The 2002 NBA finals were not much of a contest.  The Lakers were aiming for their third consecutive NBA championship.  The Nets were a good team but not a great team. And with future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal clicking on all cylinders, there was never much drama.

It was on this day, June 12th, 2002, that the Lakers completed a sweep of the Nets in the NBA finals.  The Lakers pulled away from the Nets in New Jersey during game 4, winning 113 – 107.

Shaquille O’Neal was named NBA finals MVP after he averaged 36 points and 12 rebounds in the series.   The series was also memorable for coach Phil Jackson as he won his 9th NBA title as a head coach. Phil would tie Red Auerbach with 9 rings, a record he would later break as he finished his outstanding coaching career with 11 titles.