Former Spurs Player Delivers Definitive Verdict on 2013 NBA Finals Loss
Former Spurs Player Delivers Definitive Verdict on 2013 NBA Finals Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Miami Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals in one of the most heartbreaking moments in franchise history, highlighted by Ray Allen's legendary game-winning 3-pointer in Game 6.
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The Spurs would go on to lose in Game 7, although it set the stage for their bounce-back year in 2014, where they beat Miami in devastating fashion.
During Allen's final shot in Game 6, the Spurs opted to have an unusual lineup on the floor to defend the 3-ball, and it worked against the Heat's first attempt.
Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Boris Diaw were all on the floor, with rebounders Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter sitting on the bench in order to make contesting a shot easier.
James missed a 3-pointer over Diaw and Parker, although the Spurs were unable to secure the rebound.
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Stephen Jackson thinks that if he had been on the court, things would have gone differently.
"I would have got the f------ rebound," Jackson said to Green on his podcast. "Ray damn sure wouldn't have got it. I mean, he wouldn't have got the shot off or none of that. He wouldn't have been involved because, you know, I take that s--- personally."
Jackson was waived by the Spurs before the postseason to make room to sign Tracy McGrady. While Jackson was not a star for the Spurs that season, averaging 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds, McGrady failed to score a single point for the Spurs in 32 minutes of postseason play.
Jackson, since retiring, has long been critical of the Spurs, Parker, and Gregg Popovich. However, he won his only NBA title with the Spurs.
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While it's true that he would have been an upgrade over McGrady in the series, Popovich would have been more likely to play Splitter or Duncan in the final seconds than Jackson. At the time, Ginobili, Green, and Leonard were all better perimeter defenders than he was, and if the Spurs wanted size on the court, his name would not have been the one called.
Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Michael Wilbon Offers Which San Antonio Spurs' Trade Asset is Untouchable
Related: Victor Wembanyama Reacts to San Antonio Spurs Unique News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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