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| - The 2009 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2008–09 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the Orlando Magic, third-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, four games to one in a best-of-seven series. This is both the Los Angeles Lakers' fourth NBA championship in the 2000s and the Magic's only Finals appearance without Shaquille O'Neal. The Orlando Magic were in the Finals for the first time since their Finals debut in 1995, when they were swept by the Houston Rockets.
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| abstract
| - The 2009 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2008–09 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the Orlando Magic, third-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, four games to one in a best-of-seven series. This is both the Los Angeles Lakers' fourth NBA championship in the 2000s and the Magic's only Finals appearance without Shaquille O'Neal. North American broadcast coverage of the Finals was produced by ESPN and televised by ABC in the United States, TSN in Canada and Five in the United Kingdom The Los Angeles Lakers returned to the Finals for the 30th time in franchise history, an NBA record, and for the second consecutive year, marking the first time that the previous year's runner-up won the NBA Finals since the Detroit Pistons in 1988 and 1989. It was also the sixth appearance in the Finals in the 2000s decade for the Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008), the most of any NBA team in the era. The championship was the fourth of the decade for the Lakers, most among all teams in the four major professional sports leagues in North America. It was the Lakers' 15th NBA title, second only to the 17 NBA championships held by the Boston Celtics. Head coach Phil Jackson captured his 10th NBA championship as a coach, surpassing Red Auerbach for most championships all-time by an NBA coach. Jackson also passed Auerbach and NHL coach Scotty Bowman for most championships all-time by a head coach in a major American sports league. The Orlando Magic were in the Finals for the first time since their Finals debut in 1995, when they were swept by the Houston Rockets. The Los Angeles Lakers held home-court advantage due to their better season record. Games 1 and 2 were held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 4 and 7, respectively. Games 3, 4, and 5, were held at Amway Arena in Orlando on June 9, 11, and 14 respectively. If the final two games had been necessary, they would have been played at Staples Center on June 16 (game 6) and 18 (7). Although the Magic won both regular-season matchups with the Lakers, Los Angeles was able to take 4 out of 5 games in this series. Both regular-season games and three of the NBA Finals games were close contests, decided by six points or fewer or in overtime. The Lakers won Game 2 on June 7 101-96 in overtime. Then they won Game 4 on June 11 in overtime as well. Tyronn Lue, a backup point guard with Orlando, appeared with the Lakers during their initial championship run in the early 2000s and faced his former team in the finals. Lue and another backup point guard, Anthony Johnson were the only players on Orlando's roster with NBA finals experience. However, neither saw playing time during the series, as Lue was inactive with an injury and Johnson lost his minutes to teammate Jameer Nelson, who returned from a shoulder injury in time for the Finals. Trevor Ariza, the Lakers starting small forward, faced the team who traded him to the Lakers in 2007. Rodd Houston narrated the Lakers' 2009 season through the Lakers 2009 championship home video on NBA Entertainment. As with previous championship videos, two versions exist: the DVD version recaps the entire 2009 Lakers' season, from the regular season and playoffs to the finals; the TV version recaps only the Lakers' playoff run.
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