TITLE: Shaquille O’Neal Earns Unanimous 2000 NBA Finals MVP as Lakers Clinch Title in Game 6
SLUG: shaq-unanimous-2000-finals-mvp-lakers-pacers-game-6
CONTENT:
LOS ANGELES — On June 19, 2000, the Los Angeles Lakers captured their 12th NBA championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers 116-111 in Game 6 at Staples Center, securing the franchise’s first title since 1988 and launching a run of three consecutive championships.
The Pacers led 28-26 after one quarter and 56-53 at halftime, widening the gap to five points entering the final period. Los Angeles responded with a 37-point fourth quarter while tying an NBA Finals single-game record by committing only five turnovers.
Shaquille O’Neal dominated the clincher, recording 41 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in 47 minutes on 19-of-32 shooting. His performance earned him all seven votes from the national media panel for a unanimous Finals MVP selection.
Across the six-game series, O’Neal averaged 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 blocks. By adding the Finals award to his regular-season and All-Star Game MVP honors, he became only the third player—after Willis Reed in 1970 and Michael Jordan in 1996—to sweep the NBA’s three major individual trophies in the same year.
Source: Lakers Nation
