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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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Basketball: NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) in action, hook shot vs Boston Celtics Larry Bird (33). Game 1. Boston, MA 5/27/1985 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X31552 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) in action, hook shot vs Boston Celtics Larry Bird (33). Game 1. Boston, MA 5/27/1985 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X31552 ) /

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, L.A. Lakers vs. Boston, Game 6 (1985)

Both Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his Lakers had a long score to settle with the Boston Celtics. Between the two, they had fallen to Boston in the NBA Finals nine times heading into the 1985 championship series.

At age 38, Kareem had plenty of game on both ends of the floor to offer the “Showtime” run-and-fun Lakers. Led by Magic Johnson and James Worthy, the Lakers had shaken off sting of losing to Boston in 1984 and whatever defensive the Celtics threw in their face.

Kareem scored 36 points in Game 5 as the Lakers benefited from the first-ever 2-3-2 format. The series headed back to Boston, where leprechauns, ghosts and other Garden pests had haunted opponents for years.

Kareem responded with a clutch, money performance by scoring 29 points – including 18 in the second half. Kareem and Co. smashed the Celtics invincibility against the Lakers and delivered the first visiting championship on the famed parquet.

"“What I remember most about that game was Kareem hitting this skyhook along the baseline from about 14 feet out,” Bird told Sports Illustrated in 2015. “That did it. People forget that Kareem could pass out of the post as well as score. He was the difference-maker in the series.”"

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