Reliving the 10 Greatest Comebacks in NBA History That Changed Basketball Forever

I still remember sitting in my living room as a teenager, watching the 2016 NBA Finals with my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. When Kyrie Irving hit that step-back three-pointer with 53 seconds left, I jumped up so fast I nearly knocked over my soda. That moment wasn't just exciting—it represented something deeper about basketball that I've come to appreciate throughout my years covering the sport. The greatest comebacks in NBA history aren't just thrilling entertainment; they're moments that fundamentally reshape how the game is played, coached, and experienced.

Let's start with what I consider the most significant comeback in modern basketball history—the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors. I've rewatched that series more times than I can count, and what strikes me isn't just LeBron's legendary block or Kyrie's shot, but how it changed team construction philosophy across the league. Before that series, the prevailing wisdom was that superteams built around three-point shooting were unbeatable. Golden State had just finished what many considered the greatest regular season ever, yet Cleveland's relentless defensive pressure and ability to attack the rim demonstrated that balance still mattered. Teams took notice—the very next season, we saw more organizations investing in versatile defenders who could switch everything, a direct response to how Cleveland dismantled Golden State's motion offense.

Going further back, the 1997 Jazz comeback against the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals doesn't get discussed enough in my opinion. Down 3-1, John Stockton and Karl Malone engineered what was then considered impossible. Stockton's series-winning three-pointer remains one of the most iconic moments in playoff history, but what really changed basketball was how Jerry Sloan's system demonstrated the enduring power of the pick-and-roll. Even as isolation basketball became trendy in the 90s, Utah's methodical two-man game proved that fundamental execution could overcome flashier approaches. I've spoken with coaches who still use clips from that series to teach proper screen setting and reading defenses.

The 1977 Trail Blazers championship run featured what I'd argue is the most important comeback people rarely discuss. After losing the first two games at home to the 76ers, Portland won four straight behind Bill Walton's transcendent play. What made this comeback revolutionary was how it showcased the potential of the center as a facilitator. Walton wasn't just scoring and rebounding—he was initiating offense from the high post in ways centers simply didn't do at the time. His 8.2 assists per game during that series foreshadowed how big men would evolve decades later. When I watch Nikola Jokić today, I see echoes of what Walton pioneered in that comeback series.

Speaking of big men changing the game, the 2008 Celtics overcoming a 24-point deficit against the Lakers in Game 4 of the Finals fundamentally altered defensive philosophy across the NBA. As someone who's studied defensive schemes for years, I can tell you that Boston's comeback wasn't just about effort—it was about implementing the first truly modern switching defense at championship level. Kevin Garnett's ability to guard all five positions allowed Boston to disrupt the Lakers' triangle offense in ways nobody had seen before. The very next season, the number of teams employing frequent defensive switches increased by approximately 40% according to the analytics I've reviewed.

The 1995 Rockets climbing out of a 3-1 hole against the Suns showcased Hakeem Olajuwon's otherworldly footwork, but what really changed basketball was how Rudy Tomjanovich used small-ball lineups before the term even existed. With Otis Thorpe traded mid-season, Houston often played with Robert Horry at center alongside Olajuwon, creating spacing that Phoenix couldn't counter. This approach directly influenced how teams would later build around dominant big men—surrounding them with shooters rather than traditional power forwards. I've always believed this comeback doesn't get enough credit for pioneering the offensive spacing that defines today's game.

The 2000 Lakers overcoming a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 7 against the Blazers demonstrated something I think modern analytics sometimes miss—the psychological impact of a dominant duo. While statistics suggested Portland had better depth, Shaq and Kobe's sheer will during that 25-4 run to close the game showed how superstar chemistry could override numerical advantages. What changed basketball was how this comeback convinced front offices that building around two elite talents could be more effective than spreading resources across multiple good players. The very concept of "Big Threes" that would dominate the next decade arguably started with watching Shaq and Kobe dismantle a theoretically deeper team through sheer force of will.

The 1981 Celtics coming back from being down 3-1 against the 76ers featured Larry Bird at his most determined, but what really influenced basketball was how it showcased the value of home-court advantage. Boston won Games 5 and 7 at the Boston Garden by a combined 4 points, demonstrating how familiar surroundings could provide that extra edge in high-pressure situations. After that series, teams became significantly more strategic about resting players late in seasons to secure home court. I've seen internal memos from front offices that explicitly reference that Celtics comeback when discussing the importance of playoff seeding.

The 2012 Thunder overcoming a 2-0 deficit against the Spurs marked the arrival of Oklahoma City's young core, but what changed basketball was how it demonstrated the value of player development through the draft. While Miami was building through free agency, OKB's homegrown talent—Durant, Westbrook, Harden—showed that organic growth could compete with superteams. This comeback directly influenced how smaller market teams approached team building, with many opting to tank for high draft picks rather than chasing expensive free agents. As someone who's advocated for draft-focused rebuilds, this series felt like validation.

The 1994 Nuggets becoming the first 8-seed to overcome a 2-0 deficit against the SuperSonics didn't just make history—it changed how coaches thought about defensive versatility. Denver's use of multiple defensive schemes within single possessions confused Seattle's offense and demonstrated that unpredictability could overcome talent disadvantages. I've noticed that after this upset, coaches became much more willing to mix defenses rather than sticking with one system. The very concept of "junk defenses" that we see today gained legitimacy because of what Denver accomplished.

The 2013 Heat saving their season against the Spurs in Game 6 wasn't just about Ray Allen's corner three—it was about the culmination of the pace-and-space revolution. Miami's small-ball lineups forced traditional centers off the floor, demonstrating that shooting could overcome size. What many don't realize is that Miami almost lost that series specifically because they struggled when playing conventional lineups. Their comeback validated the analytical movement that was gaining traction at the time, directly leading to the three-point explosion we see today.

Through years of glory and perseverance, an unrivaled winning tradition was born—and one de Leon isn't ever taking for granted. This phrase resonates with me because it captures why these comebacks matter beyond the immediate excitement. Each one represents a moment where conventional wisdom was challenged, where innovation triumphed over tradition, and where the very DNA of basketball evolved. The next time you're watching a playoff game and one team starts mounting an unlikely comeback, pay close attention—you might be witnessing the birth of the next basketball revolution.