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Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo gave NBA fans incredible performances in Game 7 of the 2021 semi-finals between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks. The pair became only the third duo of opposing players to score at least 40 points apiece in a Game 7.
Throughout NBA history, some of the greatest players to have graced the league performed at their best in the biggest moments. LeBron James has been brilliant in Game 7s throughout his glorious career, while past legends like Jerry West also had impressive performances in such games.
On that note, let's have a look at the five greatest Game-7 performances in NBA history.
#5 James Worthy - 1988 NBA Finals
James Worthy was not the best player in the Showtime LA Lakers, with whom he won four NBA championships. Of course, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the faces of the team, but 'Big Game James' was an extraordinary player who could've been the leader of any franchise.
In the 1988 NBA Finals, with the LA Lakers looking to successfully defend their title, Worthy had a game for the ages. After tying the NBA Finals at three games apiece against the 'Bad Boys' Detroit Pistons, Game 7 was Worthy's show.
Even though Isiah Thomas had a heroic effort in Game 6, scoring 43 points while dealing with a twisted ankle, the LA Lakers won the NBA championship behind Worthy's performance and successfully defended their title.
Worthy put up 36 points, 16 rebounds and ten assists to record the only triple-double of his Hall-of-Fame career as he led the LA Lakers to a 108-105 win. He received the Finals MVP honors after averaging 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game during the series.
#4 Kevin Durant - 2021 Eastern Conference Semis
Kevin Durant's performance in the Game 7 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs' second round was impressive. Of course, KD's effort was not enough for the favorites Brooklyn Nets to go through, but he had a brilliant night nonetheless.
KD scored 48 points on the night, the most by any player in a Game 7 in NBA history, also registering nine rebounds and six assists. Durant played the entire game, including overtime (53 minutes).
He also made one of the most clutch shots in NBA Playoffs history, tying the game with a two-pointer with one second left on the clock in regulation time. Durant was actually going for the win, but he stepped on the three-point line and could only tie the game.
Eventually, the Nets fell to the Bucks, for whom Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists on the night. Khris Middleton also hit timely shots in the fourth quarter and OT.
#3 Walt Frazier - 1970 NBA Finals
Willis Reed earned high praise for starting Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals for the New York Knicks against the LA Lakers. The center had missed Game 6 with a thigh injury suffered in Game 5, but he returned in Game 7 and played almost the entire first half.
Reed scored the first two baskets for the Knicks in the game and set the tone for the rest of the night. The Knicks eventually won the NBA title, the first in franchise history, and Reed earned Finals MVP recognition.
However, the story that is not always talked about the 1970 NBA Finals is Walt 'Clyde' Frazier putting up 36 points and 19 assists in Game 7 while going up against Jerry West and company.
Frazier was the leading scorer on the night and also recorded more assists than the entire LA Lakers team.
#2 LeBron James - 2013 NBA Finals
The 2013 NBA Finals saw an interesting defense played by Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs on LeBron James, who had earned his fourth NBA MVP during the regular season.
The defensive system against James consisted of providing him space to shoot from outside. Although James made 45% of his shots during the seven-game NBA Finals, the strategy was good enough for the Spurs to almost clinch the title in six games.
However, after Ray Allen hit one of the greatest clutch shots in NBA history to save the Heat's season in Game 6, LeBron James took over in Game 7.
James guided the Heat to a 95-88 victory, registering 37 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Game 7. In the process, he scored five three-pointers on the night and sunk the mid-range dagger over Kawhi Leonard with 27 seconds left.
#1 Bill Russell - 1962 NBA Finals
Bill Russell had an incredible NBA career. Although the league did not have as many teams as it does now when Russell and the Boston Celtics dominated, they still had to go through some tough rivals. Teams guided by Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor went came up short against the Celtics.
In the 1962 NBA Finals, with the Celtics going for their fourth consecutive NBA title and their fifth in six years, the LA Lakers pushed them to seven games, but Bill Russell rose to the fore.
In Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals, Russell guided the Celtics to the NBA title with 30 points and 40 rebounds in a spectacular performance.
As Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn shot a combined six of 26 in the game, Russell's effort, alongside 27 points from Sam Jones and 23 from Frank Ramsey gave the Celtics the victory.
For the LA Lakers, Jerry West put up 35 points (14/30 from the field), and Elgin Baylor scored 41 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in that eventful Game 7.
Also Read: 5 greatest Game 7s in the 21st century | NBA Playoffs.
