Best Game 7 Performances in NBA History

In part two of this series, I’m highlighting the best game 7 performances in NBA history. As a reminder, I’m only looking at the highest stakes games – the NBA Finals or the Conference Finals. On to the list…

Honorable Mention: Tom Meschery, 1962 conference finals, game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field) – Meschery, the Warriors’ rookie forward, almost led them to a shocking upset over the favored Celtics, ultimately losing by two points…Oscar Robertson, 1963 conference finals, game 7 (43 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 11 for 24 from the field, 21 for 22 from the line) – Oscar led a mediocre Royals team to the brink of the Finals, but the deeper, better Celtics stopped them in Game 7 (more on this game shortly)…George Gervin and Bob Dandridge, 1979 conference finals, game 7 (Iceman – 42 points, 16 for 31 from the field; Dandridge – 37 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 16 for 31 from the field) – this may have been Gervin’s best chance for a ring, but he was stopped by the defending champion Bullets and their clutch swingman, Bob Dandridge…Jack Sikma, 1979 conference finals game 7 (33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 18 from the field, 13 for 15 from the line) – Sikma helped lead Seattle to victory over a game Suns team to advance to their second straight NBA Finals…Eddie Johnson, 1993 conference finals, game 7 (34 points, 12 for 17 from the field, 9 for 9 from the line in 26 minutes off the bench) – considering the context, this was one of the more remarkable bench performances we’ve ever seen, but Johnson’s effort falls under the radar due to the result of the game…Patrick Ewing, 1994 conference finals game 7 (24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 10 for 23 from the field) – A virtuoso all-around performance that included a key put-back dunk to put the Knicks up by one point with 27 seconds left. The Knicks earned their first Finals birth in 21 years due to this effort…Stephen Curry, 2016 conference finals game 7 (36 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 13 for 24 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3) – Curry helped Golden State overcome a 3-1 deficit to a hungry Oklahoma City team. In a low-scoring game (96-88), he was a game-high +18…LeBron James, 2018 conference finals game 7 (35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 12 for 24 from the field) – James played all 48 minutes in this game, carrying an undermanned Cavs team to their fourth straight Finals appearance.

10. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds, 17 for 33 from the field, 3 for 10 from the line): Before he fouled out, Heinsohn and fellow rookie Bill Russell held the team together while their starting backcourt fell apart. Heinsohn’s effort was particularly impressive considering the rest of the team shot a combined 31.6% from the field. While his free-throw shooting left something to be desired, the 1957 Rookie of the Year (over Russell!) had the greatest moment of his career leading the team to their first championship.

9. Draymond Green, 2016 NBA Finals game 7 (32 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 11 for 15 from the field, 4 for 4 from the line, 6 for 8 from 3): This is one of the great under-the-radar performances of all time. Golden State only scored 89 points in their disappointing Game 7 effort, with Curry and Klay Thompson combining to go 12 for 36 from the field, and the team as a whole shooting 31% outside of Green. Draymond filled the box score while playing his typical stout defense. The one drawback is that Green could not stem the ugliness of the team’s offensive meltdown down the stretch, as they scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and failed to score in the final 4:40 of this game. While that prevents this game from being placed higher on this list, his performance deserves recognition.

8. Allen Iverson, 2001 Eastern Conference Finals game 7 (44 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 17 for 33 from the field, 6 for 7 from the line, 4 for 6 from three): The indefatigable Iverson never had a problem getting his shot off. This skill proved extremely valuable in the 2000-01 season, with a scrappy roster of defenders and supporting players around him who all had limited offensive skillsets. Iverson dominated in the biggest game of his career to date, and carried the Sixers to their first championship series in 18 years with his performance.

7. Sam Jones, 1963 Eastern Division Finals, game 7 (47 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 18 for 27 from the field, 11 for 12 from the line): This series seemed like a mismatch, with the 58-win, four-time defending champions taking on a team that was barely over .500 during the season (the 42-38 Royals). Cincinnati proved resilient, however, behind Oscar Robertson’s brilliance, and forced an unexpected Game 7. As usual, Boston rose to the occasion, this time behind their clutch shooting guard. Boston as a team shredded the Royals defense, scoring 142 points and shooting .520 from the field in the win.

6. Charles Barkley, 1993 Western Conference Finals, game 7 (44 points, 24 rebounds, 12 for 20 from the field, 19 for 22 from the line): In the biggest game of his career (up to that point), Barkley played up to his MVP credentials, dominating the Sonics and sending the Suns to their second Finals appearance. His rebounding prowess was staggering: Barkley collected 24 rebounds while the Sonics as a team collected 31, with their starting frontcourt grabbing only 14. He repeatedly went to the free throw line and carried the Suns when they needed him most. Unfortunately, he ran into the ultimate MVP in the Finals, but his performance here should be lauded.

5. Bill Russell, 1962 NBA Finals, game 7 (30 points, 40 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 for 18 from the field, 14 for 17 from the line): Russell never lost a Game 7 in his career, and this ’62 Finals game may have been his signature performance. He played the entire 53 minutes (the game went into overtime), and helped hold the Lakers to 35% shooting from the field. Nobody shot particularly well in this game, as the Celtics were even worse from the field (32.7%). They withstood their poor shooting effort by defending and dominating the glass, with Russell hauling in 40 of the team’s 82 rebounds, and giving them a +17 rebound advantage for the game.

4. James Worthy, 1988 NBA Finals, game 7 (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 15 for 22 from the field, 6 for 10 from the line): How is it possible for a player to get the only triple double of his career in game 7 of the NBA Finals? Worthy’s signature performance helped lead a weary Lakers team to their second title in a row. This effort was crucial because Detroit looked like the better team for much of the series, and Laker captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was running on fumes (he had 4 points on 2 for 7 from the field and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes). Worthy’s effort pushed L.A. to their final title of this era, though they made two more Finals appearances in the next three seasons.

3. Jerry West, 1969 NBA Finals game 7 (42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 14 for 29 from the field, 14 for 18 from the line): The first ever Finals MVP remains the only one who won the award in a losing cause. From a team perspective, this was one of the worst losses in league history, with the Lakers, led by the triumvirate of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and West, losing on their homecourt to what was supposed to be a broken-down Celtics team (they were 48-34 during the season). West was valiant in defeat, playing the full 48 and having one of the great all-around games of his career. As usual it wasn’t enough, as Russell, Sam Jones and company won their final ring. The Celtics duo retired after this game, with West having lost to them 6 times, and Baylor having lost to them an impossible 7 times in the Finals.

2. LeBron James, 2013 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 12 for 23 from the field, 8 for 8 from the line, 5 for 10 from three): When thinking of the greatest game 7 performers in history, two players rise to the top of the list: Bill Russell, who went 10-0 in game sevens in his career, and LeBron James, the career postseason leader in game 7 scoring average (currently 34.9). James struggled with his shot earlier in this series, with San Antonio using a similar defensive tactic that flummoxed him in the 2007 Finals. However, the 2013 version of James was unstoppable, and with the Heat backed against the wall, he devastated the Spurs from long-range, after previously struggling from 3 in the series (29% prior to game 7). He also hit a crucial jump shot with 28 seconds left to put them up by 4. In a low scoring game (95-88), against the premier perimeter defender of his generation (Kawhi Leonard), James cemented his legacy and earned his second straight championship.  

1. Walt Frazier, 1970 NBA Finals game 7 (36 points, 7 rebounds, 19 assists, 12 for 17 from the field, 12 for 12 from the line): The Lakers misery continued in the first year after Bill Russell retired. L.A. had bad luck that season, only getting 12 regular season games from Wilt Chamberlain and 54 from Elgin Baylor. Even though they came together in the playoffs, they ran into another great team in the Finals. While Willis Reed often gets the shine due to his courageous effort, he only scored four points, all in the first moments of the game. With the league MVP compromised, “Clyde” was the one who carried the Knicks. He played a brilliant all-around game, and never gave L.A. any signs of hope (the halftime score was 69-42 in favor of NY). By leading a shorthanded team, outplaying the legendary West, and dominating on both ends of the court, Frazier deserves recognition for the greatest game 7 performance ever.