Top 10 all-time greatest individual performances in the NBA Finals

The NBA has a crossroads that every great player must pass through to become a legend : the NBA Finals. It’s where everything is decided, where a player must face the consequences, and where the talismans of our game are born.

From this array of magnificent performances, we’ve selected 10 individual series ranked according to three criteria: dominance on the court and in the standings, the ability to take control of the series, and the magnitude of the achievement (if any).

10) Jerry West 1969 : As we’ve said before and will say again in Basketball 101: the most important thing in the world of basketball is winning. Hence the fact that all the members of this ranking have won a ring after their epic run. All… except one! Jerry West is the exception in this ranking. Our uncrowned king of the day nevertheless waged a relentless battle against the Celtics of an aging Bill Russell. As Boston’s dominance was coming to an end, the Lakers’ point guard wanted to be THE player who would put an end to this green dynasty. With home-court advantage, the Lakers started strong. Led by a red-hot Mr. Clutch, they showed no mercy in crunch time. On their home court, the Massachusetts franchise tied the game. The two teams then traded blows until Game 7. After a poor start to the fourth quarter, Los Angeles pulled within one possession in the closing minutes thanks to a Terminator-like performance from number 44. But make no mistake! The star wasn’t Wilt Chamberlain on the Celtics’ side, but Jerry West. Despite his 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, he ultimately succumbed on his home court. The crowd applauded the Celtics’ remarkable achievement but didn’t forget the individual performance of this gladiator, hampered by a hamstring injury. In Gladiator, Maximus received the approval of Rome, and in these 1969 Finals, Jerry West received the MVP title. A unique achievement in NBA history. It had to be included, but it couldn’t be ranked higher.

9) Hakeem Olajuwon 1995 : Watch out ! Although the final score of the series was 4-0 in favor of Houston, Orlando was far from being dominated every game. On the contrary, Penny Hardaway’s squad forced crunch time, and not just once. On paper, the top seed in the East faced the sixth seed in the West. Despite having home-court advantage, the Magic were stunned by the level of play displayed by the opposing center. His name? Hakeem Olajuwon! At a time when the entire basketball world was wondering how to stop Shaquille O’Neal, The Dream showed that you can’t teach a veteran new tricks. On both ends of the court, the center in red highlighted the extent of the work The Diesel still has to do. His footwork, his perfectly executed skills, his elite defense… Through a fairly organic approach, he ruthlessly dismantled the young Floridians, sweeping them aside with a double-double averaging over 30 points. A huge upset considering the initial premise. Houston didn’t just win. No, the Texans wrapped up a series that was predicted to be a nightmare. And this was thanks to the icon of an entire franchise. Experience triumphed over recklessness, Hakeem beat Shaquille, Olajuwon crushed the Magic.

8) Nikola Jokić 2023 : Masterclass ! No glitter, no gimmicks, no rhinestones, no frills. Just a genius taking advantage of his very first Finals to paint his most beautiful canvas yet. A masterpiece signed Nikola Jokic. After dominating the Wolves, the Suns, and then the Lakers, the 41st pick of the 2014 draft (always worth remembering) advanced in total apotheosis against the Heat. Jimmy Butler’s Jordan-esque team suffered a setback. At the same time, we’re talking about the 8th seed in the East, so you can imagine the road was fraught with obstacles. Underdogs at tip-off, Miami fought hard before the harsh reality of the playoffs caught up with them. This “harsh reality” could actually be named Jokic, given how unstoppable he was. In an era where dominant centers have diminished in importance compared to scoring guards, the Serbian center stands out as a unique specimen. A 6’11” avant-garde player capable of playing like a smaller player. From his lofty perch, he orchestrates his team’s offense with masterful skill. He punctuates his performances with unprecedented heights, such as his triple-double of over 30 points and 20 rebounds in Game 3. Such performances might lead us to believe he’s forcing things, but that’s not the case at all. During this series, where he averaged 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, his shooting percentages reached 60% from close range and 42% from three-point range. The Joker reigned supreme before heading off to watch his horse races, ring on his finger.

7) Stephen Curry 2022 : Seeing him here, at this stage of the competition, already made no sense. To understand Stephen Curry’s incredible feat, we have to go back to 2019. Facing the surprising Toronto Raptors, Kevin Durant and then Klay Thompson were injured almost one after the other. As a result, the Splash Brothers failed to win their fourth ring and began a terrible downward spiral. Durant left the Raptors, Klay never regained his pre-ACL injury form, Draymond Green seemed to have become a caricature of himself… In short, everything was falling apart! Yet, the 2021-2022 season marked the return of Chef Curry to the top. After delivering a superb regular season, he continued to gently guide his team forward in the playoffs. Goodbye Nuggets, goodbye Grizzlies, goodbye Mavs. Having overcome this Western Conference jungle, Steve Kerr’s men faced the formidable Celtics. Even though Golden State started with home-court advantage, the favorite status was relinquished to Boston. This was confirmed during the first three games. Baby-Faced Assassin was unstoppable, but that wasn’t the issue. No, the real problem was that Jason Tatum’s teammates were more clinical. Boston impressed and cruised straight to the title. That’s when Stephen Curry chose to make history! Facing a potential 3-1 deficit, he dropped 43 points! Double-teamed, locking down defensively, or even using a trap. None of the solutions employed by Ime Udoka’s men worked. Their team crumbled as the Warriors created the impossible. The circle was complete! And at the same time, the legendary number 30 put an end to one of the greatest inconsistencies in history by finally hoisting the Finals MVP trophy.

6) Giannis Antetokounmpo 2021 : This performance was almost a certainty. Less than two weeks before the Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a terrifying knee hyperextension against the Hawks. The NBA world held its breath! Milwaukee was already considered the underdog against the Suns, featuring Kevin Booker, Chris Paul, and even Deandre Ayton (back when he played basketball), and without their Greek star, the situation seemed virtually impossible. And given how the series unfolded, it’s hard to argue with that assessment. The first two games in Phoenix went in favor of the home team. The Bucks’ franchise player was phenomenal despite his lack of rhythm. However, his 42-point performance in Game 2 didn’t erase his team’s inherent weakness. The difference in depth on the bench was striking. Observers (as well as the Arizona players) were well aware of this and didn’t hesitate to emphasize their confidence. That was the last straw for The Greek Freak, who decided to take matters into his own hands! Speed, strength, rim aggression, defense. These basic ingredients combined created an explosive cocktail that the Suns couldn’t handle. On their home court, the Wisconsin franchise regained home-court advantage, defeated Phoenix on the road, and fully intended to finish the job at Fiserv Forum. But Monty Williams’ crew wasn’t about to give up! They brought the heat, they battled hard, but ultimately faced an Everest in the form of Antetokounmpo. 50 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 17 of 19 from the free-throw line. Half a century later, the Bucks climbed back to the top of America thanks to their number 34.

5) Dwyane Wade 2006 : The waves were ready to engulf the Magic City as Game 3 of the 2006 Finals approached. Facing the heavily favored Dallas Mavericks, the Heat were utterly demolished in the first two games in Texas. Few gave Miami much of a chance; they seemed to be at rock bottom. Because beyond the result, the manner of the defeat was devastating. On one hand, Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs appeared untouchable. And on the other, the Floridians seemed overwhelmed. With their backs against the wall, the Kaseya Center ultimately relied on one of its stars. Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Williams, or Antoine Walker? No, the turning point came in the hands of a 24-year-old guard. In the four games that followed, Dwayne Wade dominated everything in his path. Fouls drawn on cue, mid-range shots, explosive drives, and a flurry of steals. A timeless display where Flash averaged… 39.3 points! Including, incidentally, dominating overtime in the iconic Game 5. At the end of the series, Pat Riley himself admitted to being stunned by his shooting guard’s performance: “We all witnessed it. We watched him grow up before our eyes, and he’s already a giant. We’re lucky to have him with us.” In just over 160 minutes, Dwyane Wade went from rising star to superstar.

4) Tim Duncan 2003 : Offense wins games, but defense wins championships! A well-known adage in the world of sports, perfectly illustrated by Tim Duncan in 2003. We’ve been harping on about the offensive dominance of Jokic and West during their series. However, that’s only half the story. The Big Fundamental doesn’t have the most impressive scoring stats, averaging “only” 24.2 points. But on a Spurs team in transition, the power forward took the helm and steered the team to victory. And this, despite repeated attacks from the Nets, who defeated the Texans twice. A true bridge between an aging Robinson and a young Parker-Ginobili duo, Duncan controlled the paint, coldly thwarted opposing drives, and then punished them on the other end of the court with his deadly bank shots. Proof of his dominance, he averaged no less than 17 rebounds! A virtuoso performance highlighted during Game 6, where San Antonio nearly achieved a quadruple-double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks). This performance is enshrined in the pantheon of modern basketball as “dominance through composure.”

3) Shaquille O’Neal 2000 : There’s dominating and then there’s DOMINATING. The Lakers, the favorites for the 2000 Finals, carried a host of uncertainties in their wake, personified by their leader – Shaquille O’Neal. No one questioned the player’s talent or that of his team. However, The Big Diesel had yet to prove he could lift the ultimate trophy. Everyone still remembered his matchup against Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1995 Finals, a series they lost decisively. Especially since the Pacers had everything they needed to upset this team. The Western Conference leaders boasted a deep roster with players ready to support the prolific shooter Reggie Miller. From the very start of the series, basketball fans knew they were about to witness a Shaq masterclass. Let’s not mince words: no player in NBA history had ever physically dominated a Finals game to such an extent. The series was incredibly brutal. In his very first game, he racked up 43 points and 19 rebounds. The tone was set! With no answer in terms of size or power, Indiana could only watch as the yellow giant destroyed the rim. Even sending him to the free-throw line was like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Winning two games was already a tremendous achievement, given the Olympic form of number 34. The first of his three consecutive Finals MVP awards will remain the most memorable, the most impressive, ultimately the most Shaquille O’Neal !

2) : Michael Jordan 1993 : The hardest part about our GOAT isn’t whether he’s on this list, but rather choosing his best Finals performance. Among his six rings, three Finals appearances stand out: 1991, 1993, and 1996. In the midst of this gallery of masterpieces, his finest work is undoubtedly the final dance of his first three-peat. This was arguably the toughest challenge Michael Jordan faced in the Finals. The MVP of this series was indeed in Arizona, not Illinois. Charles Barkley’s Suns had home-court advantage, while the Bulls, for the first time in ages, finished the regular season outside the Eastern Conference. A potent offense completed this Phoenix roster, which was well on its way to sending MJ into retirement. The problem: His Airness hadn’t quite gotten over losing the MVP. He’s the best player on the planet, and if anyone still doubted it, he was quick to remind everyone. 41… Air Jordan averaged 41 points during these Finals. An absolute record! At first, the Suns applied their basic defense against Michael Jordan. Then they adjusted again and again and again, but to no avail. With an offensive aggression rarely seen, the Bulls’ number 23 dominated the competition, peaking at 55 points in Game 4. In short, pure Michael Jordan !

1) LeBron James 2016 : Nothing… nothing destined the Cavs to win this series. Facing the greatest regular-season team in history, the King’s squad was far behind. In 2015, LeBron James had failed. And in 2016, things were looking grim again. Despite the stellar performances of number 23, Golden State led 3 games to 1. To call it a mountain to climb would be an understatement, as no one believed in a comeback. No one except the boy from Ohio! LeBron James literally transformed into an unstoppable force. On the brink of defeat, he dropped 41 points in two games, averaging a triple-double (11 rebounds and 11 assists). As the final game approached, these Finals were already considered the greatest the NBA had ever seen. In the dying minutes, the score was tied 89-89. Andre Iguodala was about to sink a game-winning layup after a strong defensive stretch when LeBron James pulled off “The Block.” On that play, The Chosen One didn’t just save two points. No, he executed one of the most iconic plays imaginable, completely reversing the momentum. It’s difficult to quantify the extent to which his influence propelled his teammates forward. However, the numbers don’t lie. It’s simple: in the end, the leader in the most important statistical categories was LeBron James. Points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Unprecedented! He was simply the best player in the greatest series of all time.

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