Duncan's 21/20/10/8 is still the GOAT finals performance of all time and will never be topped
Every Duncan title run listed
Every Duncan title run listed
ESPN Ranks The Greatest Playoff Runs in NBA History
- Thread starter Alexander The Great
- Start date
36. Michael Jordan, Bulls, 1990
Position: SG | Age: 27
Result: Lost in East finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
16 36.7 7.2 6.8 0.9 2.8 59.2 36.1
Before the maturation of teammates Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen, Jordan's heroics alone weren't enough to get the Bulls past the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons -- but they were close. Responsible for creating more than 36 percent of Chicago's plays, Jordan still shot better than 50 percent from the field in a run nearly the per-minute equal of the 1991 postseason that tops this list. He scored 40-plus points six times in 16 games, yet Detroit was able to hold him to 26.8 ppg in four losses in a seven-game Eastern Conference finals.
37. Dwight Howard, Magic, 2009
Position: C | Age: 23
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 20.3 15.3 1.9 2.6 0.9 63.4 23.3
Tucking his cape beneath his Magic jersey, Howard became Superman to lead Orlando to an unexpected spot in the NBA Finals. Howard grabbed better than one in four rebounds in the postseason, the best postmerger mark by any regular not named Dennis Rodman. Howard finished an Eastern Conference finals upset of LeBron James and the Cavaliers with 40 points and 14 boards, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and 12-of-16 from the free throw line.
38. David Robinson, Spurs, 1999
Position: C | Age: 33
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
17 15.6 9.9 2.5 2.4 1.6 56.3 22.7
After nearly a decade of playoff frustration, Robinson won his first championship by making room for a young Tim Duncan to emerge as the Spurs' go-to player. But a 33-year-old Robinson still had plenty left to contribute to the effort, averaging nearly a double-double and 2.4 blocks per game. Against the Knicks in the NBA Finals, Robinson averaged 16.6 points and 11.8 rebounds and recorded four double-doubles in five games.
39. LeBron James, Cavs, 2007
Position: SF | Age: 22
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
20 25.1 8.1 8.0 0.5 1.7 51.6 29.7
The 2007 Eastern Conference finals served notice that James, at 22, had made the leap to superstardom. After the veteran Pistons took a 2-0 lead at home, James led the Cavaliers to four consecutive wins. His "48 special" in Game 5 at Detroit saw James score 29 of the team's last 30 points, most of which came in the paint, and he followed it up with 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists as Cleveland clinched its first trip to the NBA Finals. Even a four-game sweep at the hands of the Spurs could not diminish James' postseason.
40. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, 2006
Position: PF | Age: 27
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 27.0 11.7 2.9 0.6 1.1 59.6 26.9
With a run to the 2006 NBA Finals, Nowitzki kicked off a 12-month stretch in which he was the world's best player. He dragged the Mavericks past the defending champion Spurs by scoring 37 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a Game 7 at San Antonio, including the three-point play that forced overtime. After shooting 3-of-13 as Phoenix tied the Western Conference finals at two, Nowitzki dropped 50 points in Game 5 en route to a 4-2 series win. But Miami finally found an answer for Nowitzki in the NBA Finals, holding him to 39.2 percent shooting in a six-game triumph over his Mavs.
41. Pau Gasol, Lakers, 2010
Position: PF | Age: 29
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 19.6 11.1 3.5 2.1 0.4 59.9 21.0
Few NBA Finals have sparked as much debate about MVP as 2010. When Bryant was shooting 6-of-24 in Game 7, Gasol had 19 points and 18 boards in the clincher. (In fairness, he shot 6-of-16 himself.) Bryant got the award, but Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP) favors Gasol, who averaged 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game against the Celtics. Gasol also had the better WARP total throughout the postseason -- the best of his career -- but Bryant edges him on these rankings because of the Finals MVP bonus.
42. Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers, 2004
Position:C | Age: 32
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
22 21.5 13.2 2.5 2.8 0.3 56.5 25.2
As part of a lineup with four Hall of Famers, O'Neal got fewer touches for the 2004 Lakers team that lost to Detroit in the NBA Finals. His scoring average was his lowest in eight playoff runs with the Lakers. Otherwise, O'Neal was his usual dominant force, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. Going against reigning defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, O'Neal was still effective in the Finals, averaging 26.6 points on 63.1 percent shooting.
43. Elvin Hayes, Bullets, 1978
Position: PF-C | Age: 32
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 21.8 13.3 2.0 2.5 1.5 51.5 22.5
The only '70s representative on the list, the Big E couldn't entirely silence his critics while leading the Bullets to their lone championship. While Hayes was the team's leading scorer (20.7) and rebounder (11.9) in the Finals, he struggled as the series went on and scored just 12 points in the clinching Game 7 at Seattle. Teammate Wes Unseld won Finals MVP honors, but Hayes can point to his contributions throughout the postseason.
44. LeBron James, Heat, 2011
Position: SF | Age: 26
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 23.7 8.4 5.9 1.2 1.7 56.3 26.9
The worst per-minute postseason for James since his 2007 breakthrough still cracks the top 50. (2008 and 2010 are missing because the Cavaliers were knocked out too early in the postseason.) Of course, an off playoffs for James still saw him top the 30-point mark five times and deliver clutch shots in both a semifinal win over Boston and an Eastern Conference finals upset of Chicago. However, James ran out of gas in an inexplicably poor NBA Finals, averaging just 17.8 points in a 4-2 Dallas victory.
45. Scottie Pippen, Bulls, 1992
Position: SF | Age: 26
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
22 19.5 8.8 6.7 1.1 1.9 54.4 23.6
Pippen embraced the role of point forward during the 1991-92 season and 1992 playoffs, leading the Bulls in assists. In his most-versatile Finals performance, Pippen averaged 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists as the Bulls beat Portland 4-2. Over the postseason, Pippen had seven point-rebound double-doubles, three point-assist double-doubles and one of his four career playoff triple-doubles.
Position: SG | Age: 27
Result: Lost in East finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
16 36.7 7.2 6.8 0.9 2.8 59.2 36.1
Before the maturation of teammates Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen, Jordan's heroics alone weren't enough to get the Bulls past the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons -- but they were close. Responsible for creating more than 36 percent of Chicago's plays, Jordan still shot better than 50 percent from the field in a run nearly the per-minute equal of the 1991 postseason that tops this list. He scored 40-plus points six times in 16 games, yet Detroit was able to hold him to 26.8 ppg in four losses in a seven-game Eastern Conference finals.
37. Dwight Howard, Magic, 2009
Position: C | Age: 23
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 20.3 15.3 1.9 2.6 0.9 63.4 23.3
Tucking his cape beneath his Magic jersey, Howard became Superman to lead Orlando to an unexpected spot in the NBA Finals. Howard grabbed better than one in four rebounds in the postseason, the best postmerger mark by any regular not named Dennis Rodman. Howard finished an Eastern Conference finals upset of LeBron James and the Cavaliers with 40 points and 14 boards, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and 12-of-16 from the free throw line.
38. David Robinson, Spurs, 1999
Position: C | Age: 33
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
17 15.6 9.9 2.5 2.4 1.6 56.3 22.7
After nearly a decade of playoff frustration, Robinson won his first championship by making room for a young Tim Duncan to emerge as the Spurs' go-to player. But a 33-year-old Robinson still had plenty left to contribute to the effort, averaging nearly a double-double and 2.4 blocks per game. Against the Knicks in the NBA Finals, Robinson averaged 16.6 points and 11.8 rebounds and recorded four double-doubles in five games.
39. LeBron James, Cavs, 2007
Position: SF | Age: 22
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
20 25.1 8.1 8.0 0.5 1.7 51.6 29.7
The 2007 Eastern Conference finals served notice that James, at 22, had made the leap to superstardom. After the veteran Pistons took a 2-0 lead at home, James led the Cavaliers to four consecutive wins. His "48 special" in Game 5 at Detroit saw James score 29 of the team's last 30 points, most of which came in the paint, and he followed it up with 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists as Cleveland clinched its first trip to the NBA Finals. Even a four-game sweep at the hands of the Spurs could not diminish James' postseason.
40. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, 2006
Position: PF | Age: 27
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 27.0 11.7 2.9 0.6 1.1 59.6 26.9
With a run to the 2006 NBA Finals, Nowitzki kicked off a 12-month stretch in which he was the world's best player. He dragged the Mavericks past the defending champion Spurs by scoring 37 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a Game 7 at San Antonio, including the three-point play that forced overtime. After shooting 3-of-13 as Phoenix tied the Western Conference finals at two, Nowitzki dropped 50 points in Game 5 en route to a 4-2 series win. But Miami finally found an answer for Nowitzki in the NBA Finals, holding him to 39.2 percent shooting in a six-game triumph over his Mavs.
41. Pau Gasol, Lakers, 2010
Position: PF | Age: 29
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 19.6 11.1 3.5 2.1 0.4 59.9 21.0
Few NBA Finals have sparked as much debate about MVP as 2010. When Bryant was shooting 6-of-24 in Game 7, Gasol had 19 points and 18 boards in the clincher. (In fairness, he shot 6-of-16 himself.) Bryant got the award, but Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP) favors Gasol, who averaged 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game against the Celtics. Gasol also had the better WARP total throughout the postseason -- the best of his career -- but Bryant edges him on these rankings because of the Finals MVP bonus.
42. Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers, 2004
Position:C | Age: 32
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
22 21.5 13.2 2.5 2.8 0.3 56.5 25.2
As part of a lineup with four Hall of Famers, O'Neal got fewer touches for the 2004 Lakers team that lost to Detroit in the NBA Finals. His scoring average was his lowest in eight playoff runs with the Lakers. Otherwise, O'Neal was his usual dominant force, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. Going against reigning defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, O'Neal was still effective in the Finals, averaging 26.6 points on 63.1 percent shooting.
43. Elvin Hayes, Bullets, 1978
Position: PF-C | Age: 32
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 21.8 13.3 2.0 2.5 1.5 51.5 22.5
The only '70s representative on the list, the Big E couldn't entirely silence his critics while leading the Bullets to their lone championship. While Hayes was the team's leading scorer (20.7) and rebounder (11.9) in the Finals, he struggled as the series went on and scored just 12 points in the clinching Game 7 at Seattle. Teammate Wes Unseld won Finals MVP honors, but Hayes can point to his contributions throughout the postseason.
44. LeBron James, Heat, 2011
Position: SF | Age: 26
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 23.7 8.4 5.9 1.2 1.7 56.3 26.9
The worst per-minute postseason for James since his 2007 breakthrough still cracks the top 50. (2008 and 2010 are missing because the Cavaliers were knocked out too early in the postseason.) Of course, an off playoffs for James still saw him top the 30-point mark five times and deliver clutch shots in both a semifinal win over Boston and an Eastern Conference finals upset of Chicago. However, James ran out of gas in an inexplicably poor NBA Finals, averaging just 17.8 points in a 4-2 Dallas victory.
45. Scottie Pippen, Bulls, 1992
Position: SF | Age: 26
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
22 19.5 8.8 6.7 1.1 1.9 54.4 23.6
Pippen embraced the role of point forward during the 1991-92 season and 1992 playoffs, leading the Bulls in assists. In his most-versatile Finals performance, Pippen averaged 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists as the Bulls beat Portland 4-2. Over the postseason, Pippen had seven point-rebound double-doubles, three point-assist double-doubles and one of his four career playoff triple-doubles.
This is the GOAT playoff run
Hakeem 1995
One of the GOAT playoff runs breh
33/10/4.2 on 53% shooting
Beat the 4 best teams in the NBA that year on the road in the playoffs back to back to back.
1st rd- Beats 60 win Jazz team, Averages 35 on 57%, and drops 40 to save them from elimination
2nd rd- beat 59 win Charles and KJ suns teams and comes back from down 3-1 series lead and drops 30/12/6 in the last 3 games
3rd rd- we all know this story, dominates a frontcourt of MVP Drob and Prime Dennis rodman, drops 40 3 times and 39/17/5 in the close out game. Overall 35 on 56%
Finals- Sweeps the shaq/penny magic, outscoring shaq in every single game while dropping 35/15 on his head in the close out game
Looking at Competition and His overall play, it stacks up against anyone
In the 5 games he faced elimination That year he averaged 33/11/5/2 on 55%
god shamgod
Veteran
kobe is neck and neck wit pippen
46. Michael Jordan, Bulls, 1989
Position: SG | Age: 26
Result: Lost East finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
17 34.8 7.0 7.6 0.8 2.5 60.2 35.4
Jordan's earliest playoff appearance on the list came when he took the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time. First, Jordan finished the Cavaliers with "The Shot" in Game 5 at Cleveland, capping a run of 138 points in three games. Chicago then upset New York behind three 40-plus scoring outings in six games, but the eventual champion Pistons limited Jordan to just 29.7 ppg in a six-game Eastern Conference finals victory in which just two other Bulls averaged double figures.
47. Magic Johnson, Lakers, 1988
Position: PG | Age: 28
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
24 19.9 5.4 12.6 0.2 1.4 60.0 22.1
In turnabout for the 1980 Finals, Johnson lost MVP honors to teammate James Worthy, who had the only triple-double of his career (36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists) in a Game 7 win over Detroit. But Johnson, who averaged 21.1 points, 13.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in the series, was far more valuable over the course of the playoffs, handing out double-digit assists 19 times in 24 games.
48. Manu Ginobili, Spurs, 2005
Position: SG | Age: 27
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 20.8 5.8 4.2 0.3 1.2 65.2 26.3
Ginobili emerged as the Spurs' second-leading scorer and a worthy perimeter complement to Tim Duncan in his third NBA campaign. Ginobili served notice of his scoring prowess with a 39-point outburst against Seattle in the conference finals, then set up Duncan for the series-clinching basket in Game 6. In the Finals, Ginobili averaged 22.8 points in San Antonio's four wins of the seven-game series with Detroit.
49. Dwyane Wade, Heat, 2011
Position: SG | Age: 29
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 24.5 7.1 4.4 1.3 1.6 57.0 30.4
Wade was the team's leading scorer during the first postseason run for the Heat's Big Three. With LeBron James struggling in the NBA Finals, Wade took over, averaging 26.5 points on 54.6 percent shooting in the 4-2 series loss to Dallas. He was also at his best in a five-game semifinal win against the Boston Celtics, averaging 30.2 points on 52.6 percent shooting and making key late buckets.
50. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, 2011
Position: PF | Age: 32
Result: Won NBA Finals | Finals MVP
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 27.7 8.1 2.5 0.6 0.6 60.9 32.0
With time running out to win a championship in his prime, Nowitzki reached the pinnacle in his 13th season. At 32, Nowitzki remained as integral as ever to the Mavericks offense, using nearly a third of the team's plays while maintaining strong efficiency with 46.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and near-perfect accuracy at the foul line (175 of 186, 94.1 percent). Nowitzki averaged 32.2 points on 55.7 percent shooting in a Western Conference finals win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, then put up four 20-10 performances in the six-game Finals win over Miami to earn MVP honors.
Position: SG | Age: 26
Result: Lost East finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
17 34.8 7.0 7.6 0.8 2.5 60.2 35.4
Jordan's earliest playoff appearance on the list came when he took the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time. First, Jordan finished the Cavaliers with "The Shot" in Game 5 at Cleveland, capping a run of 138 points in three games. Chicago then upset New York behind three 40-plus scoring outings in six games, but the eventual champion Pistons limited Jordan to just 29.7 ppg in a six-game Eastern Conference finals victory in which just two other Bulls averaged double figures.
47. Magic Johnson, Lakers, 1988
Position: PG | Age: 28
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
24 19.9 5.4 12.6 0.2 1.4 60.0 22.1
In turnabout for the 1980 Finals, Johnson lost MVP honors to teammate James Worthy, who had the only triple-double of his career (36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists) in a Game 7 win over Detroit. But Johnson, who averaged 21.1 points, 13.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in the series, was far more valuable over the course of the playoffs, handing out double-digit assists 19 times in 24 games.
48. Manu Ginobili, Spurs, 2005
Position: SG | Age: 27
Result: Won NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
23 20.8 5.8 4.2 0.3 1.2 65.2 26.3
Ginobili emerged as the Spurs' second-leading scorer and a worthy perimeter complement to Tim Duncan in his third NBA campaign. Ginobili served notice of his scoring prowess with a 39-point outburst against Seattle in the conference finals, then set up Duncan for the series-clinching basket in Game 6. In the Finals, Ginobili averaged 22.8 points in San Antonio's four wins of the seven-game series with Detroit.
49. Dwyane Wade, Heat, 2011
Position: SG | Age: 29
Result: Lost NBA Finals
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 24.5 7.1 4.4 1.3 1.6 57.0 30.4
Wade was the team's leading scorer during the first postseason run for the Heat's Big Three. With LeBron James struggling in the NBA Finals, Wade took over, averaging 26.5 points on 54.6 percent shooting in the 4-2 series loss to Dallas. He was also at his best in a five-game semifinal win against the Boston Celtics, averaging 30.2 points on 52.6 percent shooting and making key late buckets.
50. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, 2011
Position: PF | Age: 32
Result: Won NBA Finals | Finals MVP
GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG TS% USG
21 27.7 8.1 2.5 0.6 0.6 60.9 32.0
With time running out to win a championship in his prime, Nowitzki reached the pinnacle in his 13th season. At 32, Nowitzki remained as integral as ever to the Mavericks offense, using nearly a third of the team's plays while maintaining strong efficiency with 46.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and near-perfect accuracy at the foul line (175 of 186, 94.1 percent). Nowitzki averaged 32.2 points on 55.7 percent shooting in a Western Conference finals win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, then put up four 20-10 performances in the six-game Finals win over Miami to earn MVP honors.
GreatestLaker
#FirePelinka
List is bullshyt though. Unless you believe. Manu, 2011 Wade were better than 2011 Dirk and Pippen over 2001 Kobe.
DallasTxRep
Superstar
How is 06 Dirk>Championship Dirk 
Just so everybody realizes this: 2011 LeBron is listed higher than 2011 Dirk.
2011 LeBron is listed higher than 2011 Dirk
2011 LeBron is listed higher than 2011 Dirk
List is bullshyt though. Unless you believe. Manu, 2011 Wade were better than 2011 Dirk and Pippen over 2001 Kobe.
Tell em why
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
GreatestLaker
#FirePelinka
@ Pau over 2011 Dirk.Disgusting list.
What I learned from this thread:
MJ is the undisputed GOAT. Lets stop arguing about this.
Shaq is somehow underrated, but couldve been the GOAT w/ a slightly better work ethic.
Duncan is top 5 all-time.
Bron is the greatest player of his generation, regardless of rings & 4th qtr issues.
Kobe is overrated (no hate).
Larry Bird doesnt get enough props.
Hakeem doesnt get enough props.
MJ is the undisputed GOAT. Lets stop arguing about this.
Shaq is somehow underrated, but couldve been the GOAT w/ a slightly better work ethic.
Duncan is top 5 all-time.
Bron is the greatest player of his generation, regardless of rings & 4th qtr issues.
Kobe is overrated (no hate).
Larry Bird doesnt get enough props.
Hakeem doesnt get enough props.
SpacelySprockets
Veteran
So you mean to tell me these fakkits didnt even include Iversons 01 playoff run? the blatant blackballing of my nikka its amazing
the blatant blackballing of my nikka its amazing
GreatestLaker
#FirePelinka
So you mean to tell me these fakkits didnt even include Iversons 01 playoff run?
