Legacies are verified and occasionally invalidated with a players’ postseason record. And while the NBA is very much a team game, individuals have the ability to take over games regardless of the four teammates that they have on the floor with them. These are the games where, as LeBron James said after a historic Game 5 performance vs. the Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals: “I was able to will my team to victory.”

Michael Jordan’s performances are, naturally, tattered throughout this top 10 list of greatest NBA playoff performances of all time…but may not be quite as high as ESPN ranks them. Here is Bases and Baskets ranking of a select few games that were jaw-dropping, mind-numbing shows put on by present or future Hall of Famers from 1980 to 2012.

10. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks: 2011 Western Conference finals, Game 1 vs. Thunder

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 48 6 4 0 4 2 80 41

80 percent from the field and 24-24 on free throws… Dirk Nowitzki put on an absolute shooting clinic in this game, something he did quite frequently in his 2011 championship run. This game epitomized the absolute demolition that a jump shooting seven-footer could do to a defense. Kevin Durant got a taste of his own medicine this game but redemption was sweet for him against the Mavs in 2012. Regardless, this game cemented Dirk’s legacy as an all-time great, proving that he could perform at an elite level in the playoffs.

9. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 NBA Finals, Game 1 vs. Nets

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 32 20 6 3 7 1 65 44

In one of the most dominating performances of all time by a big man, Tim Duncan went off on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. The stats pretty much say it all—not only did he get 32 points and six assists but he also grabbed 20 rebounds, seven blocks, and even three steals. Vintage Tim Duncan proved that he can thoroughly dominate the game regardless of the lack of flashiness in his game.

8. Isiah Thomas, Pistons: 1988 NBA Finals, Game 6 vs. Lakers

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 43 3 8 6 1 5 56 44

Isiah Thomas’ incredible performance was nearly top-10 worthy in and of itself. But the third quarter sprained ankle truly amplifies the greatness of the performance. On the NBA’s greatest stage, Thomas had a historic performance against a star-studded Lakers team led by Magic Johnson. Even though the Pistons weren’t able to pull off a win in this game, it lives on as a testament to the sheer will that can overcome the searing pain of injuries.

7. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1998 NBA Finals, Game 6 vs. Jazz





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 45 1 1 4 0 1 43 44

This was a classic Jordan playoff game. Although he did not do much but score the basketball, he came through in the clutch and pulled off the single most iconic shot in NBA history. The crossover of Bryon Russell and the finishing touch at the free-throw line earned Jordan the 1998 NBA championship title as he simply posed with his hand in the air as if to say “you just can’t stop me.”

6. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1997 NBA Finals, Game 5 vs. Jazz

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 38 7 5 3 1 3 48 44

More so than Isiah Thomas’ broken ankle game, the legendary “Flu Game” was when Michael Jordan managed to handle the Jazz even though he could barely walk off the court under his own power. But h e has a perf ect NBA Finals record of 6-0 for a reason and the first of back-to-back wins again st the Jazz in 1997 and 1998 was remembered best because of this game.

rdan perfo rmance lives on through commercials and pictures of Jordan This Jolives on through commercials and pictures of Jordan holding on to Scottie Pippen as proof that adrenaline and a will to win can overcome some of the most trying physical adversities.

5. James Worthy, Lakers: 1988 NBA Finals, Game 7 vs. Pistons

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 36 16 10 2 0 5 68 44

“Big Game” James certainly earned that nickname with this triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. In the ultimate clutch time performance, Worthy tore up the Pistons in every facet of the game, including shooting a staggering 68 percent from the field. This performance was a hallmark of Worthy’s career and certainly helped his Hall of Fame worthiness (pun intended).

4. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1986 Eastern Conference first round, Game 2 vs. Celtics

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 63 5 6 3 2 4 54 53

Hall of Famer Larry Bird after this game said “that was God disguised as Michael Jordan.” Not much else you can say about that aside from the fact that this was Michael Jordan single-handedly tearing up a very good Celtics team with a spectacular NBA playoff record 63-point game.

3. LeBron James, Cavaliers: 2007 Eastern Conference finals, Game 5 vs. Pistons

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 48 9 7 2 0 2 55 50

This was the single most dominant finish to an NBA game in history. LeBron scored 29 of the Cavaliers final 30 points in a double-overtime win against a defensively-minded Detroit Pistons squad.





Nothing that Detroit was throwing at LeBron stopped him from getting to the rim and ultimately willing his team to win. This game defines what it means to put a team on your back. In the words of then-Cavs coach Mike Brown : “My words don’t do justice for what he did.”





2. LeBron James, Heat: 2012 Eastern Conference finals, Game 6 vs. Celtics

Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 45 15 5 0 0 4 73 45

73 percent shooting on a night where the legitimacy of your career was in the balance. The Heat had managed to get their backs to the wall in the Eastern Conference finals, but LeBron came to the rescue and took over the game. From the first couple shots of the game, you could tell he was in the zone and it was going to be something special.

it’s the path through adversity that defines the champion, not just the grand finale. ” This game defined LeBron’s 2012 championship title. In one game, LeBron restored respect (at least for his basketball talent) and proved that his atrocious 2011 NBA Finals were in the past. It was the turning point pushed the Heat over the hump to winning LeBron’s first championship. As I discussed in my LeBron vs. Jordan column, “” This game defined LeBron’s 2012 championship title.

1. Magic Johnson, Lakers: 1980 NBA Finals, Game 6 vs. 76ers





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks TO FG % Minutes 42 15 7 3 1 5 61 47





In Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was out with a bruised ankle. So what does coach Paul Westhead decide? Only to throw his rookie point guard into the center position. 42 points and 15 rebounds later, the Lakers are champions.



