25 Greatest Performances In NBA Finals History

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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UNITED STATES – JUNE 14: Basketball: NBA Finals, Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan (23) in action, making game winning shot vs Utah Jazz, Game 6, Salt Lake City, UT 6/14/1998 (Photo by Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X55802 TK2 R14 F3)
UNITED STATES – JUNE 14: Basketball: NBA Finals, Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan (23) in action, making game winning shot vs Utah Jazz, Game 6, Salt Lake City, UT 6/14/1998 (Photo by Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X55802 TK2 R14 F3) /

2. Michael Jordan, Chicago vs. Utah, Game 6 (1998)

You can call this one “Michael’s Last Shot.” Any legitimate listing of all-time-great NBA Finals moments could load up on Michael Jordan entries and not lose a shred of credibility.

Spend 10 minutes or three hours perusing the greatest-single-game performances at the NBA’s most important time of year and you’ll find Jordan’s name as often as anyone else’s – including Bill Russell’s or Magic Johnson’s.

Of all Jordan’s spectacular moments, this one provided the best ending in what would be his final game with the Bulls. In Game 6, he scored 45 points and secured the Bulls’ sixth championship in eight years with an 87-86 victory.

The game ended in a way that not even Jordan could have scripted. The Jazz held a one-point lead and future Hall of Famer Karl Malone held the ball. Jordan faked a follow but then stripped the ball from Malone. Jordan stutter-stepped, then put the ball on the court with a cross-over dribble.

Byron Russell reached, and as soon as he did, Jordan fired off the game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds to play.

"“I never doubted myself. I never doubted the whole game,” Jordan said."

Neither did anyone else.

Next: The Legend Grows