It’s one thing to make it to the NBA Finals and it’s a completely different thing to rise up to the occasion. Some players hide behind other stars, others fail to perform and live up to the expectations, while others simply take their game up a notch.
Throughout NBA history, we’ve witnessed how some of the greatest players to ever do it become even more dominant when they reach the ultimate stage: the NBA Finals.
Then again, just a handful of them has been able to fill up the stat sheet and make their teammates better, averaging at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Today, we’re going to honor them by letting you know all there is about them.
6. Kevin Durant – 1 Finals Series
Thus far, Kevin Durant has played in 15 NBA Finals games throughout his career, averaging 30.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He’s known for being one of the greatest scorers ever and his rebounding skills come naturally given his size, but perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of his game is his playmaking. He averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game in the 2018 NBA Finals, earning the Finals MVP honors.
5. Shaquille O’Neal – 1 Finals Series
With averages of 28.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 30 games in the NBA Finals, Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant players of all time. Shaq was way more than just raw power and athleticism, as he proved during his first trip to the Finals. He averaged 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game when he lost with the Orlando Magic at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon – 1 Finals Series
Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most skilled big men in the history of this beautiful game. He proved it by leading the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1995 and 1996. That first year, he averaged 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game to lead his team past an up-and-coming Shaquille O’Neal. He averaged 27.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 17 NBA Finals games.
3. Charles Barkley – 1 Finals Series
There’s no doubt that Charles Barkley is one of the greatest players never to win an NBA Championship, and it’s all Michael Jordan’s fault. However, you can’t say that Chuck didn’t perform or rise to the occasion. On his lone trip to the NBA Finals, he averaged 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists through 6 games, but the Chicago Bulls were just too much to handle for his Phoenix Suns.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 1 Finals Series
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the winningest players of all time and the league’s top scorer. His ability to dominate on the defensive end was only topped by his footwork and savviness, and he was quite the playmaker as well. Throughout 59 NBA Finals games, he averaged 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their only NBA Championship and the Los Angeles Lakers to 5 more during the Showtime era.
1. LeBron James – 5 Finals Series
It’s been said multiple times that LeBron James is the most versatile and the greatest all-around player in NBA history and this stat might as well prove it. Throughout his long and successful NBA career, The King has made it to 10 NBA Finals, winning 4 rings thus far. Also, he’s averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 55 games; posting those numbers in more NBA Finals series than the rest of the league combined.
