2002 Three-Peat Finale: Shaq’s Sweep

The 2002 NBA Finals saw the Los Angeles Lakers crush the New Jersey Nets 4-0, writing the brightest footnote of the OK era with a three-peat.

Shaquille O’Neal was unstoppable: 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game on 59% shooting, the Nets’ interior like paper. He scored 34 with 10 boards in Game 4 to clinch on the road. O’Neal was the unanimous Finals MVP, winning three straight (2000, 2001, 2002).

The ring made the Lakers the first three-peat dynasty since the 1960s Celtics, and O’Neal the league’s most dominant center. Kobe matured beside him; the OK chemistry peaked.

A three-peat is the threshold of a dynasty. Shaq rammed the Lakers back to the top, dunk by dunk.

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