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The NBA Finals is one of the biggest stages in sports. This is where legacies are built that would otherwise collapse at the feet of the giants they compete with. The NBA Finals is where legends are born, and greatness is defined by leading your team to the ultimate goal of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy over your head. Dreams lived and dashed in a 7-game series between the two best teams of their respective seasons.
Today, our goal is to honor the greatest Finals performances of the 25 greatest players in NBA history. Using our GOAT pyramid, we selected 25 NBA legends to tease out their Finals performances and discuss the context around them. These Finals performers are among the elite in NBA history and will be recognized as we delve into their games. Win or lose the series, these 25 legends left everything they had on the court during the biggest moments of their careers.
Here are the full performances of 25 legends in NBA history.
charles barkley
Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks
NBA Finals record: 0-1
Widely considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time, Charles Barkley appeared in just 1 NBA Finals series in his career. It was 1993, and Barkley was in his first season as a member of the Phoenix Suns after eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. Barkley made an immediate impact, leading the Suns to a 62-20 record for which he won the MVP award. Barkley won the MVP with averages of 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals and made the playoffs.
The Suns beat the Lakers, Spurs and Sonics to reach the NBA Finals, where Barkley and Co. will face Michael Jordan and the Bulls, who are seeking their third straight title. The Suns gave up a total of 11 points in their first two games before winning Game 3 with Barkley’s 24 points and 19 rebounds. Chicago would win 2 of its next 3 games for its third straight title, but Barkley put up one hell of a fight. He averaged 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals in the six-game series, the only Finals he has ever played in.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.8 blocks per game
NBA Finals record: 1-0
As far as the 2022-23 season is concerned, Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely recognized as the best player in the world. Giannis’ No. 1 story began in 2019, when he captured the first of his two consecutive MVP awards. In the past 4 seasons, he has had the greatest impact on both ends of the basketball player and led the Bucks to achieve what has not been achieved in 50 years. In 2021, Giannis once again challenged for the MVP award, but lost to Nikola Jokic. He led the Bucks to a 46-26 record and advanced to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the East.
The playoffs were a bitter struggle as star players fell like flies left and right due to injuries. The Bucks swept the Heat in the first round and beat the Nets in seven games in the second round. In the Eastern Conference finals, Giannis and the Bucks defeated the Hawks in seven games to reach the NBA Finals. After losing the first two games of the series to Phoenix, Giannis faltered and was visibly exhausted, and the Bucks responded. Antetokounmpo dug deep and helped the Bucks to a 4-game winning streak and their first NBA title in 50 years. Giannis finished the series with 50 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, earning the Finals MVP award.
david robinson
Image credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 13.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.4 blocks
NBA Finals record: 2-0
In the ’90s, David Robinson was one of the best centers in basketball. In his rookie season, the Spurs won more than 30 games over the previous season. In his third season, he would go on to win the 1995 MVP award and the 1992 Defensive Player of the Year award. Robinson is simply one of the most athletic and versatile big men in basketball, and his two-way dominance is on display nightly. One thing missing from his resume is an NBA championship.
In 1998, the Spurs selected Tim Duncan from Wake Forest with the first overall pick. By 1999, the Spurs were title contenders with their version of the Twin Towers. The Spurs defeated the Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals, and Duncan won the Finals MVP award. Robinson was also instrumental with 16.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. By 2003, Robinson had reached the end of his career, barely able to set foot on the court. Still, he was able to make an impact on the defensive end of the ball as the Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets for their second title. Robinson rode off into the sunset after the series, adding two championship rings to his career.
Elgin Baylor
Photo credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 26.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists
NBA Finals record: 0-7
The worst case scenario for a player to be underrated without a championship might be Elgin Baylor. As part of the great rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers in the ’60s, Baylor helped lead the Lakers to the Finals against Boston in six of his seven career Finals appearances. During his NBA career. The only exception to Baylor’s failure to conquer the Celtics was his 1970 loss to the Knicks. Baylor was one of the first true superstars in NBA history because he played above the rim and with such speed that it was nearly impossible for TV cameras to capture those days.
Look, Baylor’s failure certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. Baylor still holds the single-game Finals record with 61 points and has 19 30-point games in 44 games. With the exception of Jerry West, Baylor and the Lakers were never able to match Bill Russell’s Celtics and were beaten by the Knicks in 1970. Even with his flaws in the Finals, Baylor is still one of the greatest small forwards in NBA history, and it’s time to acknowledge him.
Dirk Nowitzki
Image credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 24.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks
NBA Finals record: 1-1
In his prime, Dirk Nowitzki was one of the greatest offensive power forwards in NBA history. At 7-foot-0, Nowitzki became a unicorn because of his ability to knock down outside shots with incredible speed and his patented one-leg fadeaway. Nowitzki became the league’s MVP and the icon of a generation of Dallas Mavericks fans. His legacy was cemented in a special 2011 postseason that gave the Mavs their only championship in franchise history.
The 2011 NBA Finals wasn’t Nowitzki’s first big stage appearance. In 2006, Dirk led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals with Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat. After taking a 2-0 series lead, Nowitzki and the Mavericks let the championship slip from their grapes, and the Heat won four games in a row. In 2011, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, once against the Miami Heat. This time, the opponents are Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Nowitzki would have one of the most storied series in Finals history as he averaged 26.0 points and 9.0 rebounds to win Finals MVP and beat the Heat in six games.
Julius Erwin
Image credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.8 blocks
NBA Finals record: 1-3
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Julius Erwin was one of the game’s must-see superstars. With incredible athleticism and elite skill, Irving and the Philadelphia 76ers were NBA Championship contenders from 177 to 1984. Irving led the 76ers to the Finals for the first time in 1977 against the Trail Blazers. Philadelphia led Portland 2-0 despite Irving’s 30.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.2 blocks. Irving and the 76ers would also make it to the NBA Finals in 1980 and 1982, despite Irving’s stellar performances.
In 1983, the 76ers brought in 2-time MVP Moses Malone, which provided a huge help to Irving, who won his 3rd MVP that season. Irving, Malone and the 76ers make it to the NBA Finals with Game 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in four seasons. The 76ers swept Los Angeles in 4 games and were too strong for Los Angeles. Irving was not named Finals MVP, but he averaged 19.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.3 SPG and 2.8 BPG for the series. After three finals heartbreaks, Julius Erving finally broke through and won the only championship of his career.
Kevin Garnett
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 16.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.2 blocks
NBA Finals record: 1-1
From 1996 to 2007, Kevin Garnett was one of the best power forwards in the league for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett won the 2004 MVP award with the Timberwolves and led them to the Western Conference Finals that same season. However, Garnett’s progress in Minnesota was limited by a lack of organization and talent around him. In July 2007, Garnett was traded from the Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics to play alongside Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Garnett’s impact was immediately felt on the court, where he won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award as the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals against the Lakers. Garnett and the Celtics will win in 6 games. Garnett won’t win Finals MVP, but he’s showing it with averages of 18.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Garnett and the Celtics will advance to the NBA Finals again in 2010, against the same Lakers they beat in 2008. This time, the Lakers will win the championship in seven games.
Wade
Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 23.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks per game
NBA Finals record: 3-2
In the span of 16 seasons, Dwyane Wade went from a solid prospect at Marquette to the greatest player in Miami Heat history and one of the best shooting guards ever. Wade can control the game with his explosive scoring and ability in the open court, as well as his sharpness as a strong defender. Wade led the Heat to the NBA Finals five times in his career, but perhaps none was more special than the first.
In 2006, Wade joined Shaquille O’Neal to lead the Miami Heat to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. After a 2-0 loss in the series, Wade’s incredible performance in four consecutive games brought Miami its first championship. Wade won the Finals MVP, averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals. Wade and the Heat welcomed LeBron James and Chris Bosh with open arms in 2010-11 and went to four straight NBA Finals together. Wade, James and the Heat went 2-2 in those 4 Finals games, with Wade being a big contributor to 2 of their victories.
Moses Malone
Image credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Finals stats: 23.7 points, 16.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.9 blocks
NBA Finals record: 1-1
One of the best big men the NBA has ever seen, Moses Malone became an instant title contender with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers during his career. With the Rockets, Malone won two MVP awards and helped them reach the NBA Finals in 1981. In the series against the Celtics, Malone and the Rockets would go down in six games. Malone did his best to lead the Rockets to victory with averages of 22.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, but it wasn’t enough to stop Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell and the Celtics.
After just 2 seasons, Moses Malone will be traded from the Rockets to the Philadelphia 76ers. Malone would win the MVP award in his first season with the Sixers averaging 24.5 points, 15.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Malone and the 76ers navigated the playoffs, meeting Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Malone led the 76ers to a sweep of Los Angeles and was named Finals MVP with 25.8 points and 18.0 rebounds.
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