Top 6 best Finals game performances of all-time (RANKED)

[TheCorporation]

What are the top 6 best Finals game performances of all time? Let us take a closer look into Game Score to accurately rank each single game performance.

#6: LeBron James (GmSc = 39.2)
2016, Game 5
CLE @ GSW
41-7-16-3-3 w/ 2 TO


#5: Magic Johnson (GmSc = 39.6)
1980, Game 6
LAL @ PHI
42-7-15-3-1 w/ 5 TO


#4: Kevin Durant (GmSc = 39.6)
2018, Game 3
GSW @ CLE
43-7-13-1-1 w/ 3 TO


#3: Tim Duncan (GmSc = 40.8)
2003 Game 1
CLE @ GSW
32-6-20-3-7 w/ 1 TO


#2: LeBron James (GmSc = 41.3)
2018, Game 1
CLE @ GSW
51-8-8-1-1 w/ 5 TO


#1: LeBron James (GmSc = 42.5)
2016, Game 6
GSW @ CLE
41-11-8-4-3 w/ 1 TO


HM:
7: MJ in 1993 vs PHO (38.9 GmScore)
8: Shaq in 2000 vs IND (37.9 GmScore)
9: Curry in 2019 vs TOR (37.2 GmScore)
10: Barkely in 1993 vs CHI )37.0 GmScore)

No player accept for LeBron has made the top 10 more than once, and LeBron made it three times. Amazing.
3x LBJ
1x KD
1x TD
1x Magic
1x MJ
1x Shaq
1x Curry
1x Barkley

Will we ever see a player get 3 top 10 Finals performances of all-time again?
Will we ever see a player hold the #1 and #2 spot again?

Top 6
1. LBJ (42.5)
2. LBJ (41.3)
3. TD (40.8)
4. KD (39.6)
5. Magic (39.6)
6. LBJ (39.2)

[Turbo Slayer]

https://media.giphy.com/media/Lcn0yF1RcLANG/giphy.gif

Damn. LeBron is the one of the greatest players of all-time and noone can deny it! :bowdown:

[ImKobe]

1. Jordan 1998 Game 6
2. Durant 2017 Game 3
3. Jordan 1993 Game 4
4. Jordan 1997 Game 6
5. Duncan 2002 Game 6
6. Draymond Green 2016 Game 7

Jordan's are obvious, 1998 & 1997 are iconic clutch performances to win the championship and 1993 is just pure scoring dominance, Durant broke through with that game and jizzed all over the Cavs. Duncan had a 20/20/10 game with 8 blocks, Green had 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS with an insane 172 ORTG & 24.0 BPM.

[TheCorporation]

1. Jordan 1998 Game 6
2. Durant 2017 Game 3
3. Jordan 1993 Game 4
4. Jordan 1997 Game 6
5. Duncan 2002 Game 6
6. Draymond Green 2016 Game 7

Jordan's are obvious, 1998 & 1997 are iconic clutch performances to win the championship and 1993 is just pure scoring dominance, Durant broke through with that game and jizzed all over the Cavs. Duncan had a 20/20/10 game with 8 blocks, Green had 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS with an insane 172 ORTG & 24.0 BPM.

I was listing the top 6, not the top 50 :lol

MJ only has 1 game in the top 10. Sorry :(

Top 6 ever

Top 6
1. LBJ (42.5)
2. LBJ (41.3)
3. TD (40.8)
4. KD (39.6)
5. Magic (39.6)
6. LBJ (39.2)

NO MJ

[Manny98]

I definitely agree with number 1, that game was insane, LeBron was in GOD mode from games 5-7

This game deserves a mention tho


https://youtu.be/FNBmR09eUPU

Heat were down 0-2 in that series as well. Wade had easily the best game of his career and completely took over in the 4th

[SouBeachTalents]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E193lJfPZDs

[TheCorporation]

I definitely agree with number 1, that game was insane, LeBron was in GOD mode from games 5-7

This game deserves a mention tho


https://youtu.be/FNBmR09eUPU

Heat were down 0-2 in that series as well. Wade had easily the best game of his career and completely took over in the 4th

32.5 Gm Score, not bad. But even his game 6 performance was a slight uptick better at 32.6


2006 Finals, Wade

Game 3: 32.5 GmSc = 42-13-2-2-0
Game 6: 32.6 GmSc = 36-10-5-4-3

[TheCorporation]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E193lJfPZDs

VERY close to top 10. Top 10 is 37.0 and above (Barkley was #10 at 37.0) and Iverson's 2001 game 1 was 35.0

He did 48-6-5-5-0 with 3 TO

[FireDavidKahn]

What are the top 6 best Finals game performances of all time? Let us take a closer look into Game Score to accurately rank each single game performance.

#6: LeBron James (GmSc = 39.2)
2016, Game 5
CLE @ GSW
41-7-16-3-3 w/ 2 TO


#5: Magic Johnson (GmSc = 39.6)
1980, Game 6
LAL @ PHI
42-7-15-3-1 w/ 5 TO


#4: Kevin Durant (GmSc = 39.6)
2018, Game 3
GSW @ CLE
43-7-13-1-1 w/ 3 TO


#3: Tim Duncan (GmSc = 40.8)
2003 Game 1
CLE @ GSW
32-6-20-3-7 w/ 1 TO


#2: LeBron James (GmSc = 41.3)
2018, Game 1
CLE @ GSW
51-8-8-1-1 w/ 5 TO


#1: LeBron James (GmSc = 42.5)
2016, Game 6
GSW @ CLE
41-11-8-4-3 w/ 1 TO


HM:
7: MJ in 1993 vs PHO (38.9 GmScore)
8: Shaq in 2000 vs IND (37.9 GmScore)
9: Curry in 2019 vs TOR (37.2 GmScore)
10: Barkely in 1993 vs CHI )37.0 GmScore)

No player accept for LeBron has made the top 10 more than once, and LeBron made it three times. Amazing.
3x LBJ
1x KD
1x TD
1x Magic
1x MJ
1x Shaq
1x Curry
1x Barkley

Will we ever see a player get 3 top 10 Finals performances of all-time again?
Will we ever see a player hold the #1 and #2 spot again?

Top 6
1. LBJ (42.5)
2. LBJ (41.3)
3. TD (40.8)
4. KD (39.6)
5. Magic (39.6)
6. LBJ (39.2)
https://media0.giphy.com/media/Aff4ryYiacUO4/source.gif

https://media0.giphy.com/media/Aff4ryYiacUO4/source.gif

[FireDavidKahn]

1. Jordan 1998 Game 6
2. Durant 2017 Game 3
3. Jordan 1993 Game 4
4. Jordan 1997 Game 6
5. Duncan 2002 Game 6
6. Draymond Green 2016 Game 7

Jordan's are obvious, 1998 & 1997 are iconic clutch performances to win the championship and 1993 is just pure scoring dominance, Durant broke through with that game and jizzed all over the Cavs. Duncan had a 20/20/10 game with 8 blocks, Green had 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS with an insane 172 ORTG & 24.0 BPM.

This guy has Draymond Green with the 6th best game in Finals history:roll:

[Turbo Slayer]

This guy has Draymond Green with the 6th best game in Finals history:roll:

It makes LeBron 2016 win even sweeter. :hammertime::yaohappy:

[baudkarma]

#3? Tim Duncan gets 40.8 in... Cle vs GSW?

[TheCorporation]

#3? Tim Duncan gets 40.8 in... Cle vs GSW?
Typo obviously.

Are you surprised LeBron has 3x top 6 performances and MJ has zero?

[Axe]

Another clickbait thread.

[TheCorporation]

Another clickbait thread.
Are you surprised LeBron has 3x top 6 performances and MJ has zero?

[Axe]

Are you surprised LeBron has 3x top 6 performances and MJ has zero?
Oops, sorry about that. Didn't realize the damn keyboard had actually learned to type by its ownself...

Anyway, to answer your question, nope. Things like this are subjective, after all.

[TheCorporation]

Oops, sorry about that. Didn't realize the damn keyboard had actually learned to type by its ownself...

Anyway, to answer your question, nope. Things like this are subjective, after all.

Using Game Score is actually NOT subjective.

That's the point of doing it that way...

[TheCorporation]

Sure, but that doesn't mean you have to discredit other players with amazing highlights/plays just because you have an intense loathe for them.

I was not discrediting anyone. MJ made top 7. Not a terrible Finals performer by any means.

[Axe]

I was not discrediting anyone. MJ made top 7. Not a terrible Finals performer by any means.
Really? That's why you had to put until Top 6 only for those performances, not until Top 10 or something like that? Ok...

[TheCorporation]

Really? That's why you had to put until Top 6 only for those performances, not until Top 10 or something like that? Ok...

Should I change it to top 10?

[Axe]

Should I change it to top 10?
Ask a freaking mod if you think you should, not me.

[Darth_Vader]

$tat$ dont matter. bron stans with their excel spreadsheets.

Kobe better.

[TheCorporation]

$tat$ dont matter. bron stans with their excel spreadsheets.

Kobe better.

:lol

Kobe wasn't even top 10
MJ was 7th
LeBron 1st, 2nd and 6th

Bye

[LostCause]

Isn’t this like the 20th thread of the exact same information by you?

Did your brain short circuit?

[Phoenix]

Isn’t this like the 20th thread of the exact same information by you?

Did your brain short circuit?

Shhhhh, directive from corporate. Clicks by any means.

[ImKobe]

This guy has Draymond Green with the 6th best game in Finals history:roll:

Yup. 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS in one of the uglier games in this modern 3PT era where players struggled making shots. Had to give it a shoutout. Warriors win in 5 if he doesn't get suspended.

[bullettooth]

Clickbait thread.

[Manny98]

Yup. 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS in one of the uglier games in this modern 3PT era where players struggled making shots. Had to give it a shoutout. Warriors win in 5 if he doesn't get suspended.
Why couldn't they win in game 6 & 7 with Draymond playing?

[RRR3]

ImSobbing with yet another LeBron-induced meltdown. LeBron has this kid tossing and turning all night every night.

[ArbitraryWater]

2018 Finals Game 1 was the highest peak / everest ever exhibited by an individual person in basketball history


It was literally fairy-tale perfection how he capped it off with the charge on Durant (which he read off of previous film sessions, anticipating the move).

[SouBeachTalents]

2018 Finals Game 1 was the highest peak / everest ever exhibited by an individual person in basketball history


It was literally fairy-tale perfection how he capped it off with the charge on Durant (which he read off of previous film sessions, anticipating the move).
I will say though, it's crazy a 51/8/8 Finals game wouldn't automatically be considered a players greatest playoff performance. Even besides the ones who automatically dismiss a performance in a loss, I'm sure a lot of people would still legitimately consider his Game 5 in Detroit, Game 6 in Boston, Game 6 in 2016 etc. as his best game

[ArbitraryWater]

I will say though, it's crazy a 51/8/8 Finals game wouldn't automatically be considered a players greatest playoff performance. Even besides the ones who automatically dismiss a performance in a loss, I'm sure a lot of people would still legitimately consider his Game 5 in Detroit, Game 6 in Boston, Game 6 in 2016 etc. as his best game


oh yeah, people value that W


but the nikka was pulling up from 35 4 secs into the shotclock in a close finals game 1 on the road

it was the most disrespectful state of confidence and ability ever.

he was a bucket from everywhere

[FromDowntown]

Why couldn't they win in game 6 & 7 with Draymond playing?

Plus his best game ever was in game 6 when Dray came back anyway

[FromDowntown]

This guy has Draymond Green with the 6th best game in Finals history:roll:

I had to look it up, he had a monster game, but still not even top 10 let alone top 6.

Dray = 35.9 Game Score

Barkley was #10 at 37.0

37 > 35.9

[superduper]

PLEASE LOOK AT MY BRAN!! :cry: :cry:

[DoctorP]

Bran has the all time greatest losing performances

he is great

[FromDowntown]

PLEASE LOOK AT MY BRAN!! :cry: :cry:

Got this busting out the 7 size font all over a fact :eek:

[FromDowntown]

Bran has the all time greatest losing performances

he is great

Should he lose in the 1st round three times with three sweeps instead?

[Axe]

Should he lose in the 1st round three times with three sweeps instead?
Not qualify in the playoffs for more than two-straight seasons sounds better.

[KenBarrington]

LeBorn är tidenes största spelare och det råder ingen tvekan om det. naturligtvis ingen jämförelse med MJ. LeBorn är en enda dimension av spelet.

[Mr Feeny]

LeBorn är tidenes största spelare och det råder ingen tvekan om det. naturligtvis ingen jämförelse med MJ. LeBorn är en enda dimension av spelet.

Ok.

[LostCause]

Are you surprised LeBron has 3x top 6 performances and MJ has zero?

If you're going to make a statement like this then what happens if you look at the whole series? Which I'd imagine is more relevant in this context

Problem is single games don't necessarily mean that level of play was sustained

[ArbitraryWater]

If you're going to make a statement like this then what happens if you look at the whole series? Which I'd imagine is more relevant in this context

Problem is single games don't necessarily mean that level of play was sustained

Are you suggesting Jordan's best series' are better than LeBron's best?

Don't.

You're entering a rabbit hole which you won't come out of successful.

LeBron has scored at the same clip as peak scoring machine MJ, only against competent defenses, while still doing more in the rest of the game...

MJ just cannot reach that.


We've all seen the videos of the '91 Lakers and '93 Suns joke defense here...

LeBron did all that against Iggy and Draymond.

[LostCause]

Are you suggesting Jordan's best series' are better than LeBron's best?

Don't.

You're entering a rabbit hole which you won't come out of successful.

LeBron has scored at the same clip as peak scoring machine MJ, only against competent defenses, while still doing more in the rest of the game...

MJ just cannot reach that.


They are

OP was comparing Gamescore. Could just do that though if you want to compare statistics, Jordans 91 run still rates out higher than any Playoff/Finals run by LeBron by almost every metric. LeBron also still hasn't "scored" like Peak MJ, unless you're forgetting MJ averaged 41/9/6 in the Finals


We've all seen the videos of the '91 Lakers and '93 Suns joke defense here...

LeBron did all that against Iggy and Draymond.

Lakers had a joke defense? News to me considering they were 5th in the league that season

That said, let's look at it objectively:
91 Lakers had an rDRTG of -2.9. 16 Warriors had an rDRTG of -2.6.
92 Blazers had an rDRTG of -4.0. 2017 Warriors had an rDRTG of -4.8
93 Suns had an rDRTG of -1.3. 2018 Warriors rDRTG of -1.0

So you can look at some cherrypicked clips or you can look at the actual data, and by using rDRTG we remove era bias since it's compared to league average. Jordan still comes out on top and those "joke defenses" are better than the "draymond and iggy" defenses statistically

[ArbitraryWater]

Yeah, Jordan had one series against the below average defense of the Phoenix Suns with a higher point output.

One.

2016-2018 LeBron otherwise has MJ matched.

And LeBron would have matched 1993 too had he not played with an injured right hand after game 1 in 2018.

Nothing is cherrypicked.

You can watch the games and you will see the weak defense MJ went up against:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STr5YGeG4TA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcktdn1WnaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpwv7cB6-Qs

It was a different game then.

To act like MJ performed at LeBron's level in the finals AND against as good of a defense, is lying to yourself.

No matter how many relative stats you look at.

That's exactly the flaw. Look at the videos.

Maybe you come from that era and are too emotionally involved to want to admit it.

[LostCause]

Yeah, Jordan had one series against the below average defense of the Phoenix Suns with a higher point output.

One.

2016-2018 LeBron otherwise has MJ matched.

91-93 ppg avg for MJ is 36ppg
2016-2018 ppg avg for LBJ is 32ppg
That's obviously not "matching" MJ's scoring output. In perspective that scoring difference is about the same as comparing this years LeBron (11th at 26ppg) to Andrew Wiggins (20th at 22ppg). Would you say Wiggins has Bron "matched" in scoring?


And LeBron would have matched 1993 too had he not played with an injured right hand after game 1 in 2018.

Sure he would've. Let's not entertain baseless hypotheticals


Nothing is cherrypicked.

You can watch the games and you will see the weak defense MJ went up against:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STr5YGeG4TA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcktdn1WnaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpwv7cB6-Qs

It was a different game then.

To act like MJ performed at LeBron's level in the finals AND against as good of a defense, is lying to yourself.

No matter how many relative stats you look at.

That's exactly the flaw. Look at the videos.

Maybe you come from that era and are too emotionally involved to want to admit it.

You posted a video from an admitted trolls account. No different than if I posted videos from the "Nobody Touches Jordan" youtuber. Both cherrypick clips and over exaggerate what's being shown on the floor to fit narratives. Surely you knew this and are just being intellectually dishonest

If you're denying actual data and statistics that's on you, but the data rates out that Jordan faced better defense in 91 and 93 than LeBron did in 16 and 18. The era difference is accounted for in the statistic already

You can't be taken seriously when you pretty much say disregard the stats/data and just look at cherrypicked, agenda driven videos. How does that even work?

BTW I watched the video. About 70% of the things he's calling out don't match what's happening on the floor. "They're letting MJ get wherever he wants on the floor" as he maneuvers around a trap with 3 defenders coming at him. "I don't think LeBron could score on these defenses" while MJ gets past his man and gets up a layup over 3 other Lakers closing the lane and meeting him at the rim.

Your argument basically comes down to hypotheticals and cherrypicked videos. "LeBron could've matched MJ if not for xxx", "The data is wrong just look at these clips from a troll" etc. That obviously doesn't hold up

[TheCorporation]

Top 7 performer

#NotMyGoat

[Uncle Drew]

LeBron's game 1 in 2018 is the greatest game ever played by an individual, and yet he has a game that was even better!? GOAT.

[TheCorporation]

LeBron's game 1 in 2018 is the greatest game ever played by an individual, and yet he has a game that was even better!? GOAT.

It just don't make sense! But then again...it's the GOAT!

:lebronamazed:

[Marchesk]

No mention of Elgin Baylor's 61 point, 22 rebound game four in 62 against the Celtics?

[Shooter]

No mention of Elgin Baylor's 61 point, 22 rebound game four in 62 against the Celtics?

I don't think they had Game Score back then in the 60s. I think they started Game Score in 1984 but then I see some games having it accounted for in 1980 but not before then. No one is getting a 60 point 22 rebound game in the modern era so it makes sense to compare somewhat more modern stats (1980 to present) anyway.

[kawhileonard2]

1. Jordan 1998 Game 6
2. Durant 2017 Game 3
3. Jordan 1993 Game 4
4. Jordan 1997 Game 6
5. Duncan 2002 Game 6
6. Draymond Green 2016 Game 7

Jordan's are obvious, 1998 & 1997 are iconic clutch performances to win the championship and 1993 is just pure scoring dominance, Durant broke through with that game and jizzed all over the Cavs. Duncan had a 20/20/10 game with 8 blocks, Green had 32/15/9/2 on ~96%TS with an insane 172 ORTG & 24.0 BPM.
These make sense. I mean if we base on Gamescore than Jason Terry was better than Lebron right? Also Duncan, Parker and Manu were all better than Lebron to right?

[kawhileonard2]

LeBron's game 1 in 2018 is the greatest game ever played by an individual, and yet he has a game that was even better!? GOAT.

Dude got swept in the finals 4-0 twice. Some players never got swept in any series 4-0.

[Shooter]

Dude got swept in the finals 4-0 twice. Some players never got swept in any series 4-0.

Some dudes played garbage men and grocery baggers...And still performed lower Game Scores :lebronamazed: