My Top 5 Greatest Sports Moments of 2023

2023 was a very eventful and dramatic year in the world of sports. There were leaps and falls for teams, highs and lows, and even legacies changed for both players and teams this year. Multiple amazing and great moments have happened in 2023, so let’s go and recap them!

#5. Derrick White buzzer beater in Game 6

Nobody thought it would be possible, but the Boston Celtics were coming back from a 3-0 series deficit. No team had ever won a series after being down 3-0 in NBA history. The Celtics were on the brink of being sent home or facing a 7th game at their home court. Down by one, Marcus Smart shot a three pointer and missed, but somehow Derrick White got the rebound and made a layup with 0.2 seconds left to win the game and to go to game 7. 

Derrick White shooting over Max Strus in game 6 of Eastern Conference Finals.

#4. Damar Hamlin comes back from cardiac arrest

It was January 2, 2023 when Damar Hamlin collapsed on live TV during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. For a long time on the field, Hamlin was unresponsive and needed CPR. He then was taken to a hospital and stabilized there. Miraculously, Hamlin made a recovery and was cleared to play football again. On October 1, 2023 Hamlin played in a regular season game for the first time since he had collapsed. This is one of the most inspiring things to ever happen in sports history, and Hamlin showed that it’s important to never give up.

 Damar Hamlin returning after going into cardiac arrest on the field and needing CPR.

#3. The Texas Rangers win their first ever World Series

It’s been 51 years since the Texas Rangers became an official Major League Baseball team. In those 51 years, the Rangers have made 3 appearances in the World Series, but they have not won any of them until this year. According to Fox Bet, the Rangers had the 17th best odds to win the World Series at the start of the season. The Rangers then proceeded to take the league by storm and finish in 8th place. As the playoffs began, their all-star shortstop Corey Seager decided to become the best player in the world and have a historic playoff run, proceeding to lead them to their first ever World Series pennant.  

#2. LeBron breaks Kareem’s all-time scoring record

It was said to be a record that would never be surpassed, but that was until Lebron James was born. On February 7th of this year, LeBron James, at 38 years of age, broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 39-year-long record for most scored points in the NBA against the Oklahoma City Thunders. For a long time, many people believed that this record would never be broken, but LeBron’s legacy has once again been set in stone as one of the best players to ever touch a basketball.

    LeBron James shooting over Kenrich Williams to break the NBA scoring record.

#1. Messi wins his first World Cup

Lionel Messi is one of the most well-known athletes of all time and he is undisputedly one of the greatest soccer players ever. He has been playing professional soccer for 19 years and has had a tremendous career. Even through all his accolades and accomplishments, he had yet to win on the greatest stage, the World Cup. That was until the 2022 World Cup. In his very long career Messi had only made it to one World Cup. The 8-time Ballandoor winner finally had another chance to win the greatest trophy, and when Argentina beat France 4-2 in the penalty shootout, Messi was finally able to lift his first ever World Cup trophy.  

Lionel Messi kissing his first World Cup trophy.