For me, I remember going to a Nets-Lakers game in 2009. didn’t know much about the NBA before that but seeing that game live sparked it for me.
I know it’s an obvious one but Game 6 2013 Finals where Mike Miller hits the three with no shoe.
Disliked those heat teams but they were fun
Bulls vs Rockets 1998 nba playoffs when Barkley dreams of a title ended.
Reggie Miller scoring 8 points in 9 seconds.
Shaq ripping down the backboard vs the Nets
Same game Nick Anderson came off the bench to drop a career high 50 points in 3 quarters. All overshadowed by Shaq.
85/86 season. I was 4.
Celtics lost at home to my Portland Trail Blazers. The only home game they lost that year.
One loss doesn’t mean much, but as a kid, it seemed like we toppled a giant no one else could beat.
Jordan vs Lakers playoff series in 1991. Probably couldn’t point to a single game ( I was only 10) but that series changed a lot of kids’ lives.
1998 all-star game Kobe vs MJ
For me it was a whole season. D Wade in 08 - 09. I was a freshman in high school and he lit up the basketball world. He averaged 30 points, 7.5 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.5 steals/blocks a game on a middling Heat team. It was incredible to watch as a 14 year old kid who just started playing basketball with his friends.
2001 playoffs when Carter scored 9 threes against Philly. I was 11 at the time. But I was watching the Bulls too, I had a kid’s Jordan jersey, Space Jam toys, all that. It’s just that Carter game really solidified it for me.
1999 ECF Game 3 between Knicks and Pacers when Larry Johnson had the 4 point play
Basketball
Larry Johnson 4pt play
I can’t point to a single game, but the first NBA games I truly remember were the 1978 NBA Finals, Seattle Supersonics vs Washington Bullets. I remember the bumper music going into commercials at least once or twice was the song “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler.
Even though this was still a year before Magic and Bird injected life into the NBA I still loved watching those teams battle it out.
This one hurt bc I’m a Pacers fan but the ECF game 1 vs the Heat and Bron (the first time) where Paul George hit that crazy 3 to tie and then Bron made a layup to win. Crushed me but I was hooked. Than the next game I think Paul George yammed on Birdman and Bron hit a deep 3 seconds later to end the half. My bestfriend was a Bron fan and the Pacers were putting up a better fight than anyone expected. Still maybe one of my fav series of all time. Mavs are my #1 team so obv 2011 made me fall in love too, 2006 hurt. But I’m 25 so I was 8 and 12 on those, it hit a little harder at 14 even if the stakes were smaller and the Pacers were my 2nd fav. Thats when the hardcore non stop obsession started. I hope kids now had that with the Mavs /Luka vs Clippers or Suns or this year OKC/Minny series, all awesome! I also remember the Pacers with Oladipo where they took the Bron Cavs to 7 sticks in my head as a top playoff series too
LeBron’s game winning shot against the Magic in the 09 Eastern Conference Finals. I will never forget that moment.