'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
LeBron James has cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest player in NBA history due to his performances in the NBA Finals. Having double-digit appearances in any championship series of any sport is simply an unimaginable achievement, and LeBron James has managed that in the NBA Finals.
In league history, NBA superstars are often judged by how well they can perform on the biggest stage of the sport.
Along with LeBron James, we've seen some all-time greats perform uniquely in the NBA Finals throughout league history. Michael Jordan is considered by many as the greatest ever due to his prowess in the NBA Finals, where he won the title in each of the six times he played. Jordan also collected six Finals MVP awards.
Magic Johnson, who led the LA Lakers to the 1980 title as a rookie with a virtuoso performance in Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers, will also be remembered forever when discussing NBA Finals history.
4 Players who made it to the NBA Finals at least 10 times in their careers
However, as great as Jordan and Magic were, they did not manage to get to double-digit NBA Finals appearances due to several circumstances.
With current NBA Finals MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, we've seen how difficult it is to get to that stage and win an NBA championship. We can only imagine how hard it is to do it consistently for an entire decade.
This article is about legends who found consistent success in the NBA with almost impossible achievements in the NBA Playoffs. We will give you the four players who made it to at least 10 NBA Finals throughout their careers.
Without further ado, let us take a look.
#4 LeBron James - 10
LeBron James accepted his 'Chosen One' persona even before he entered the NBA. Even if you criticize him for certain shortcomings in his NBA career, 'King James' has delivered and exceeded the expectations put on him.
He is one of only four players in the NBA's 75-year history to make it to 10 NBA Finals in his career, and the only one to do so with three different franchises. What is more impressive is that James was the clear driving force on all those teams, even in 2020, when he was in his 17th NBA season.
James has won four NBA championships (two with the Miami Heat and once each with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Lakers). He is also the only player in league history to win NBA Finals MVP honors with three different franchises, and ranks second all-time with four awards.
James has averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in his NBA Finals career.
#3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's appearance in the NBA Finals and NBA championship in 1971 is often forgotten by some who do not know the history of the league. Regardless, it definitely was an incredible feat for the then sophomore known as Lew Alcindor.
Abdul-Jabbar's first NBA championship came with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing alongside Oscar Robertson. The team also made it to the 1974 NBA Finals, losing in seven games against the Boston Celtics.
The six-time NBA MVP (record) then went to the LA Lakers and played in eight more NBA Finals, winning five championships with Magic Johnson and the 'Showtime' LA Lakers.
Abdul-Jabbar won two Finals MVP awards in his career and was the first to do so with two franchises. He is also third in games played in the NBA Finals, with 56.
He averaged 23.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 blocks per game in the NBA Finals, and won six NBA championships.
#2 Sam Jones - 11
Sam Jones' rookie season came the year after the Boston Celtics won the 1957 NBA Finals to earn the first title in franchise history. However, there were many more chances for Jones to touch the NBA sky and win multiple championships with the team during Bill Russell's era and Red Auerbach's tenure as the team's coach.
Jones played in the NBA from 1957 to 1969 and carved out a Hall-of-Fame career that included five All-Star selections, three All-NBA inclusions and 10 NBA championships (second-most in NBA history).
Jones appeared in 11 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics, with the team losing in his first appearance against the St. Louis Hawks and Bob Pettit. However, success was right ahead, and the Boston Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966, and then won two more in 1968 and 1969.
In his 12 NBA seasons, Jones averaged 17.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his regular-season career, and 18.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in the postseason.
In the NBA Finals, Jones averaged 17.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 64 matches (second-most in NBA Finals history).
#1 Bill Russell - 12
Bill Russell is the most successful player in NBA history, winning a record 11 championships and appearing in a record 12 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics between 1956 and 1969.
His first NBA championship came in 1957 as a rookie in the league, and Russell put up 13.9 points and 24.4 rebounds per game in the postseason. The Celtics fell against Bob Pettit's St. Louis Hawks in the 1958 NBA Finals, as Pettit outplayed Russell.
After that defeat, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship 10 more times between 1959 and 1969, with Russell leading the team to all of those, including as a player/coach in 1968 and 1969.
In 13 NBA seasons, Bill Russell won 11 NBA titles, five MVPs and earned 12 All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA distinctions.
Russell has the record of most NBA Finals games played as well, with 70 (at an average of 45.5 minutes in each of those appearances). A great defender and leader, the legendary Russell averaged 16.4 points and 24.5 rebounds per game in his NBA Finals career.
Guess the Lakers players!
