LeBron's Heat on Cusp of Becoming 1st Team Since 1984-87 Celtics to Make NBA Finals 4 Straight Years

Answer: Magic and Larry have done it, but Kobe, Michael, Shaq and Tim Duncan have not.

Question: Which players in the last four decades have been to the NBA Finals four times in a row?

Tonight, LeBron could enter elite company if the Heat extinguish the Pacers and reach the NBA Finals forr the fourth year in a row. They lost to the Mavericks in a stunning 2011 Finals, but have won the last two over the Thunder and Spurs.

In case you’re wondering, Magic and Larry went 2-2 in those four straight finals trips. Magic’s Lakers won five Championships in 10 years and went to four straight Finals from 1982-1985. The gold standard for consecutive trips to the Finals are Bill Russell’s Celtics who made the Finals 10 years in a row from 1957-66, winning the final eight straight.

This may set up a Heat/Spurs rematch – though Serge Ibaka’s return appears to be tinkering with that – and should the Heat prevail again, a fascinating month for LeBron awaits: Does he go for history with the rapidly aging Heat – and by history, I mean something Jordan never did, four titles in a row – or move on to a much younger team perhaps capable of carrying him to three or more titles?