Hoops Habit
Fansided

25 Greatest Performances In NBA Finals History

By Bill Speros

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 26
Next
Tom Heinsohn leaps and scores as St. Louis Hawks’ Jack Coleman tries to block shot. Heinsohn scored 37 points in the game as the Celtics downed the Hawks.
Tom Heinsohn leaps and scores as St. Louis Hawks’ Jack Coleman tries to block shot. Heinsohn scored 37 points in the game as the Celtics downed the Hawks. /

17. Tom Heinsohn, Boston vs. St. Louis, Game 7 (1957)

Boston Celtics player/coach/broadcaster Tom Heinsohn remains the only person who has been associated with the Celtics in one capacity or another during each of the team’s 17 championship seasons.

Even with that incredible historic distinction, it remains hard for Tommy to top what he did in his first NBA Finals Game 7 as a rookie.

Playing alongside greats like Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Heinsohn picked up the slack for his teammates by scoring 37 points and bringing home 23 rebounds in Game 7. The venerable veteran Celtics backcourt, meanwhile, missed 35 of 40 shots.

The 125-123 double-overtime win gave Boston and Bill Russell, whose teammates shaved his beard after the game, their first NBA title.

"“It was hard,” coach Red Auerbach said. “The first one is always the hardest, and it’s also the most satisfying. Everywhere I went that following summer, I could tell myself, ‘I’m the coach of the world champions.’ And basketball is a world game.”"

Next: Angry Jordan No Fun For Suns