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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18. Julius Erving

Dr. J earns his spot on our list for both his play in the ABA and NBA. In the 1970s, the ABA was loaded with potent stars and provided a harbinger of the wide-open NBA game that surfaced in the 1980s and beyond. He won a pair of championships with the-then ABA New York Nets (1974 and ’76) and was ABA playoff MVP both times.

Dr. J. shone in the months of April and May. Dr. J. left more than one NBA title on the table thanks to the brutal task of often having to face the great Celtics and/or Lakers teams during the playoffs in 1980s. Dr. J’s 76ers were finally able to get over the NBA title hump – and past Boston and Los Angeles – in the 1982-83 season for their lone title. With help from Finals MVP Moses Malone “fo, fo, fo” cleaning up inside and Andrew Toney bombing away from the outside, Dr. J and the Sixers rampaged through the playoffs with a 12-1 for the championship.

Next: No. 17