Reliving the Biggest Comeback in NBA History: Top 5 Unbelievable Turnarounds

2025-11-20 16:02

I still get chills thinking about that 2016 NBA Finals Game 7. The Cleveland Cavaliers were down 3-1 against the Golden State Warriors, a deficit no team had ever overcome in Finals history. Yet there they were, completing what many consider the greatest comeback in NBA history. As someone who's spent years analyzing basketball strategy and coaching methodologies, I've always been fascinated by what separates miraculous turnarounds from catastrophic collapses. The mental aspect often outweighs physical talent when the pressure reaches its peak.

What's particularly interesting about these historic comebacks is how they reflect broader basketball philosophies across different leagues. Just last week, I was reading about Tim Cone's commitment to Philippine basketball where he mentioned he'd supervise Gilas practice if the Gin Kings don't make the all-Filipino finals. That level of dedication to national team development despite club commitments shows how basketball thinking has evolved globally. The coaching mentality that enables massive comebacks isn't confined to the NBA—it's becoming universal in high-level basketball.

The 2016 Cavaliers comeback stands tallest in my opinion, not just because of the statistical improbability but because of the psychological warfare involved. LeBron James' block on Andre Iguodala with 1:50 remaining wasn't just a defensive play—it was a statement that shifted the entire momentum of the series. The Warriors had set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, yet couldn't close the deal. I've always believed that record-setting regular seasons sometimes create psychological baggage that becomes detrimental in high-pressure playoff moments.

Another remarkable turnaround that doesn't get discussed enough is the 1997 Heat-Knicks series where Miami came back from 3-1 down. What made this particularly impressive was the sheer defensive grit required. The Knicks were leading 86-70 in Game 5 before the Heat mounted what was then considered an impossible recovery. I've spoken with players from that era who still can't fully explain how they managed to shift the series momentum. Sometimes, basketball transcends X's and O's and becomes purely about human resilience.

The 2006 Lakers-Suns series featured another stunning 3-1 comeback that showcased Kobe Bryant's evolution as a closer. What many forget is that the Lakers were actually outscored by the Suns throughout the series overall, yet won the critical games when it mattered. This highlights an important distinction I've noticed in my analysis—successful comebacks often depend more on winning key moments rather than dominating statistically. The Suns averaged 108.4 points per game that series compared to the Lakers' 102.3, yet strategic adjustments in Games 5-7 made the difference.

Portland's 2019 comeback against Denver in the second round deserves mention for its sheer dramatic value. Being down 17 points in the third quarter of Game 7 on the road would break most teams, yet the Blazers showed incredible composure. I remember watching that fourth quarter thinking about how coaching decisions in timeout management significantly impacted the flow. Terry Stotts' decision to use early timeouts to stop Denver runs demonstrated the strategic nuance that often gets overlooked in comeback narratives.

What ties all these historic turnarounds together is something I've observed across basketball cultures worldwide—the willingness to adapt under pressure. Whether it's an NBA coach making rotational adjustments or Tim Cone balancing club and national team responsibilities, the flexibility to change approaches mid-series often determines outcomes. The globalization of basketball thinking means comeback strategies developed in Manila might eventually influence approaches in Milwaukee.

Ultimately, these historic comebacks remind us why we love this game. The unpredictability, the human drama, the strategic chess matches—they create moments that transcend statistics. While I certainly have my personal favorites among these turnarounds, what truly matters is how they inspire the next generation of players and coaches to never surrender, regardless of the scoreboard. The beauty of basketball lies in these possibilities, these moments when conventional wisdom gets overturned and legends are born.