The 5 Greatest Comebacks in NBA History That Defied All Odds

I still remember watching that 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 with my college buddies, all of us crammed into a tiny apartment living room. When Kyrie Irving hit that three-pointer with 53 seconds left, the room went absolutely silent for a moment before erupting into chaos. That moment cemented itself in basketball history as perhaps the greatest comeback story the league has ever witnessed. Throughout my years following the NBA, I've come to appreciate that these incredible turnarounds aren't just about basketball—they're about the human spirit, about teams embracing that "unrivaled winning tradition" that emerges from years of glory and perseverance, something the Golden State Warriors certainly understood even in defeat.

Let's start with that 2016 Cavaliers championship because honestly, nothing quite compares to coming back from a 3-1 deficit against a team that won 73 regular-season games. The Warriors were practically unbeatable that season, yet Cleveland found something special when their backs were against the wall. LeBron James delivered one of the most legendary performances in Game 5,6 and 7, averaging 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 9.7 assists while playing suffocating defense. What many forget is that the Cavs actually outscored the Warriors by 48 points in the three elimination games—that's complete domination when it mattered most. I've always believed this series changed how teams approach the modern NBA, proving that no lead is truly safe and that momentum can shift in ways that defy all statistical models.

Going further back, the 2008 Boston Celtics' transformation from lottery team to champions still blows my mind. They improved from 24 wins in 2007 to 66 wins and a championship in 2008—the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history at that time. What made this particularly special was how three established stars—Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen—sacrificed individual glory for team success. I had the privilege of watching them during that playoff run, and their defensive intensity was something you had to see to believe. They trailed the Lakers by 24 points in Game 4 of the Finals before mounting what felt like an impossible comeback, ultimately winning the series in six games. That Celtics team embodied the concept of perseverance creating tradition, showing how quickly culture can change with the right pieces.

The 1995 Houston Rockets' playoff run deserves its own documentary honestly. As the sixth seed, they weren't supposed to make noise, yet they clawed their way through every series. I'm particularly fascinated by their second-round comeback against the Phoenix Suns, where they became only the ninth team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit. Mario Elie's "Kiss of Death" three-pointer remains one of those iconic moments that gives me chills every time I watch the replay. Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 33.0 points that postseason while playing elite defense, proving why he's arguably the most skilled big man ever. What many don't realize is that the Rockets trailed in every single series that postseason yet found ways to win—that's the definition of a team that refused to accept defeat.

Speaking of refusing defeat, the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers' championship run featured what I consider the most impressive Finals comeback in terms of pure statistical odds. After losing the first two games to the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers by a combined 24 points, Portland won four straight behind Bill Walton's incredible all-around game. During those four victories, Walton averaged 20.5 points, 23.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks—numbers that still seem impossible today. I've always been drawn to underdog stories, and this Blazers team epitomized that spirit, showing how belief can overcome talent when properly channeled. Their comeback wasn't just about winning games—it was about establishing an identity that would define their franchise for decades.

More recently, the 2020 Denver Nuggets created their own piece of history by becoming the first team to overcome two 3-1 deficits in the same postseason. I watched every game of that bubble run, and Jamal Murray's scoring explosions were simply magical. His 40-point games against Utah in Games 4,5 and 6 kept them alive, while his 40-point performance against the Clippers in Game 7 sealed their conference finals appearance. Nikola Jokić's evolution during that run was remarkable too—he averaged 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while shooting 52% from the field. What struck me most was their mental toughness; being isolated in the bubble tested every team's resolve, yet Denver thrived under those unusual circumstances.

Looking at these stories collectively, I'm always struck by the common threads—resilient leadership, timely contributions from role players, and that intangible belief that somehow persists when everything seems lost. These teams understood that championships aren't won through talent alone but through cultivating what that reference knowledge calls "an unrivaled winning tradition born from years of glory and perseverance." As someone who's studied basketball for over two decades, I can confidently say these comebacks represent the very best of sports—reminding us that statistics and probabilities can't measure heart, and that being counted out often brings out the best in truly special teams. The NBA's history is richer because of these moments, and I feel privileged to have witnessed many of them unfold in real time.