It wasn't pretty. If you’re looking for a highlight reel of fluid, offensive basketball where every jumper swishes and the spacing is perfect, go watch a different series. The 2010 NBA Finals was a fistfight in sneakers. It was ugly, heavy, and honestly, a bit exhausting to watch if you weren't emotionally invested in the outcome. But for those asking who won the 2010 NBA Finals, the answer is the Los Angeles Lakers, though that barely scratches the surface of what actually went down over those seven games in June.
The Lakers took the series 4-3.
They beat the Boston Celtics in a Game 7 that felt more like a 1950s wrestling match than a modern basketball game. Kobe Bryant shot 6-for-24 from the field. Read that again. The best player on the planet at the time couldn't buy a bucket when it mattered most. Yet, he walked away with his fifth ring and his second Finals MVP. That tells you everything you need to know about the intensity of this specific rivalry. It wasn't about "getting buckets." It was about who was willing to get hit in the face for a rebound.
The Weight of 2008 and the Road to Revenge
You can't talk about the 2010 Lakers without talking about 2008. Two years prior, the Celtics had absolutely embarrassed Los Angeles. They closed out that series with a 39-point blowout in Game 6. It was a trauma that defined the Lakers' locker room for twenty-four months. Kobe Bryant was obsessed. Pau Gasol was labeled "soft" by basically every media outlet in the country.
By the time the 2010 rematch rolled around, the rosters were seasoned. Boston had their "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, plus a rising, defiant Rajon Rondo. The Lakers had the duo of Kobe and Pau, supported by the mercurial Ron Artest (later Metta Sandiford-Artest), Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum, who was playing on what was essentially a one-legged prayer due to a torn meniscus.
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The series see-sawed. Lakers won Game 1. Celtics took Game 2 behind a record-breaking eight three-pointers from Ray Allen. By the time they reached Game 7 at the Staples Center, the tension was so thick it was physically uncomfortable.
That Bizarre, Beautiful Game 7
Game 7 was an offensive disaster. The final score was 83-79. In today's NBA, teams sometimes score 83 points by the third quarter. But in June 2010, every single point felt like it required a blood sacrifice.
The Celtics led for most of the game. They were up by 13 in the third quarter. The Lakers looked cooked. Kobe was forcing shots, clearly rattled by the suffocating defense of Tony Allen and Paul Pierce. But then, something shifted. It wasn't the stars who took over; it was the grit.
- Pau Gasol's Interior Dominance: While Kobe struggled to find his rhythm, Gasol was a monster on the glass. He grabbed 18 rebounds, nine of them offensive.
- The Kendrick Perkins Factor: People forget this, but Celtics center Kendrick Perkins tore his MCL and PCL in Game 6. He was out for Game 7. Without his bulk in the paint, the Lakers feasted on second-chance opportunities.
- The Ron Artest Moment: With a minute left and the Lakers up by three, Kobe passed the ball to Ron Artest. Every Laker fan held their breath. Artest launched a three. "Ron, no!" yelled Phil Jackson (allegedly). Swish. It was the biggest shot of his life.
Basically, the Lakers won because they out-rebounded Boston 52-40. They didn't out-skill them that night. They out-worked them.
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Why Kobe Bryant’s 6-for-24 Doesn’t Matter
Critics love to bring up Kobe’s shooting percentage in the clincher. It’s a favorite pastime for people who look at box scores instead of watching the game. Yes, he shot poorly. But he grabbed 15 rebounds. He played 45 minutes of elite defense. He got to the free-throw line 15 times because he kept attacking, even when his jumper failed him.
Phil Jackson later remarked that this was the most rewarding of his eleven championships. Why? Because the Lakers had to win "the Celtics' way." They had to win with defense and rebounding. They had to win a scrap.
The Aftermath: A Dynasty Sealed
Winning the 2010 NBA Finals cemented Kobe Bryant’s legacy in a way that 2009 didn't. 2009 proved he could win without Shaq. 2010 proved he could beat his greatest rival—the franchise that had historically haunted the Lakers. It gave him five rings, one more than Shaq and one less than Jordan.
For the Celtics, it was the end of an era. They would never get back to the Finals with that core. Doc Rivers often says that if Kendrick Perkins hadn't been injured, Boston would have won. Maybe. But injuries are part of the game, and the Lakers dealt with a hobbled Bynum the entire time.
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Key Stats from the 2010 NBA Finals
If you're a numbers person, these are the ones that actually tell the story of the series:
- Rebounding Margin: In Game 7, the Lakers had 23 offensive rebounds. That is an insane number for a championship game. It provided 23 extra chances to score in a game they only won by four points.
- Ray Allen's Disappearance: After his legendary Game 2, Ray Allen went 0-for-18 from three-point range over the next few games. The Lakers' defense, specifically Derek Fisher and Kobe, chased him off his spots relentlessly.
- Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant averaged 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over the seven games. Despite the Game 7 shooting slump, he was the clear engine.
Actionable Insights for Basketball Historians and Fans
If you're looking back at this series to understand how championship DNA is built, here are the real-world takeaways you can apply to analyzing any modern matchup:
- Watch the "Garbage" Stats: Everyone focuses on points per game. But in high-pressure playoff environments, offensive rebounding and loose-ball recoveries usually decide the winner. The 2010 Lakers are the blueprint for winning when your shots aren't falling.
- Availability is a Ability: Kendrick Perkins' injury changed the geometry of the paint. When analyzing future Finals matchups, look at the backup center rotation. If a starter goes down, can the bench handle the physical toll?
- The Psychological "Revenge" Factor: The 2008 loss fueled the Lakers for two years. When a team gets embarrassed in the playoffs, they usually come back with a more disciplined defensive identity the following year.
- Study the "Role Player" Impact: Don't just watch the stars. Go back and watch Derek Fisher’s fourth-quarter heroics in Game 3. Championships are won by the third or fourth guy on the scouting report who refuses to be intimidated.
The 2010 NBA Finals wasn't a masterpiece of art. It was a masterpiece of will. The Los Angeles Lakers didn't just win a trophy; they survived a seven-game war that remains one of the most physically taxing series in the history of the sport. If you ever want to see what "wanting it more" looks like, go re-watch the fourth quarter of Game 7. It’s not pretty, but it’s exactly how championships are won.