The 2009 NBA Finals didn't just decide a trophy. It settled a decade-long argument that had been simmering in Los Angeles since 2004. If you ask anyone who won 2009 NBA championship, the literal answer is the Los Angeles Lakers. But the real answer? Kobe Bryant’s legacy.
He finally did it without Shaq.
The Lakers took down the Orlando Magic in five games, finishing the job on June 14, 2009. It was a weird series in some ways. Orlando was this high-volume three-point shooting team before that was actually "cool" in the NBA. They had Dwight Howard in his absolute prime—the "Superman" era where he was rebounding everything in sight. Yet, the Lakers just had too much poise. They had Pau Gasol, who was finally proving he wasn't "soft" after the heartbreak of 2008. They had Lamar Odom playing that versatile sixth-man role that every team tries to replicate now.
It was a masterclass in redemption.
The road to the 2009 Finals was anything but easy
People forget how close the Lakers were to blowing it earlier in the playoffs. The Houston Rockets took them to seven games in the second round, even after Yao Ming went down with an injury. It was gritty. It was ugly. But that struggle is probably what prepared them for Orlando.
The Magic, led by Stan Van Gundy, were a statistical anomaly back then. They surrounded Dwight Howard with four shooters: Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Courtney Lee, and Rafer Alston. They upset LeBron James and the 66-win Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Everyone wanted the "LeBron vs. Kobe" matchup. We were robbed of it. Nike had those puppets commercials ready to go, and then Orlando just crashed the party.
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When the Finals started, the Lakers were favorites, but there was a lot of tension. Kobe was possessed. Honestly, his face during those two weeks was terrifying. He didn't smile once until the final buzzer of Game 5. He averaged 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists over the series. Those are "Best Player on the Planet" numbers.
Game 2: The Courtney Lee layup that changed history
If you want to understand who won 2009 NBA championship, you have to look at the split seconds where Orlando almost stole it. Game 2 went to overtime. With 0.6 seconds left in regulation, the score was tied. Hedo Turkoglu threw a perfect lob to Courtney Lee.
Lee missed.
It was a point-blank layup. If that ball drops, Orlando goes back home tied 1-1 with all the momentum. Instead, the Lakers won in OT. That’s the margin of error at this level. One inch to the left, and maybe we’re talking about Dwight Howard’s first ring instead of Kobe’s fourth.
Why Pau Gasol was the secret sauce
Kobe got the Finals MVP, and he deserved it. Obviously. But Pau Gasol was the reason the Lakers survived the physical toll of that series. After getting bullied by Kevin Garnett and the Celtics in 2008, Gasol spent the offseason getting stronger. He wasn't going to let Dwight Howard dominate the paint.
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Gasol put up 18.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a game while shooting 60% from the field. That efficiency is staggering when you consider he was wrestling with a guy who looked like a literal bodybuilder every night.
Then you had Derek Fisher. "Big Shot Fish." In Game 4, he hit two of the most clutch threes in franchise history. One to tie the game at the end of regulation, and one to put it away in overtime. Fisher wasn't the fastest or the most athletic, but his veteran brain was worth its weight in gold.
The tactical shift that buried the Magic
Stan Van Gundy made a controversial call during this series: he brought back Jameer Nelson. Nelson had been out for months with a shoulder injury. Rafer "Skip 2 My Lou" Alston had been playing great in his absence. When Nelson returned, it messed with the Magic’s rhythm.
Phil Jackson, being the "Zen Master," exploited every mismatch. Trevor Ariza, who was just starting to become a premier 3-and-D player, was all over the passing lanes. He had a massive steal in Game 4 that basically broke Orlando's spirit.
By Game 5, it was over. The Lakers won 99-86 in Orlando. Kobe jumped for joy, the weight of the "Can't win without Shaq" narrative finally falling off his shoulders. It was Phil Jackson’s 10th championship, passing Red Auerbach for the most all-time by a coach.
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What we can learn from the 2009 Lakers
If you’re looking for a blueprint on how to build a championship team, this 2009 squad is a better example than the "Superteam" era that followed.
- Complementary Stars: You don't need three superstars; you need two who fit perfectly (Kobe and Pau) and a deep bench that knows their roles.
- The Power of Loss: The Lakers didn't win in 2009 in a vacuum. They won because the pain of losing to Boston in 2008 drove them.
- Interior Defense: Even in a series dominated by Kobe's scoring, the Lakers won because they limited Dwight Howard's impact on the offensive glass.
Actionable Insight for Basketball Students:
If you're analyzing who won 2009 NBA championship to improve your own understanding of the game, watch the tape of Game 4. Focus on the off-ball movement of Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom. While everyone watches Kobe, the Lakers won because their "role players" were actually stars in their specific roles.
To dig deeper into the stats, check out the Basketball Reference 2009 Finals page or look up the documentary "Muse" for Kobe's personal perspective on this specific title.
This championship solidified the Lakers as the team of the 2000s, bookending the decade with trophies. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the Laker blueprint—star power mixed with triangle-offense discipline—was still the gold standard.
Study the defensive rotations Phil Jackson used against the "four-out" Orlando offense. It's the precursor to how modern NBA teams defend the perimeter today. Understanding the 2009 Lakers isn't just a history lesson; it's a look at the bridge between the old-school post game and the modern space-and-pace era.