Game 7 is when legacies are defined, and legends are born.
Look no further than 1969, when Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics went up against Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers in a legendary Game 7 that had reverberations for years to come.
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The Celtics took down the Lakers 108-106, on Los Angeles’ home court, winning their second NBA championship in a row against the purple and gold, and eleventh in 13 years.
It was an exclamation mark for Russell’s Celtics and their dynasty.
The victory tasted even sweeter because it also brought a ton of embarrassment on Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke.
With Game 7 on their home floor, Cooke was expecting a win, and so he went ahead and had thousands of balloons with “World Champion Lakers” printed on them.
The balloons were hung up in the rafters, ready to fall upon a Lakers victory.
A victory that never came.
Cooke also had flyers placed on every seat inside the Forum, that read, “When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the rafters, the USC marching band will play ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in that order.”
Russell’s Celtics spoiled Cooke’s grand plan.
Meanwhile, for the Lakers, Chamberlain and his star running mate, Jerry West, were left with their hands on their heads.
Chamberlain was injured during the game, and had to be taken out.
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However, when he wanted to go back in, head coach Butch van Breda Kolff opted to keep him on the bench, while not at full strength.
It was clear that Chamberlain wanted to go back, but van Breda Kolff refused.
At the same time, West was doing everything in his power to take home the title.
He finished the game with a triple-double, recording 43 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
West was named Finals MVP and, to this day, remains the only player on the losing team to ever take home the award.
Chamberlain finished with 18 points and an astonishing 27 rebounds but was benched for the last five minutes of the game.
NBA’s Greatest
Russell finished with only six points, but had 21 rebounds and six assists.
John Havlicek led Boston with 26 points, while Sam Jones had 24.
Shortly after, Russell announced his retirement as player-coach, finishing his career with 11 championships in 13 seasons.
He is the winningest player, in terms of titles, in the history of the NBA.
Russell is the ultimate champion, and he ended it by taking down his bitter rival, while embarrassing their owner in the process.
It was the perfect ending for a perfect career.