5 greatest Game 7 performances in NBA Playoffs history

#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

LeBron James before Game 7 of the 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 is arguably the greatest winner in NBA history.

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.