdog” thing out the window and completely flip the script when the NBA playoffs came around. They went up against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who were rolling through the season with 67 wins and a shiny MVP in Dirk Nowitzki. Everyone – and I mean everyone – assumed the Mavs would breeze through. No one thought the Warriors had a chance.

Enter the Warriors, led by Baron Davis and Monte Ellis. They went out and shocked the world by taking the series 4-2. Game 6? It was Stephen Jackson who led the way for Golden State, scoring 33 points and helping the Warriors make history by taking down the Dallas Mavericks. 

That series is still legendary in Warriors history, and it’s one no one saw coming, and that’s what made it so sweet.

5. 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics

In 2012, the Philadelphia 76ers weren’t supposed to even make it past the first round, let alone go toe-to-toe with the Boston Celtics, who had their Big Three – Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen – ready to roll for another Finals run. Meanwhile, the Sixers were just trying to hang on.

But against all odds, Philly pushed the Celtics to a full seven games. And who was the hero? Andre Iguodala. He stepped up big time, hitting clutch shots, including a game-winning free throw in Game 6. Then, in Game 7, the Sixers went into Boston and stunned the crowd, winning 92-86 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a gritty, down-and-dirty series that reminded us all why we love playoff basketball.

6. 2002 Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

The 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings still stands as one of the most controversial series in NBA history. The Kings, led by Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Peja Stojaković, were ready to dethrone the defending champions, the Lakers. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were aiming for their third consecutive title, and they weren’t about to let anyone stand in their way.

This series had it all: high intensity, fast-paced scoring, and an ending that still gets mentioned. The Kings took a 3-2 series lead. And with Game 6 in Sacramento, they were just one win away from making the Finals. But in typical Lakers fashion, Los Angeles fought back from a huge deficit, with Bryant and O’Neal stepping up in a big way, forcing overtime and ultimately securing the win. Sacramento’s heartbreak in Game 6 was made even worse by what many felt were questionable calls from the referees, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the series.

In Game 7, the Kings pushed hard, but the Lakers took control, winning 112-106, with O’Neal leading the way with 35 points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers would then go on to capture their third consecutive title. However, for Sacramento, it’s a series that still stings. 

7. 2016 Western Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The 2016 Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder is a textbook example of how unpredictable playoff basketball can be. The Warriors, coming off a record-setting 73-win regular season, were supposed to cruise through the playoffs. But the Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, putting the Warriors on the brink of elimination.

Then, Golden State flipped the switch. After being down 3-1, they won three straight games to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in NBA history. Klay Thompson’s 41-point performance in Game 6 helped push the series to a decisive Game 7, but it was Steph Curry who delivered the game-changing plays in Game 7, finishing with 36 points and hitting some clutch shots that sealed the win for the Warriors. 

As for the Thunder? That 3-1 lead remains one of the most painful “what could’ve been” stories in NBA history. 

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