Rank The Top 5 Worst Finals Performances By Top 15 Players of all time

[Nilocon165]

Some noteable ones

Lebron 2011
Curry 2016
Kobe 2000
Wilt 1969
Kobe 2004
Lebron 2007

[Maverick Carter]

Kobe in 2000 and 2004 was really abysmal. In 2004, it was as if he was sabotaging his own team. Yes, he was THAT bad.

[TommyGriffin]

Kobe in 2000 and 2004 was really abysmal. In 2004, it was as if he was sabotaging his own team. Yes, he was THAT bad.
In 2000 Bryant was only 21 years old. In 2004 Kobe was playing against one of the greatest defenses of all time that under the 2004 NBA rule-set was allowed to use tactics which today would be deemed illegal. (http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html)

[TommyGriffin]

Some noteable ones

Lebron 2011
Curry 2016*
Kobe 2000
Wilt 1969
Kobe 2004
Lebron 2007
Curry was injured during the 2016 Playoffs and was not healthy during the Finals.

[Maverick Carter]

In 2000 Bryant was only 21 years old. In 2004 Kobe was playing against one of the greatest defenses of all time that under the 2004 NBA rule-set was allowed to use tactics which today would be deemed illegal. (http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html)

Being 21 doesn't make you shoot 36% from the field in single coverage or average and atrocious 15, 4,4.
In 2004, Shaq was the focus of the defense's attention and Kobe was raped by T prince on single coverage to the tune of 38% shooting while single handedly wrecking the Lakers' chance at victory. It was the biggest individual bottle job in nba history.

[Maverick Carter]

Curry was injured during the 2016 Playoffs and was not healthy during the Finals.

Curry is better than any version of Kobe. Has already surpassed him in PER and already has more mvps in the past 2 years than Kobe had in 20 years :roll:

[TommyGriffin]

Being 21 doesn't make you shoot 36% from the field in single coverage or average and atrocious 15, 4,4.
In 2004, Shaq was the focus of the defense's attention and Kobe was raped by T prince on single coverage to the tune of 38% shooting while single handedly wrecking the Lakers' chance at victory. It was the biggest individual bottle job in nba history.
How many 21 year olds do you know of that rip it up in their first Finals?

[TommyGriffin]

Curry is better than any version of Kobe. Has already surpassed him in PER and already has more mvps in the past 2 years than Kobe had in 20 years :roll:
How is this relevant to my post or the topic at hand? :facepalm

[Cold soul]

Curry is better than any version of Kobe. Has already surpassed him in PER and already has more mvps in the past 2 years than Kobe had in 20 years :roll:

Wow you really are special kind of retarded aren't, you? Curry lost FMVP to role player in Iggy in 2015 and is overrated hasn't shown up Finals and been lackluster in playoffs in his career to say the least.

[Cold soul]

Lebron 2011
Kobe 2004
Curry 2016
Lebron 2007
Dirk Nowitzki 2006

[Sarcastic]

Is that top 15 at the time of the Finals or top 15 all time?

[Nilocon165]

Is that top 15 at the time of the Finals or top 15 all time?
top 15 all time but they have to have been good for sometime and it can't be near retirement

[Gotterdammerung]

1. Wilt Chamberlain 1969 Finals
While the Stilt averaged 20.5 ppg at 58% FG during the season, he dropped to 11.7 ppg, and shot horribly from the line, devastating in a series the Lakers lost by only 4.5 ppg in their 4 losing games. :facepalm

2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1988, '89 Finals
While KAJ was shit at this point, the Lakers didn't need him at his best to win back to back. Partially mitigated by the fact that he was what, over 40? :oldlol:

3. Michael Jordan. 1996 Finals
While Jordan's stats dropped across the board from his Finals averages (27 ppg at 42% FG) they're not that bad. In fact MJ played well in 3 of the 4 victories, averaging 31 ppg, 5rpg, 5 apg, 2spg at 46% FG. Also he shut down the Glove in Game 3 and 5.

4. Bill Russell 1958 Finals
Russell injured his ankle and could only play 4 of the 6 Finals games. He did average 14 ppg and 19 rpg, at 35% FG, much lower than the regular season. We won't know if had he played, the results would've been different, cuz by the time Russell injured his ankle, the score was tied 49 at Game 3, being tied at 1-1.

5. Oscar Robertson. 1974 Finals
Mr. Triple Double was a shell of himself at this point, averaging a mortal 12ppg, 8 apg, 3.7 rpg at 43%FG. But by then, the Bucks were decimated by injuries and the Big O was 35 years old, long past his prime, and they forced a game 7.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon. 1986 Finals
Although Olajuwon averaged 25 ppg and 12 rpg, along with 3.2 blocks and 2.3 steals per game, he shot only 47% FG and the Rockets kept him off McHale, the Celtics' best low post scorer.

7. Shaquille O'Neal. 2006 Finals
Even though the Heat won the series, Shaq averaged a mortal 13 and 10, and shot FT horribly at 29%. He wasn't this shitty during the preceding rounds (21 ppg, 10 rpg at 61%FG). The Mavericks did not have a great interior defender (Dampier, my ass), but the Heat took advantage of Wade's brilliant dominance and won the final 4 games.

8. LeBron James. 2007 or 2011 Finals
I would give LBJ a pass on the 2007 Finals, because the Cavaliers shouldn't have been there, and they were playing against a dominant machine in the Spurs. So I'd go with the 2011 Finals, when the stakes were much higher, & LBJ just fell apart under pressure.
:lebroncry:

9. Magic Johnson. 1984 Finals
Magic wasn't bad in this series, averaging 18 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 13.6 apg, and 2 steals at 56% FG. But he kept screwing it up in the clutch, in Games 2 and 4. :facepalm

10. Larry Bird. 1981 Finals
Bird wasn't great in this series, averaging only 15 ppg, but he pulled down 15 boards per and hit 7 assists a game. He practically neutralized the immortal rebound king, Moses on the glass.

11. Doctor J. 1983 Finals
Although the Doctor was the third leading scorer, averaging 19 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 5 apg, the Sixers were unstoppable and swept the Lakers, so this can't really be pinned on him.

12. Tim Duncan. 2005 Finals
Although the Spurs won the title, and Duncan neutralized the Wallace brothers (who pulled down 27 rpg together in the previous Finals) to a mortal 16 rpg, he shot poorly at 41.9% FG as the Spurs' first option.

13. Kobe Bryant 2004 Finals
We all know the numbers (22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg at 38% FG) and that he only had to guard Rip Hamilton. But how do you play 46 minutes per game and only pull down fewer than 3 rebounds? While the Pistons were legendary on defense, didn't Kobe drop 26, 6, 6 with 46% FG on the actual number one defensive team that year in the Spurs?
:kobe:
14. Jerry West 1972 Finals
The Basketball Gods were cruel to Jerry. Despite having the greatest NBA finals of all time in 1969, and losing by a couple of points, they let him finally win in 1972, but only with mortal production (20 ppg, 4 rpg, 9 apg at a horrid 33% FG). Clyde destroyed his ass as a matter of fact.

15. Moses Malone 1981 Finals
While Moses did average a very solid 22 and 16, he shot a laughable 40%, especially for a center.
:biggums:

[SouBeachTalents]

1. Wilt Chamberlain 1969 Finals
While the Stilt averaged 20.5 ppg at 58% FG during the season, he dropped to 11.7 ppg, and shot horribly from the line, devastating in a series the Lakers lost by only 4.5 ppg in their 4 losing games. :facepalm

2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1988, '89 Finals
While KAJ was shit at this point, the Lakers didn't need him at his best to win back to back. Partially mitigated by the fact that he was what, over 40? :oldlol:

3. Michael Jordan. 1996 Finals
While Jordan's stats dropped across the board from his Finals averages (27 ppg at 42% FG) they're not that bad. In fact MJ played well in 3 of the 4 victories, averaging 31 ppg, 5rpg, 5 apg, 2spg at 46% FG. Also he shut down the Glove in Game 3 and 5.

4. Oscar Robertson. 1974 Finals
Mr. Triple Double was a shell of himself at this point, averaging a mortal 12ppg, 8 apg, 3.7 rpg at 43%FG. But by then, the Bucks were decimated by injuries and the Big O was 35 years old, long past his prime, and they forced a game 7.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon. 1986 Finals
6. Shaquille O'Neal. 2006 Finals
7. LeBron James. 2007 or 2011 Finals
8. Magic Johnson. 1984 Finals
9. Larry Bird. 1981 Finals
10. Doctor J.
11. Tim Duncan. 2005 Finals
12. Kobe Bryant 2004 Finals
13. Jerry West 1972 Finals
14. Moses Malone 1981 Finals
15. Elgin Baylor 1969 Finals

(to be edited later)

Lol at 2011 LeBron only being 7th, that was EASILY worse than '96 Jordan. Ditto Curry this year as well, that should absolutely be on the list. Also, how the fucc is Hakeem's '86 Finals on this list? Dude averaged 25/12/2/2/3 on 48% and won two games against a team many consider the GOAT in the '86 Celtics

[NBAGOAT]

Lol at 2011 LeBron only being 7th, that was EASILY worse than '96 Jordan. Ditto Curry this year as well, that should absolutely be on the list. Also, how the fucc is Hakeem's '86 Finals on this list? Dude averaged 25/12/2/2/3 on 48% and won two games against a team many consider the GOAT in the '86 Celtics

I'm pretty sure this is his GOAT list and he's just listing the worst finals for each player. It's why there's no Curry. This really makes Dr.J look good however since he's the only guy op can't think of a bad finals for :oldlol:

Edit: and I just noticed, where the hell is Russell.

[Gotterdammerung]

I'm pretty sure this is his GOAT list and he's just listing the worst finals for each player. It's why there's no Curry. This really makes Dr.J look good however since he's the only guy op can't think of a bad finals for :oldlol:

Edit: and I just noticed, where the hell is Russell.
Correct to your first point.
My bad; Russell was left off by accident :oldlol:

[Milbuck]

Giannis >>>>>> Spanoulis

[Gotterdammerung]

ICYMI


1. Wilt Chamberlain 1969 Finals
While the Stilt averaged 20.5 ppg at 58% FG during the season, he dropped to 11.7 ppg, and shot horribly from the line, devastating in a series the Lakers lost by only 4.5 ppg in their 4 losing games. :facepalm

2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1988, '89 Finals
While KAJ was shit at this point, the Lakers didn't need him at his best to win back to back. Partially mitigated by the fact that he was what, over 40? :oldlol:

3. Michael Jordan. 1996 Finals
While Jordan's stats dropped across the board from his Finals averages (27 ppg at 42% FG) they're not that bad. In fact MJ played well in 3 of the 4 victories, averaging 31 ppg, 5rpg, 5 apg, 2spg at 46% FG. Also he shut down the Glove in Game 3 and 5.

4. Bill Russell 1958 Finals
Russell injured his ankle and could only play 4 of the 6 Finals games. He did average 14 ppg and 19 rpg, at 35% FG, much lower than the regular season. We won't know if had he played, the results would've been different, cuz by the time Russell injured his ankle, the score was tied 49 at Game 3, being tied at 1-1.

5. Oscar Robertson. 1974 Finals
Mr. Triple Double was a shell of himself at this point, averaging a mortal 12ppg, 8 apg, 3.7 rpg at 43%FG. But by then, the Bucks were decimated by injuries and the Big O was 35 years old, long past his prime, and they forced a game 7.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon. 1986 Finals
Although Olajuwon averaged 25 ppg and 12 rpg, along with 3.2 blocks and 2.3 steals per game, he shot only 47% FG and the Rockets kept him off McHale, the Celtics' best low post scorer.

7. Shaquille O'Neal. 2006 Finals
Even though the Heat won the series, Shaq averaged a mortal 13 and 10, and shot FT horribly at 29%. He wasn't this shitty during the preceding rounds (21 ppg, 10 rpg at 61%FG). The Mavericks did not have a great interior defender (Dampier, my ass), but the Heat took advantage of Wade's brilliant dominance and won the final 4 games.

8. LeBron James. 2007 or 2011 Finals
I would give LBJ a pass on the 2007 Finals, because the Cavaliers shouldn't have been there, and they were playing against a dominant machine in the Spurs. So I'd go with the 2011 Finals, when the stakes were much higher, & LBJ just fell apart under pressure.
:lebroncry:

9. Magic Johnson. 1984 Finals
Magic wasn't bad in this series, averaging 18 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 13.6 apg, and 2 steals at 56% FG. But he kept screwing it up in the clutch, in Games 2 and 4. :facepalm

10. Larry Bird. 1981 Finals
Bird wasn't great in this series, averaging only 15 ppg, but he pulled down 15 boards per and hit 7 assists a game. He practically neutralized the immortal rebound king, Moses on the glass.

11. Doctor J. 1983 Finals
Although the Doctor was the third leading scorer, averaging 19 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 5 apg, the Sixers were unstoppable and swept the Lakers, so this can't really be pinned on him.

12. Tim Duncan. 2005 Finals
Although the Spurs won the title, and Duncan neutralized the Wallace brothers (who pulled down 27 rpg together in the previous Finals) to a mortal 16 rpg, he shot poorly at 41.9% FG as the Spurs' first option.

13. Kobe Bryant 2004 Finals
We all know the numbers (22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg at 38% FG) and that he only had to guard Rip Hamilton. But how do you play 46 minutes per game and only pull down fewer than 3 rebounds? While the Pistons were legendary on defense, didn't Kobe drop 26, 6, 6 with 46% FG on the actual number one defensive team that year in the Spurs?
:kobe:
14. Jerry West 1972 Finals
The Basketball Gods were cruel to Jerry. Despite having the greatest NBA finals of all time in 1969, and losing by a couple of points, they let him finally win in 1972, but only with mortal production (20 ppg, 4 rpg, 9 apg at a horrid 33% FG). Clyde destroyed his ass as a matter of fact.

15. Moses Malone 1981 Finals
While Moses did average a very solid 22 and 16, he shot a laughable 40%, especially for a center.
:biggums:

[egokiller]

How many 21 year olds do you know of that rip it up in their first Finals?

No one but I know a 24 year old that ripped it up in the first finals that he was healthy. Kyrie Irving. Man it must be nice being a guy like Lebron going into the finals knowing that you got a guy with almost no finals experience on your squad who's capable of dropping 40 ppg on 75% shooting in critical high pressure finals game. How convenient.

[TommyGriffin]

No one but I know a 24 year old that ripped it up in the first finals that he was healthy. Kyrie Irving. Man it must be nice being a guy like Lebron going into the finals knowing that you got a guy with almost no finals experience on your squad who's capable of dropping 40 ppg on 75% shooting in critical high pressure finals game. How convenient.
I love Kyrie Irving. He is a stud.

[SpaceJammeR]

No one but I know a 24 year old that ripped it up in the first finals that he was healthy. Kyrie Irving. Man it must be nice being a guy like Lebron going into the finals knowing that you got a guy with almost no finals experience on your squad who's capable of dropping 40 ppg on 75% shooting in critical high pressure finals game. How convenient.

Too bad bron didn't have prime shaq. :coleman: :coleman:

[TommyGriffin]

Too bad bron didn't have prime shaq. :coleman: :coleman:
Too bad LeBron will never be able to win back to back titles with his second best player being Pau Gasol.

[GrapeApe]

Too bad LeBron will never be able to win back to back titles with his second best player being Pau Gasol.

You act like having an all-NBA, efficient and skilled 20/10 big man as your second best player is a bad thing.

[TommyGriffin]

You act like having an all-NBA, efficient and skilled 20/10 big man as your second best player is a bad thing.
It is compared to LeBron's second best players, hell even LeBron's third best players!


Love stats Pre-LeBron (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/loveke01.html) - 26/13/2/59% TS

Bosh stats Pre-LeBron (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html) - 24/11/2/59% TS

Pau stats Pre-Kobe (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gasolpa01.html) - 19/8/3/59% TS


So it looks like LeBron had efficient and skilled 20/10+ guys as his 3rd option while Kobe only had Pau as his 2nd!

[Poetry]

3. Michael Jordan. 1996 Finals
While Jordan's stats dropped across the board from his Finals averages (27 ppg at 42% FG) they're not that bad. In fact MJ played well in 3 of the 4 victories, averaging 31 ppg, 5rpg, 5 apg, 2spg at 46% FG. Also he shut down the Glove in Game 3 and 5.

Why would you rank it #3 then?

Jordan's GmSc was 18.5 for that series. That's low for Jordan, who peaked at near 30, but that's nowhere near bad. Only Kemp had a higher game score that series at 18.9.

LeBron's lowest performances, which you've ranked 8th are much lower at 10.6 (2007) and 13.7 (2011).

[Psileas]

Why would you rank it #3 then?

Jordan's GmSc was 18.5 for that series. That's low for Jordan, who peaked at near 30, but that's nowhere near bad. Only Kemp had a higher game score that series at 18.9.

LeBron's lowest performances, which you've ranked 8th are much lower at 10.6 (2007) and 13.7 (2011).

Because that's his top 15 in order and these are the worst series of each one of them. I mean, did you really think Wilt's '69 performance, at 12 ppg/25 rpg was really the worst any top 15 player has ever had?

[Annyong!]

In 2000 Bryant was only 21 years old. In 2004 Kobe was playing against one of the greatest defenses of all time that under the 2004 NBA rule-set was allowed to use tactics which today would be deemed illegal. (http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html)
:cry:

[ClipperRevival]

You know you're the GOAT when your absolute worst finals is:

27.3 PPG, .415%, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG

And his stats when the series was still in the balance (first 3 games) were:

31.0 PPG, .460%, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.0 SPG

[Gotterdammerung]

Because that's his top 15 in order and these are the worst series of each one of them. I mean, did you really think Wilt's '69 performance, at 12 ppg/25 rpg was really the worst any top 15 player has ever had?
Damn straight. Perhaps I should've not ranked my top 15, and just list the 5 worst choke jobs in the NBA Finals. But there are 100 articles on the Internet elsewhere that discusses that. :hammerhead:

How you doing, Psileas? :cheers:

[Poetry]

I mean, did you really think Wilt's '69 performance, at 12 ppg/25 rpg was really the worst any top 15 player has ever had?

No, but I wanted to use GmSc to make a quick point and the data only goes back to 1984, so I couldn't use Wilt as an example here.

[ArbitraryWater]

Lebron 2011
Kobe 2004
Curry 2016
Lebron 2007
Dirk Nowitzki 2006

If Bron 07 makes the list then Kobe 00 has to, as well.

[SouBeachTalents]

If Bron 07 makes the list then Kobe 00 has to, as well.

Kobe won doe

[JT123]

Kobe 2004
Kobe 2000
Curry 2016
Wilt 69
Curry 2015 (stat padded in garbage time which is why he got no fmvp votes)

HM Kobe 2010

[Maverick Carter]

Kobe 2004
Kobe 2000
Curry 2016
Wilt 69
Curry 2015 (stat padded in garbage time which is why he got no fmvp votes)

HM Kobe 2010

Kobe with 2 of the 5 worst Finals :roll: :roll:

[JT123]

Kobe with 2 of the 5 worst Finals :roll: :roll:
Not only 2, but the top 2! :facepalm
I'm a big fan of the guy, but he sure doesn't make it easy for me...

[Doranku]

Kobe with 2 of the 5 worst Finals :roll: :roll:

You realize LeBron also has 2 of the 5 worst finals in 2011 and 2007, right? :roll:

It's like you guys purposely set yourselves up to look like morons.

[NBAGOAT]

No, but I wanted to use GmSc to make a quick point and the data only goes back to 1984, so I couldn't use Wilt as an example here.

and what a surprise, the point you wanted to make was about MJ and Lebron(and an obvious one at that that doesn't need to be said) even though gott's post wasn't really about them. You could've asked why hakeem is even on this list like soubeach did if you actually had misunderstood since calling his 86 Finals one of the 5 worst of all time is easily the most egregious thing on there.

[Poetry]

You could've asked why hakeem is even on this list like soubeach did if you actually had misunderstood since calling his 86 Finals one of the 5 worst of all time is easily the most egregious thing on there.

I just went down the list. I couldn't use Wilt as an example because GmSc data isn't available for him. I couldn't use 88/89 Kareem because his GmSc for those Finals are below 10 (although, his age should be taken into account). So the next person on the list that actually had available GmSc data that didn't deserve to be on the list was MJ.

I think Hakeem had a GmSc around 20+, so he obviously doesn't deserve to be on the list either. If he had been listed at 1, 2 or 3, I would have used him as my example.

[NBAGOAT]

I just went down the list. I couldn't use Wilt as an example because GmSc data isn't available for him. I couldn't use 88/89 Kareem because his GmSc for those Finals are below 10 (although, his age should be taken into account). So the next person on the list that actually had available GmSc data that didn't deserve to be on the list was MJ.

I think Hakeem had a GmSc around 20+, so he obviously doesn't deserve to be on the list either. If he had been listed at 1, 2 or 3, I would have used him as my example.

that's a pretty good explanation. However, I would say why didn't u mention Shaq since he's higher than lebron and had a pretty low impact finals.

[Poetry]

that's a pretty good explanation. However, I would say why didn't u mention Shaq since he's higher than lebron and had a pretty low impact finals.

Shaq was 34. Past his prime. I don't think he and an older Kareem belong on a list of Top 5 Worst Finals Performances. The expectations were different for them.

Going down that list, LeBron was the first player with a bad performance (2011), with available GmSc data (13.7), who was in or near his prime (26-years-old).

After him on the list, Magic in '84 had a GmSc of 20.4 (although, that doesn't tell the whole story, but at least he played up to his potential).