If you could witness 3 moments in NBA history live, which would they be and why?

1. Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals -- Boston Celtics vs Phoenix Suns - 3 Overtimes. (aka the "Greatest Game Ever Played".) --

Starting in the second overtime the Suns took a one point lead with 4 seconds to play, this is when John Havlicek took the in-bounds pass and raced the length of the court to score on a 15 foot shot that brought hundreds of fans racing out on the court. However the referee's ruled that there was still 1 second remaining on the clock. The Suns, trailing by 1 with no time out's remaining called one, which did result in a technical foul, which was made and gave Boston a 2 point lead. But this strategy also allowed the Suns to move the ball to mid-court for the inbounds play. Garfield Heard caught the pass, turned and calmly sank a shot at the buzzer to send the game to a third overtime. During the 3rd overtime, with key players from both teams on the bench due to fouls, seldom-used Glen McDonald of the Celtics scored 6 points in the 3rd overtime leading the exhausted Celtics to a 128-126 victory, Jo-Jo White proclaimed after the game that it was as close to death as he ever wanted to come to. Two days later the Celtics playing game 6 in Phoenix, beat the Suns 87-80 to win their 13th NBA title. Rick Barry who called the game says it was "the most exciting game he's ever seen."

2. Game 2 of the 1986 1st Round Playoffs -- Bulls vs Celtics -- Jordan goes off for playoff record 63 points in a loss.

The Celtics simply destroyed the Bulls in game one winning by 19, but game 2 would prove to be a different story. Inspired by the Rowdy Boston Garden Crowd Jordan played like a man possessed. He willed his Bulls to not one but two overtimes, before finally succumbing in the second overtime 135-131 as Jordan was completely unstoppable going for a still NBA playoff record 63 points breaking Elgin Baylor's 24 year old record. Jordan scored a record 131 points for the 3 game series. But as NBA history has always told the story, one player cannot beat a team and the Celtics proved this to be the case. Larry Bird remarks after the game "That was God in the form of Michael Jordan."

3. Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals -- Celtics vs Lakers --

Game 4 started the same way game 3 had ended, but then Kevin McHale cloths-lined Curt Rambis, which raised the tension in the game. The move prompted Laker coach Pat Riley to say that the Celtics were a bunch of thugs, while Cedric Maxwell said of the move "Before Kevin McHale hit Kurt Rambis, the Lakers were just running across the street whenever they wanted," he said. "Now they stop at the corner, push the button, wait for the light, and look both ways." Still the Lakers held a 5-point lead with a minute to play, that's when a steal from Magic, plus Magic missed 2 critical free throws and the game went into overtime. In overtime James Worthy also missed a free throw and the Celtics went on the win the game in overtime 129-125. This game changed the complete complexion of the series as at the end of game three it appeared that the Lakers were in complete control of the series. The Celtics went on to win game 7 in Boston, extending their domination of the Lakers to 8 straight.

Others: Wilt's 100, Bryant's 81, Jerry West's half-court game winner, the Jordan/Nique Slam Dunk Contest, Bird's "point before it goes in" 3 point title win, Reggie Miller and the "choke signal" game to Spike Lee, Jordan and "The Shot", Jordan "over Ehlo for the win", Hakeem destroying Robinson on the night he was given the MVP award, When Moses Malone said "Fo, Fo, Fo", Iverson for 48 in an OT upset win Game 1 of the 2001 Finals and many many more.

Eeek, I'm not even a Celtics fan but they ended up in all 3 of my top moments, I'm a Sixers fan. Shame on me...

Great question Bill.

I don't know if you would consider the last two, one moment; its over a period of time but I still wish I could've been alive to see it.....

1.) Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point, 25 rebound performance

2.) Bill Russell's Era 1956-1969 during his Boston Celtics' 11 Championships (an achievement that will NEVER be reached again in the NBA)

3.) Oscar Robertson's 1961-1962 NBA season which was his 2nd season in the NBA when he averaged a triple double for the entire season: 30.8pts, 12.5reb, 11.4ast (another achievement that may never reached again in the NBA, this is the definition of consistency)

I've seen just about everything of what everybody else is talking about from the Jordan era to the present era.....

1. Would be when the Lakers finally got over the hump and won the championship against Boston, in Boston in the 80s.

2. Would be when the Bulls got the 70th win in Milwaulkee...nobody wanted to be the team to give the Bulls the 70th win and Milwaulkee played like it...they fought hard but the Bulls just prevailed, but I remember what kind of atmosphere it was so I would have liked to be a part of that.

3. I would have to say back in 2002 I believe when Kobe scored 56 points agains Jordan when he played for the Wizards. He was making Reggie Miller type 3 pointers, it was ridiculous. The thing is he could've scored more, he got those 56 points through 3 quarters! I remember Phil taking him out because Jordan got him in foul trouble plus it was a blowout at that point, so he didn't play in the 4th. That was the last Kobe vs Jordan game I believe.

1. Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals (Suns vs Celtics)

1. The Knick/Heat fight in 1997

2. Wilt Chamberlain 100 point game

Simple question, If you were lucky enough to watch the Lakers with Magic Johnson, then you would agree that you could pick just about any 3 games he played in would be the most exciting moments ever. That's NBA action at it's best! Laker fast break! Magic dazzled the crowd! He was inspiring!

The 1986 NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers vs the Boston Celtics. The winning junior, junior, junior skyhook(described by Magic himself) over Robert Parish in game 6. How couldn't I not want to witness live the greatest rivalry in NBA history?

1986 playoffs, game 2 between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics where Michael Jordan set an NBA playoffs records in points scoring 63 points. Larry Bird was quoted after the game by describing Jordan's performance as "God disguised as Michael Jordan!"

June 14, 1998, game 6 of the Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz NBA Finals. Jordan's winning shot off a push to Bryon Russell to win Jordan's and Bulls' 6th NBA title.

1. Robert Horry's game winner against the Kings. - I saw it live on TV, but it would've been doubly amazing if you're a Laker fan and was right there in Staples.

2. Magic Johnson's junior junior sky hook that beat the Celtics in game 4 of the 1987 finals. - After a timeout, Johnson took the inbounds pass near the left sideline. He thought about launching a jumper, but lanky Kevin McHale was in his way. So he dribbled toward the key, with McHale in pursuit and Bird and Robert Parish moving over to join him. Before they could collapse on him at the foul line, however, Johnson tossed an old-fashioned running hook shot that nestled through the net, giving the Lakers the lead. After Bird missed an attempt at the buzzer, the Lakers had a 107-106 victory; they went on to win the series in six games.

3. MJ's final shot that defeated the Jazz and gave Jordan and the Bulls their 6th title.

Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points game, no explanation needed.

Game 6 of 1998 NBA finals, Michael Jordan's last shot against the Jazz to won his 6th titles, also his last shot/game as a Bulls.

1969 NBA finals, the greatest NBA finals series (Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain faced each other while the MVP finals was Jerry West, the first and only MVP finals from losing team)

Lakers-Spurs in Game 5 of Western Conference Semi-Finals 2004 when Derek Fisher won the game for the lakers with 0.4 shot after tim duncan made a clutch shot

Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game.

T- Mac's 13 points in 33 seconds against the Spurs

1) wilt's 100 pt game (much like everyone else)

2) 1987 nba finals game 5 (i believe?) the one where magic hits the babyhook over mchale and parish

3) 1976 nba finals game 5...triple overtime suns-celts...many people say this was the greatest game ever played.

guilty pleasure:

malice at the palace 2004...not for the game but for the bedlam happening towards the end. just would be curious to see the mood and tension of the people in attendance while this is going on. *yah, im a bit sick ^^*