The 2017 NBA Finals isn't only a monumental one because of its rubber match nature, but also because of just how star-studded it is, boasting 11 combined current and former All-Stars — the most in the last 34 years of NBA history, via Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the likes of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as current All-Stars of the league, while having Deron Williams (2010-12) and Kyle Korver (2015) as former stars of the mid-February classic.
The Golden State Warriors trot out Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson along with Andre Iguodala (2012) and David West (2008-09).
The last finals to have so many stars in it was in 1983, when the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Los Angeles Lakers — also known as Showdown '83.
While the series wasn't the most competitive in terms of score, it included the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob McAdoo, James Worthy, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, and Finals MVP Moses Malone (who was acquired from the Houston Rockets in the offseason). The 1983 NBA Finals also had the most players that had won an MVP award, with five (Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, McAdoo, Erving, and Malone).
Forging some of the most outstanding players of today along with some impact veterans that paved the way, the Cavs and Warriors will head for yet another iteration of this hard-fought trilogy in a best-of-seven rubber match to set up bragging rights.
Current and former All-Stars will be forced to show their mettle for a stake at the Larry O'Brien trophy after having tied in the regular season series at a game a piece.
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