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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) /
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16 Jun 1993: Guard Danny Ainge of the Phoenix Suns and guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls argue during a NBA finals game at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
16 Jun 1993: Guard Danny Ainge of the Phoenix Suns and guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls argue during a NBA finals game at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

16. Michael Jordan, Chicago vs. Phoenix, Game 4 (1993)

Michael Jordan was pissed and the Phoenix Suns ultimately paid the price for his frustration and wrath in Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls led the series 2-1 but Jordan had missed 24 shots in Game 3, despite scoring 44 points in Chicago’s 129-121 triple-overtime loss.

This was pre-baseball sabbatical Jordan and a time when he was perhaps at his basketball and athletic best. It showed from the onset. Jordan scored 11 points in the first quarter and then exploded for 22 points in the second.

The Suns tried and failed to find someone, anyone, to stop him. His offense was a buffet of fadeaways, jumpers and drives to the basket. The Bulls topped the Suns 111-105 for the only home win in the series, captured by Chicago in six games.

"“I tried to carry the load for the team,” Jordan, the eventual Finals MVP, said. “When we needed the big basket, I scored a big basket. That’s my role.”"

His 55 points smashed his previous Finals high of 46 points a year earlier and tied Rick Barry for the second-highest point total in NBA Finals history.

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