Bleacher Report Remembers the Greatest 'Gifts' in NBA History
In the NBA, generosity isn't necessarily a good thing. If we're being honest, it's MUCH better to receive than to give when games, seasons and/or prolonged fanbase satisfaction hangs in the balance. But Christmas is different, and the benevolent deserve their day. So we asked Bleacher Report NBA writers and editors to remember the NBA "gifts" they'll never forget...
Referee Gifts Knicks 1999 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3
Referee Jess Kersey gave Larry Johnson and the New York Knicks a four-point play and a 2-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals. With the Knicks down by three in the final seconds, Antonio Davis was called for a foul after biting on a pump fake by Johnson. Davis clearly came back down, Johnson leaned left and then rose to take and make his three-pointer.
Kersey called continuation, and the added free throw gave the Knicks a one-point lead with 5.7 seconds left that ultimately held up. (Kersey has since told me he knows he blew the call and walked the 15 blocks back to his hotel from Madison Square Garden because he was so gut-shot at screwing up the game.)
—Ric Bucher, NBA Senior Writer
New York Knicks Pass on Julius Erving
Julius Erving, with his Afro and high-flying dunks, was one of the ABA's biggest stars when the New York Nets joined the NBA in 1976. According to league rules, the Nets were invading the New York Knicks' territory, and the incumbent NBA team demanded $4.8 million as recompense, in addition to the league's $3.2 million entry fee.
The Nets offered Erving's contract instead, but the Knicks turned down the deal and would flounder away at the bottom of the league until Patrick Ewing saved them a decade later. Erving's current team was still broke until the Philadelphia 76ers offered to buy the superstar's contract, essentially paying the Nets' entry fee into the Association. Oh, how the league would be different if Erving had worn orange and blue.
—Adam Fromal, National NBA Columnist
Nick Anderson Gifts Rockets Game 1 of the 1995 Finals
The score was Magic 110, Rockets 107, with about 10 seconds left in front of a celebratory Orlando crowd when Nick Anderson went to the line, shooting two. Anderson was a 70.4 percent free-throw shooter on the regular season and a key wingman to Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, but he missed the first free throw. Then, he missed the second. Disaster? No! He got his own rebound!
Fouled again with 7.9 seconds left, he returned to the line, where he missed his third consecutive free throw. Then, needing just one make for a four-point advantage, he missed his fourth straight. "Thank you," said the Rockets as Kenny Smith hit a three on the other end with 1.6 on the clock, and Houston went on to win the game in overtime and sweep the series.
—Mark Smoyer, Bleacher Report Managing Editor
David Stern Gifts the Clippers Chris Paul
Chris Paul should've been on the Lakers. At least, that's what fans of the Purple and Gold will tell you. Shortly after the 2011 lockout ended, New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps agreed to a three-team deal that would've sent impending free agent CP3 to the Lakers.
But commissioner David Stern, acting as interim Hornets owner after the league took over New Orleans' chaotic front office, said no to the deal. Only a week later, the Hornets would ship Paul to the Clippers, and Lakers fans still haven't gotten over it.
—Fred Katz, NBA Featured Columnist
Grizzlies Stuff Lakers' Stockings with Pau Gasol
In 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers did what they always do: They turned a lump of coal into a sock full of diamonds.
Andrew Bynum's first major NBA knee injury seemed to derail what looked like a potential title contender in purple and gold. That absence proved a blessing in disguise for the Lakers, who moved to fill their void at center by plucking Pau Gasol from the sinking Memphis Grizzlies prior to the trade deadline. With Gasol's help, the Lakers paraded their way to three straight Finals and back-to-back championships.
The Grizzlies, though, have seen their side of the bargain improve considerably after originally being lambasted for giving up an All-Star for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, a couple draft picks and some kid from overseas. That kid? Pau's younger brother, Marc Gasol, who's since gone on to be an All-Star, an All-NBA performer, a Defensive Player of the Year and now a legitimate MVP candidate.
—Josh Martin, NBA National Columnist
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Gifts New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis
Three teams had better or equivalent odds to landing the top pick in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery, aka the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes. "The Brow," widely considered to be a transcendent franchise-altering talent, has quickly become a do-it-all superstar and an MVP candidate at just 21 years old. The all-world power forward fills a box score like few ever have. His 32.7 Player Efficiency Rating (which takes into account major stats) is currently on pace to eclipse Wilt Chamberlain's 31.82 PER in 1962-63, per basketball-reference. Enjoy the gift, New Orleans.
—Jared Zwerling, National Analyst
Nets Give Portland Trail Blazers 2012 first-rounder for Gerald Wallace
The pick was top-three protected, and the Nets were bordering on desperate to give newly acquired Deron Williams another veteran to play with. But even at the time, the Portland Trail Blazers must have been happy to get a lottery shot for Wallace, a wing with dwindling athleticism and a hefty contract.
And when that pick became Damian Lillard, the Blazers' elation, roughly, quintupled. Fortunately, everything worked out for the Nets, who would learn from the experience to never to give up assets for aging vets on costly deals. Wait a minute...
—Grant Hughes, NBA National Columnist
David Kahn Gifts Golden State Warriors Steph Curry in 2009 NBA Draft
Former Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn passed on 2014-15 NBA MVP front-runner Steph Curry not once but twice—TWICE!—in the 2009 NBA draft. Warriors fans are still sending Kahn two Christmas cards every December for selecting Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio with the fifth overall pick, followed by Syracuse prospect Jonny Flynn with the sixth overall selection.
You could have forgiven Kahn for buying into the Rubio buzz after the Spanish point guard captured the imagination of NBA scouts at the 2008 Olympics. But the Flynn selection was a true testament to Kahn's generosity, or whatever Timberwolves fans would call it.
—Chris Trenchard, B/R NBA Editor
LA Clippers Send Baron Davis and No. 1 Pick to Cavaliers for Mo Williams, Jamario Moon in 2011
The Cleveland Cavaliers had to eat almost $30 million of Baron Davis' salary, but they got the pick that defied the odds to become Kyrie Irving. Maybe they knew even back then that their lottery luck was second to none.
Irving didn't lead the Cavs to much success in the pre-LeBron James era, but there's a lot to like about him as a second option. And when all it took to get him was Williams and Moon, well..."steal" comes to mind. Or gift, I guess.
—Grant Hughes, NBA National Columnist
Billy King Gifts Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard in 2012 NBA Draft
The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks aren't the only teams to have benefited from Brooklyn Nets GM Billy King's blunders over the past few seasons. The Portland Trail Blazers made a not-much-talked-about trade before the 2012 draft that swapped Gerald Wallace for the Nets' top-three-protected pick (just top three!) in a multiplayer deal.
The Blazers laughed their way to taking the Nets' No. 6 pick and drafted eventual Rookie of the Year and All-Star point guard Damian Lillard. King said his scouts didn't see any immediate impact players outside the top three, hence the minimal protection. Ouch.
Wallace's numbers have since dipped to career lows year after year, and he now lounges on the Celtics bench. Meanwhile, Lillard has emerged as a top-flight point guard in a gift that keeps on giving for Rip City.
—Alex Tam, Bleacher Report Staff
Carmelo Anthony Gifts Jimmy Butler an Opportunity to Blossom
The Chicago Bulls would like to extend their gratitude to Carmelo Anthony for not signing with them this offseason. Because of your selflessness, we have discovered that Jimmy Butler is a two-way force.
Because of your generosity, Bulls fans get to enjoy Butler's 21.7 points per game on 59.9 percent true shooting (via Basketball Reference) to go with 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks instead of your masonic 23.7 points on five more shots with 6.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks. Without your kindness, Mr. Anthony, we would not be enjoying the gift that keeps on getting buckets.
—Kelly Scaletta, Bleacher Report Featured Columnist
Golden State Gifts Boston a Dynastic Frontcourt
Ahead of the 1980 NBA draft, the Warriors sent Robert Parish and the third overall pick to Red Auerbach's Celtics for the first and 13th overall picks. Golden State would use those selections on Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown; the Celtics selected Kevin McHale, pairing him with Larry Bird and Parish. They won a championship that season (1980-81), and two more by 1986.
Essentially, the Celtics flipped two footnotes for two Hall of Famers, making this the gift that kept on giving.
—Dan Favale, NBA National Columnist
Have more NBA "gifts"? Let's hear it in the comments below!
