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Chris Paul's exemplary outing against the LA Clippers in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Western Conference Finals saw him become one of the oldest players to amass 40+ points in a playoffs game.
He tallied 41 points on the night to go with eight assists and three steals to lead the Phoenix Suns to their first NBA Finals since 1993. It will be Paul's debut Finals appearance in his 16-year long career.
The five oldest players to have had 40-point NBA playoff outings are all legends of the game. On that note, let's have a look at who they are.
#5 Michael Jordan (35 years and 117 days) - 1998 NBA Playoffs
Michael Jordan gave everything he had in the tank during his last season with the Chicago Bulls. He had multiple 40-point games that postseason and ended things in style in the 1998 NBA Finals Game 6, which was a closeout win against the Utah Jazz.
Jordan scored 45 points in that game and also made four steals. He shot a whopping 15 of 35 from the field, helping the Chicago Bulls complete their second three-peat of the decade. He had three threes in that game and just one turnover. The Bulls won the clash 87-86 to clinch their sixth NBA Championship.
He capped off his brilliant NBA Finals run with a game-winning jumper that sealed the win for his team.
#4 Reggie Miller (35 years and 243 days) - 2001 NBA Playoffs
One of Michael Jordan's all-time great rivals, Reggie Miller, is the fourth oldest player to have scored over 40 points in an NBA playoffs game.
The former Indiana Pacers talisman scored 44 points, albeit in a losing cause, during Game 2 of the 2001 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers lost the clash 98-116.
Miller tried his best to get his team over the line, shooting 14 of 22 from the field, including three threes, and 10-of-12 shooting from the foul line. But the Pacers still fell short by a huge margin, allowing the Sixers to level the series at 1-1.
Also Read: 3 incredible records achieved by Paul George during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
#3 LeBron James (35 years and 284 days) - 2020 NBA Playoffs
NBA legend LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down and may even go first on this list by the time he decides to call time on his illustrious career. He won his fourth NBA Championship with the LA Lakers last year and was also named the Finals MVP.
However, his only 40-point playoff game for the Lakers came in a losing cause against the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. James scored 42 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the game, doing so on 15-of-21 shooting from the floor, including six threes. However, the 17-time champions stumbled to a 108-111 defeat in a close contest.
The Lakers also missed the chance to wrap the series and had to play a Game 6, where they lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the 17th time.
#2 Chris Paul (36 years, 55 days) - 2021 NBA Playoffs
Chris Paul is another active player who could become the oldest player to have a 40-point game in an NBA Playoff game by the time he retires. The 36-year-old achieved the feat against the LA Clippers in the ongoing 2021 NBA Playoffs.
Paul struggled throughout the series. With his team on the cusp of squandering a 3-1 series lead, he stepped up in the closeout Game 6 after failing to clinch the series in the previous match. He shot close to 67% from the floor, made 7-of-8 threes and recorded zero turnovers to round off a brilliant individual putting.
The Suns will now face either the Atlanta Hawks or the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.
#1 Karl Malone (36 years and 273 days) - 2000 NBA Playoffs
It has been more than two decades since Karl Malone became the oldest player to score 40+ points in an NBA Playoffs game. Malone dominated the Seattle SuperSonics, leading the Utah Jazz to a comfortable Game-1 win in round one of the 2000 NBA Playoffs.
He scored 50 points and 13 rebounds on 18-of-32 shooting from the floor and also made three steals and a block, delivering an all-around performance for his team. The Jazz beat the SuperSonics 104-93.
