25 Greatest NBA Playoff Performers of All-Time

By Bill Speros | Apr 15, 2016

Basketball: NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan (23) with head down on court during Game 5 vs Utah Jazz. Jordan had a stomach virus that caused a fever and dehydration. Salt Lake City, UT 6/11/1997 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X52984 ) /

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24. Bob Pettit

Bob Pettit enjoys rare status as being part of the only team that defeated a Bill Russell-led Celtics team in the NBA finals. He scored a then-record 50 points in 110-109 series-clinching Game 6 victory in 1958. Overall, Petit made four Finals appearances, losing to Boston the three other times (1957, ’60 and ’61). (Russell’s other playoff loss occurred in the Conference Finals.)

Had it not been for Red, Russell and Company, Petit and the St. Louis Hawks would have been considered an early NBA dynasty. Petit put up solid playoff numbers in his 88 games, averaging 25.5 points and 14.8 rebounds, a rebounding average topped only by Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.

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