10 Revenge Championships in NBA History

1989 Finals: Detroit Pistons 4-0 Los Angeles Lakers

Magic Johnson (L) Isiah Thomas (R) (Image Courtesy: Lakers Nation)

1988 Finals: Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 Detroit Pistons

In 1988, the Pistons finally got past the Celtics to get to their first NBA Finals in the Detroit incarnation to face the Lakers and boy did they put on a show. The physical brand of basketball played by Detroit helped them jump out to a 3-2 lead but it went downhill after that.

With Detroit down 70-64, Isiah Thomas badly rolled his ankle but came back and miraculously set the NBA playoff record for most points in a quarter with 25 in the third.

Inspired by Isiah, Detroit roared back into the game and led 102-101 with 27 seconds remaining and then came the controversy. A phantom foul called on Bill Laimbeer led to free throws which put the Lakers ahead and they won the game. With Isiah limited in Game 7, LA managed to sneak past Detroit 108-105.

The following season both teams coasted through the playoffs to get to the Finals but the balance of the series tilted before even a game was played. Byron Scott suffered a severe hamstring injury in practice and was out for the series.

Then, Magic Johnson went down with a hamstring problem in Game 2 and it was all over for LA. With their starting backcourt injured, the Lakers didn't stand a chance and got swept. Of all the entries on the list, this was really the only one where a refereeing decision played a role in deciding the outcome, so revenge must have felt pretty sweet.