NBA Finals Celebrity Picks

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 6, 2008

NBA Finals Celebrity Picks

Snoop Dogg

"The Lakers. I was born and raised off of that Laker music played by Magic Johnson and Kareem. I'm a die hard Laker."

Julie Henderson

The Celtics for sure. Kevin Garnett is on a mission for his first ring, and will not be denied.

Mike Ditka

"I like Boston in seven games. It's going to be a great series and could go either way, but Kevin Garnett played his high school ball in Chicago and therefore, I'm rooting for him."

Gabrielle Reece

"I think there are some people in Boston who would really appreciate the Celtics finally winning another championship, so I got to go with them. I have a tendency not to go against someone but for someone, but honestly, it would mean so much for them to win after 22 years."

Rick Neuheisel

"I'm out of the picking business."

Amanda Beard

"It's got to be the Lakers. It's going to be really cool to see the Lakers and Celtics again in the NBA Finals, I think it's a nice match up, but I like the Lakers and the purple and gold to win it all."

Masi Oka

"I grew up watching the great Lakers/Celtics rivalry. Picking up where we left off, I'm rooting for the Lakers, a Hollywood ending to a dramatic season. The late Chick Hearn would be proud."

Traci Bingham

"The Celtics all the way. I'm from Boston. Cambridge, actually, and it's been exciting to watch them turn it around this season. I live in Los Angeles, but I love the Celtics and I think they've gotten younger, hotter and sexier this season."

Baron Davis

"I'm from LA but I have friends on both teams so I don't have a pick but it's going to be a good series."

Kristi Yamaguchi

"I'm picking the Lakers in six games with the Finals MVP going to Kobe Bryant."

Todd McFarlane

"I think Boston will win because they should be motivated as the underdogs. The Celtics have the "Big Three" in Pierce, Garnett and Allen, not to mention Rondo. They have a deeper team than the Lakers. The Celtics can lose it in a superstar battle, or win it in a team battle."

Dominique Dawes

"The Lakers in seven games. I am big fan of Kobe -- the best player in the league. He has developed into an amazing leader who has the desire to win each and every day, each and every play. The Celtics will not roll over, though. This will be a battle worth seeing and one that may revive a lasting rivalry. No more Magic vs. Bird. Now it's time for Kobe vs. KG, Allen, and Pierce."

Triple H

"I got to go with the Celtics. I'm originally from New Hampshire but I really don't follow sports. I'm like the only guy in our entire locker room that has no idea what they're talking about when they're watching the games, but I got to go with the Celtics out of home town loyalty."

Phil Helmuth

"My pick is the Lakers. I think that they have a better bench that can really light it up."

Jarvis Green

"Boston Celtics. Even though I am a fan of Kobe's, I got to root for the home team Celtics since I've been in this area for six years."

Jerry Rice

"The Lakers. It's all about the West coast baby. It comes down to two words: Kobe Bryant. It's amazing what the Lakers have done this season and I think they have a legitimate chance to compete for a while. We know Boston has their big three and they're awesome and they're doing some great things, but I feel like this is the Lakers' year."

Chuck Liddell

"Lakers, I've been a fan all my life."

Maria Kanellis

"I definitely like the Lakers. I just moved out to Los Angeles recently but I still have a place in Chicago, so Phil Jackson, who coached the Bulls and now the Lakers, I have to go with him."

Jalen Rose

"Lakers in 6. Reasons? Let's see, Buss, Cannon, Snoop, Denzel, Ice Cube, Nicholson. Oh and Wilt, West, Kareem, Magic, Riley, Jackson, Shaq and Kobe. You can't beat that. Enough said."

Shaun Phillips

"The Lakers. I've been a Lakers fan since day one and I'm probably the biggest Lakers and Kobe fan right now."

Vernon Davis

"I'm going with the Lakers. The way they've been playing in the playoffs has been fantastic and I've always been a big Kobe Bryant fan. He's always been tremendous, even when he was coming out of high school, he's always been special, and so I got to go with the Lakers."

Michael Strahan

"I'm picking the Lakers, but its such a great rivalry and I have favorites on both teams with Garnett and Kobe and Pierce and Walton. I don't know, it's going to be fun to watch."<br><br>Terence Newman, Dallas Cowboys cornerback (not pictured): "I'm going to go with my Lake Show, my Lakers. Ira Newble is a friend of mine and I hope he gets a ring."

Mia St. John

"I have to go with the Lakers. I'm from Los Angeles and they're playing so well right now, I don't see them losing."

Oscar De La Hoya

"The Lakers. Growing up in East L.A., there are two teams you love, the Dodgers and the Lakers."

Tito Ortiz

"Lakers. They've been playing like a great team and Kobe's been a great leader, plus I'm a Lakers fan."

LeRoy Neiman

"Lakers. Why? In a word, Kobe."

Matt Grant

"The Lakers had a slow start to the season but they fought back brilliantly. I admire that in any sports team. The Lakers performance has really drawn me into basketball, and I can see myself supporting them for many years to come. I have a lot of respect for Phil Jackson as a sports coach and for his philosophies."

Bruce Davis

"The Lakers because Kobe has changed the way basketball is played. At any time he can take over the game. When it's all said and done he will be the best to ever play."

Ryan Hollins

"The Lakers, but it's tough. Those teams are so evenly matched. You have KG, you have Kobe, you know, it's a toss up, but it's the Lakers and the Celtics, the two most storied franchises in the league, so it's going to be a good series and good for the NBA."

Ray Buchanan

"I'm going with the Lakers. I'm a Lakers fan and I like what Kobe has been doing. I truly believe he's the next Michael Jordan and he's starting to get the players around him involved, so I think it's going to be a great series and the beginning of something special for Kobe."

Tom Condon

"The Celtics. I went to Boston College so I have to go with the home team."

La'Roi Glover

"The Lakers. I'm a California dude and a diehard Lakers fan so it's an easy pick for me."

Laila Ali

"The Lakers because my husband is a Lakers fan."

Shawn Livingston

"I'd be in trouble if I didn't pick the Lakers, living in Los Angeles, but it's going to be good for everybody, good for the fans, good for the league, but I like the Lakers."

Marcellus Wiley

I'm from LA so I'm picking the Lakers. It's going to be a great series. I hope they wear the little shorts again, I'm breaking out my old Converse, my old Magics, I just wish they could play it at the Forum but all of the stars are going to be at the Staples Center and the Garden to celebrate two of the greatest franchises in the NBA and now they finally have the superstars to go with that history."

Antonio Pierce

"I'm an LA guy so I'm going with the Lakers all the way. I was at the game when they finished off the Spurs so I'm going with the Lakers. It's time to bring home another championship."

Kyle Turley

"Lakers, I'm from Southern California so I have to go with home team."

Vince McMahon

"I think it's going to be a great series and I'm really looking forward to it. I really don't have a pick. If I had one, you know I wouldn't be bashful and I'd tell you, but I don't know."

Nick Swardson

"I'm picking the Celtics in a sweep. I heard Danny Ainge is suiting up."

Jason Kennedy

"It's all about the Lakers. Although I'm a Heat fan at heart, I'd like to forget that this season ever happened. Hopefully this series will have the same energy as the Celts, Lakers rivalries back in the 80's. Oh yeah, if you're reading this Phil Jackson, don't be afraid to get Derek Fisher the ball for those crucial game winning shots, he's the new Robert Horry in my book."

Bernie Kosar

"Lakers in six. It is tough to stop Kobe Bryant when he is on top of his game."

Jamie Gold

"Lakers no question. I have been a fan since I was 5 years old. I had a Magic Johnson poster on my wall my whole life and have been lucky enough to get to know [Lakers Owner] Dr. Jerry Buss and consider him a friend. I'm always picking the Lakers."

Pete Carroll

Go Lakers!

Michael Buffer

Well, I'm from Philadelphia originally so I was just watching highlights of the 1983 Finals, the famous last game of the "fo', fi', fo'" playoffs as Moses Malone predicted and as a Philadelphian, I have to say I hate both teams. No, but I live in Los Angeles now, so I got to pick the Lakers. I'm good friends with [Lakers owner] Dr. Jerry Buss so I've actually been a Lakers fan for a few years now.

Jessica White

LA baby! I'm going for the Lakers because I'm happy for Kobe because everyone said it wouldn't happen for him after Shaq left.

Terence Newman

I'm going to go with my Lake Show, my Lakers. Ira Newble is a friend of mine and I hope he gets a ring.

Robbie Gould

I think the Lakers will win because they can play both in the half court offense as well as the run and gun offense. They will have a tough task in guarding the three headed monster of the Celtics, but their tough defense is still peaking in the playoffs. The Laker's have more experienced finals players than that of the Celtics who have played in the finals. Kobe will get his points and with his finals experience will bring the Lakers to a higher playing level. Experience will prevail and the Lakers will win the NBA Finals.

Cash Warren

Lakers. I'm from LA and a big time Lakers fans so I have to go with them.

Ephraim Salaam

I'm going with the Lakers, I was born a Lakers and I'll always be a Lakers fan. I was even a Lakers fan when they had Sedale Threatt, Vlade Divac and Elden Campbell. Everybody who knows me knows that I need complete silence when the Lakers game comes on. I don't answer phone calls or move away from the television so don't even try to call me during the Finals.

Ray Lewis

"The Lakers. I think anytime you have a talent like Kobe Bryant and then you add anything else to that , you have something special. I think adding Pau Gasol to that team was one of the biggest additions in NBA history because when you surround that type of talent around Kobe you have something special. Anytime you push a talent like Lamar Odom to the three-position, that's going to be a difficult team for any one to match up against. I've always been a Lakers fan but now with the way Kobe is playing and the players he has around him, it's going to be hard for them to be beat."

Joey Galloway

"I like the Lakers in six. The Lakers came out of the toughest conference and basically looked head and shoulders above the best out there."

Vida Guerra

"I'm an LA girl so I have to go with the Lakers to take it all."

Nnamdi Asomugha

"The Lakers, no doubt. I'm probably the biggest Lakers fan in all of the NFL. It's definitely the Lakers, I grew up in LA, and so I can't pick anyone else. They haven't surprised me, I've always believed in them but they've done a great job of proving the critics wrong and it's been exciting watching them play this season."

Ovie Mughelli

"I think the Celtics are going to win. They have KG, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Paul Pierce and Co. They have four options every night and the only person I know off of the Lakers team is Kobe. I just think its time for KG to get his shine."

Paul Davis

"Since I'm with the Clippers I can't say the Lakers, I think that's in my contract. I've always been a Kevin Garnett fan, growing up and watching him play. I like to pattern my game after him, so I definitely want to see him and Celtics win it."

Cris Judd

"I'm going with the Lakers. I've been a Lakers fan for a long time and Los Angeles is my city, so it's a slam dunk. It's going to be cool though playing the Celtics, it's bringing back the rivalry from the 1980s and it's going to be exciting to see them in the Finals again."