Top 10 NBA playoff performances
Top 10 NBA playoff performances
During this year’s NBA playoff there were several big games from different players like Luka Doncic’s 43 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 28 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists, Donovan Mitchell’s 57 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists or Jamal Murray’s 50 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. But, which are the top 10 performances in the NBA playoff history? Here we go:
10. Tim Duncan – He almost recorded a quadruple-double in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks.
9. LeBron James – His stats were amazing: 48 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, but what makes this performance even greater is the fact that he scored 25 consecutive points for Cleveland and 29 of last 30 in the Game 5 of 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit Pistons.
8. Shaquille O’Neal – recorded 44 points, 21 rebounds and 7 blocks in Game 1 of the second round of 2001 playoffs against Sacramento Kings.
7. Hakeem Olajuwon – 49 points, 25 rebounds and 6 blocks were his stats, but still lost the Game 6 of the 1987 second round against the Seattle Supersonics.
6. Elgin Baylor – 61 points and 22 rebounds in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals. He was the first player the break the 60 points in a postseason game and his record was alive until Michael Jordan performance that will follow in our ranking.
5. Charles Barkley – In his best season, 1992-1993, Charles recorded 43 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 5 of Western Conference Finals against the Seattle. In 1994 he had another big game against Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of first-round with 56 points and 14 rebounds.
4. Wilt Chamberlain – In 1962, against the Syracuse Nationals (today Philadelphia 76ers) he recorded 56 points and 35 rebounds, which is the biggest game in NBA playoff history on ‘’Total Stats’’, where points, rebounds and assists are combined.
3. Bill Russell – Big players make big games when it matters the most. In game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals, he recorded 30 points and 40 rebounds, helping Boston to win another NBA title in overtime.
2. Michael Jordan – Despite losing the series to Celtics, in 1986, Michael Jordan notched 63 points and it’s still the NBA record for most points in the postseason. That performance made Celtics’s legend Larry Bird to say: ‘’God disguised as Michael Jordan’’.
1. Magic Johnson – in 1980 Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Magic started as a center because their big man Kareem-Abdul Jabar was injured. He lived up to the expectations as he finished the game with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists and helped Lakers win the game and the title. Not surprised yet? He recorded this stat line in his rookie year, at 20 years old.
Which is the best performance in your opinion?
Image: LA Curbed
Bogdan Vasile Tirc
