The NBA Finals are an important, symbolic time in American culture. The success of one team out of many, triumphing against an entire league awaiting your downfall, plays perfectly into the idea of a ‘champion’. As the Finals draw close with the final two teams set to face each other, London-based artist Richard Swarbrick teamed up with ESPN to create an painting-style animation depicting the greatest moments in the history of the competition. Jordan’s flying windmill layup, Larry Bird victoriously leaping, LeBron cradling his first Larry O’Brien trophy – all of these moments are immortalized in a bold, flowing collage in vivid color. Prepare for tomorrow’s Game 1 matchup by taking a trip down memory lane above.
![…And what about the scene when they give the interview before the first Duke game, and Chris and Jalen can barely keep their generic answers together, then Juwan butts in and starts talking like a serial killer about how the Duke game ain’t about youth vs. experience ‘cause they got some experience too– playing public school ball North Texas, south side Chicago, Detroit. So we think it’s going to be an “exciting game” – throw up our 5’s, rep Michigan – and oh by the way don’t call us ”The Fabulous 5”; we want to be called ”Young Gunz.”
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