With the NBA Finals in full gear, rolling out decided to rank our favorite legendary performances from basketball’s biggest stage over the last three decades.
–dusty culpepper
10:
2008, Boston Celtics vs. L.A. Lakers Game 1:
In the first NBA Finals meeting between the two most storied franchises in the league since 1987, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers were expected to go the distance. The teams were locked in on each other for most of the game, until Celtics forward Paul Pierce landed awkwardly and severely sprained his ankle. Carried off the court and utilizing a wheelchair, Pierce worked to rehab his knee, returned to the game, and scored 22 points while leading the Celtics to victory in what would become a series-defining moment.
9:
2006, Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 3:
After going down 0-2 to the Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade led his team back from a 13-point deficit with six minutes to go en route to scoring 42 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The Mavs had dominated the Heat in the first two games, and with this legendary performance, Wade not only brought Miami back into the fight — he would spark them to reverse the series. The Mavs wouldn’t win another game as the Heat cruised to their first NBA title by beating Dallas in six.
8:
1986, Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets Game 6:
In what would become one of the most heated and physical contests in NBA Finals history, Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics was being outmuscled by Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets. Bird put the Celtics on his back and delivered one of the defining performances of his career, netted a triple double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in the series-clinching game. Bird won his third and final title and was named Finals MVP after averaging 24 points on .482 shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game.
7:
2000, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers Game 4:
After league MVP Shaquille O’Neal fouls out at the end of the fourth quarter, most in attendance at the Canseco Fieldhouse figure that the Indiana Pacers have this one in the bag. But superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant gives a reassuring glance to Shaq and proceeds to take over the remainder of regulation and overtime in classic fashion; scoring 11 points on a bum ankle and sealing the victory for the Lakers, who would go on to win the series and give Shaq and Kobe their first title together.
6:
1992, Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trailblazers Game 1:
Michael Jordan put together one of the great offensive performances of all-time against Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trailblazers. Jordan came out firing with a vengeance, nailing six 3-pointers in the face of multiple defenders and famously shrugging in mock disbelief at Magic Johnson (who had recently retired and was providing commentary). Jordan 35 first-half points would break Elgin Baylor’s record for points in a half.
5:
1988, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons Game 6:
Detroit Pistons superstar Isiah Thomas sprains his ankle badly in the third quarter of a hotly-contested Game 6 against Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers, but returns to the game. Proving that he was the toughest little man in basketball, the 6-foot-1 point guard proceeded to score an NBA-record 25 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 43 for the game, though the Lakers were able to force (and win) Game 7.
4:
1997, Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz Game 5
After experiencing cold sweats and nausea less than 24 hours before tip-off, Michael Jordan was diagnosed with flu-like symptoms or possibly food poisoning. Battling fatigue and noticeably hampered, Jordan took the floor and despite a slow start — during which the Utah Jazz were able to build a 16-point lead — found a rhythm in the second quarter. Scottie Pippen kept the game close in the third when Jordan faded again, but No. 23 returned with a vengeance in the fourth quarter — scoring 15 points to seal the game.
3:
1980, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 6
When legendary Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sprained his ankle and was declared inactive for the decisive Game 6, the Philadelphia 76ers seemed to have the game in the bag. Enter 20-year old rookie, Earvin “Magic” Johnson — the Lakers uber-skilled 6-foot-9 point guard. Johnson started at center in the place of Kareem, and put together a performance that is still unsurpassed: 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assist, and 3 steals while playing out of position as a rookie in the biggest game of his life. Needless to say, Magic led the Lake Show to the first of five titles in the ‘80s.
2:
1987, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 4
No. 32 once again. With the Lakers shooting cold and Boston having rattled off eight points in what had been a hotly-contested, pivotal game in the series, Magic Johnson got the ball with the Celtics up 106–105, with only seven seconds remaining in the game. Johnson got the ball on the wing, and upon seeing Boston forward Kevin McHale coming to defend, faked a shot, drove to the paint — and with the Celtics frontline of McHale, Robert Parish, and longtime rival Larry Bird all coming to block his path, he launched what he would later dub his “junior sky-hook” and nailed the shot perfectly at the buzzer. The Lakers won in 6.
1:
1998, Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz Game 6
Was there really any doubt which performance would rank No. 1? The Jazz and Bulls met again for the second year in a row in the NBA Finals, and in Game 6, the Jazz had virtually matched the Bulls shot for shot. With 41 seconds left to play, legendary point guard John Stockton nailed a 3-pointer to give Utah an 86–83 lead. On the next play, Michael Jordan made a layup to trim the lead to one. The Jazz countered by going to their formidable power forward Karl Malone, but Jordan was able to strip Malone and give the Bulls another possession. With 5.2 seconds left on the clock, Jordan dribbled to the top of the key against Utah’s Bryon Russell, crossed over, and calmly sank a 20-foot jumper to give Chicago the lead. The Jazz missed their last shot attempt, giving the Bulls their sixth and final championship of the MJ era.
