In 75 years of NBA Finals history, there have been only seven
50-point games. In those seven games, the team with the 50-point
scorer went 6-1. Further, there have been just 19 30-rebound games,
only one of which was done by someone other than Bill Russell or
Wilt Chamberlain (Nate Thurmond), and only 15 15-assist games, 10
of which belong to Magic Johnson.
There have been some truly great Finals performances over the
years, so let’s identify the five best single-game showings in NBA
Finals history:
5. Michael Jordan – Game 4, 1993 NBA Finals: 55 points,
8 rebounds, 4 assists
Let’s kick things off with the GOAT. Jordan’s 55-point
performance in Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals is still tied for the
second-highest point total in Finals history. Jordan’s NBA Finals
dominance is noteworthy, as he is undefeated in the championship
series with a career scoring average of 33.6 points per game in his
six appearances. But this is easily the most impressive of the
bunch. He shot 21-for-37 from the field, failing to connect on just
one three-pointer. That didn’t slow him down though. In addition to
55 points, Jordan also tallied 8 rebounds and 4 assists in this
win.
4. LeBron James – Game 1, 2018 NBA Finals: 51 points, 8
rebounds, 8 assists
James’ 51-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist game is the most
controversial on this list, but it absolutely belongs. Yes, James’
Cavaliers lost the game in overtime, which makes this the lone loss
among 50-point NBA Finals performances. The thing is, the odds were
stacked against James in this series. First, former teammate Kyrie
Irving requested a trade prior to the season, leaving James with
less firepower to combat the star-studded Golden State Warriors.
Furthermore, this game was the first one back for Kevin Love, who
had suffered a concussion late in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Still, James willed the Cavaliers into a prime position to go up
1-0 on Golden State shooting 19-for-32 from the floor, dishing out
8 assists and grabbing 8 rebounds. Had it not been for a
meme-worthy blunder by JR Smith at the end of regulation, Cleveland
would have gotten the win too. The Warriors outscored the Cavaliers
by 10 in overtime. Still, win or lose, this was one hell of a
performance.
3. Walt "Clyde" Frazier – Game 7, 1970 NBA Finals: 36
points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds
Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals is better known as "The Willis
Reed Game" because Reed limped to the court during warm-ups and
scored the first two baskets of the game. The fact of the matter is
that Reed ended the game with only those four points, but someone
else really did put the Knicks on their shoulders: Walt Frazier.
Frazier’s Game 7 performance was the stuff of legends, as he
recorded 36 points, 19 assists and 7 rebounds. 1970 pre-dates
recorded steals, but Frazier recorded a number of those as well. In
total, Frazier scored or assisted on 31 of the Knicks’ 46 baskets,
a preposterous number for a championship-deciding game. Best of
all, this game resulted in one of only two Knicks championships,
making this one of the most legendary performances ever.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Game 7, 2021 NBA Finals: 50
points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks
If you like what James did in 2018, you’re going to love this.
Antetokounmpo put Milwaukee on his back in the decisive game of the
2021 NBA Finals. He did a little bit of everything, beginning with
scoring the basketball. He shot 16-for-25 from the field and
17-for-19 from the free-throw line. He racked up loads of rebounds
and blocks too, and he impacted the game in a way I literally
haven’t seen in my adult life. Say what you will about
Antetokounmpo’s inability to stretch the floor, but when it clicks
for him, he is easily the most dangerous player in the game
today.
1. Earvin "Magic" Johnson – Game 6, 1980 NBA Finals: 42
points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists
This one is more famous than Frazier’s legendary performance,
thanks in part to the work of HBO’s Winning Time.
Regardless of fame, Johnson’s performance in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA
Finals is wildly impressive. Johnson, the Lakers’ point guard, was
the team’s second-tallest starter for this game. With his teammate
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out due to injury, Johnson played power forward
and center for much of the game, even taking a page out of
Abdul-Jabbar’s book in connecting on a championship-securing sky
hook. In total, Johnson scored 42 points on 14-for-23 shooting. He
also made up for Abdul-Jabbar’s absence by recording 15 rebounds
and 7 assists in this all-around show of dominance. Johnson really
did a bit of everything in this game, proving that he was an
absolute force to be reckoned with... as a rookie.
Honorable Mention: Elgin Baylor - Game 5, 1962 NBA
Finals: 61 points, 22 rebounds
Baylor holds the record for most points scored in a finals game
(61), and if this were at top-10 list, he'd be on it, but he fails
to make this list. Yes, scoring 61 points and grabbing 22 rebounds
in a Finals game is notable. The thing is, leading rebounders
regularly snagged 20 or more rebounds in a game in the 1960s,
cheapening that statistic. Case in point, Bill Russell amassed 29
boards in the same game. So, while this was clearly an all-time
great performance, it doesn’t quite make the cut as Baylor’s
overall impact wasn’t quite on par with the five players listed
above him.
Legacies are made in the NBA Finals. Players can cement
themselves among the all-time greats with one overwhelmingly
impressive showing. But one game only gets you so far.
Ultimately, careers are judged in terms of championships. So,
while an exceptionally impressive performance gets a player
remembered, it doesn’t garner the same level of respect as an
all-time great performance that results in a title.
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