In the high-stakes world of the NBA, every shot counts, but what happens when they don’t? Delve into the fascinating records of the most missed shots in a single game, uncovering the relentless drive of athletes who dared to keep shooting despite the odds.

We are going to continue our look at the greatest single-game performances in the NBA Finals. This list will focus on the Finals since 2010. Many familiar names and future Hall of Famers will be getting an entry. To refresh your memory from the previous edition, for a player’s performance to qualify for this list, his team had to win the title during that series. Another rule for this list is that no player will get multiple entries. For instance, LeBron and Steph have several worthy performances, but each can only have one make the list. 

Let’s look back at the last 15 years … a time of smartphones, social media, and Uber. We will now revisit some of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history since 2010.

We are going to continue our look at the greatest single-game performances in the NBA Finals. This list will focus on the 2000s. This was a decade heavily dominated by two Western Conference powers. To refresh your memory from the previous edition, for a player’s performance to qualify for this list, his team had to win the title during that series. Another rule for this list is that no player will get multiple entries. For instance, San Antonio legend Tim Duncan appeared on a previous list, so he will not appear again even though he has a few worthy single-game performances during the 2000s. 

Let’s transport back to the 2000s … a time of Y2K paranoia, flip phones, and traditional NBA titans returning to glory. We will now revisit some of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history during the 2000s.

We are going to continue our look at the greatest single-game performances in the NBA Finals. This list will focus on the 1990s. This could be a list of all Michael Jordan games, but we are going to be fair to other clutch efforts and not just #23. To refresh your memory from the previous edition, for a player’s performance to qualify for this list, his team had to win the title during that series. Another rule for this list is that no player will get multiple entries. I apologize to that decent shooting guard on the Bulls, but we have to make room for his supporting cast as well. 

In the spirit of Inside Stuff, NBA Jam, and John Tesh’s NBA on NBC anthem, now we jump into the 1990s … when one team had a three-licious decade and basketball truly became an international game. Let’s bounce into some of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history during the 90s.

The NBA MVP award is one of the most heralded individual accomplishments in major team sports. Some Hall of Famers go their entire careers without winning the award and others don’t achieve the recognition until later in their career. For example, Karl Malone, one of the greatest power forwards ever to play the game, did not win his first MVP until he was 33 years old. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum though are players who make an immediate splash and win the award early in their careers. There have been 13 players who have won the NBA MVP before 25. These are the youngest NBA MVPs in league history.

The NBA instituted the three-point shot in the 1979-1980 season. In the 45 years since then, the deep ball has evolved from a seldom used weapon to a true offensive philosophy. Just to give you an idea, in the early 80s many teams averaged below 10 three-point attempts per game. In the modern game, many teams average 30-40 three-point attempts per game. Heck, many players in today’s NBA game attempt 15 treys or so a game. It’s truly remarkable how the offensive mindset has shifted to three-point heaven. That trend has also become common in the playoffs.

Only ten players in NBA history have made 9 or more three pointers in an NBA Playoff game. A handful of these long-distance sharpshooters have done it more than once. If you look at the dates of these games, you will notice that the majority of these deep-ball barrages have come in the last decade by some very familiar marksmen. As NBA Jam used to say, “He’s on fire!”

Throughout the history of the NBA, intense rivalries have ignited the passion of basketball fans worldwide. From epic showdowns on the court to heated battles for supremacy, these rivalries have defined eras and shaped the league’s narrative. Join us as we dive into some of the greatest rivalries in NBA history, exploring the iconic matchups, memorable moments, and lasting legacies that have left an indelible mark on the game.

With the playoffs on the horizon, what better way to welcome them back than by looking at the players with the most points scored in an NBA Playoff game? The playoffs are an annual rite of passage in the spring where legends emerge and legacies are fortified. Typically in the playoffs the defense tightens up and the pace slows down, so guys don’t go off on wild scoring binges quite as often. In fact, no player has ever reached 70 points in a playoff game. However, there have been some epic outbursts by some pretty familiar names, so let’s recount some of these offensive explosions.

As one of the oldest professional basketball franchises in the United States, the Philadelphia 76ers have a rich history and tradition. Many great players have played for the team over the nearly 80 years of its existence, including many great centers. Who do you think is the greatest center to suit up for the Sixers? Here’s who we think are the 10 best 76ers centers of all time.

When June rolls around, it is time for one of the most delectable entrees on the sports buffet: the NBA Finals. The greatest players in basketball history have forged their legacies during the Finals. Clutch performances here win your team and city titles, and they get you a ticket into an exclusive pantheon of NBA immortality. This list will analyze some of the greatest single-game performances in the history of the NBA Finals (referred to as the NBA World Championship Series prior to 1986). For a player’s performance to qualify for this list, his team had to win the title during that series. So, some truly unforgettable games won’t be mentioned; apologies in advance to Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson. Another caveat for this list is that no player will get multiple entries because some of these greats could have a list all for themselves. 

Since there have been so many monumental efforts on the NBA’s grandest stage, to do these players justice, we need to break this list into a few parts. What better decade to start than the totally rad 1980s … when two players helped revitalize the league and bring it to new heights. Let’s dive into some of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history during the 80s.