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#2 Dirk Nowitzki (2011 NBA Finals MVP)
2011 NBA Finals Stat line: 26.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 45-of-46 FTs, FTs 97.8% over six games
Dirk Nowitzki put on a show in the 2011 NBA Finals versus LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. The German maestro averaged a near double-double for the six-game series, missing only one free throw over the course of the Finals.
Although Nowitzki’s best effort came in a losing cause in Game 3 (34 points, 11 rebounds), Nowitzki played clutch basketball for Dallas in Game 2 to pull off a comeback victory.
With the Mavs trailing 73-88 in quarter four, Jason Terry scored 8 of the Mavs’ next 13 points to pull the game to within four points for Dallas (86-90). Nowitzki then scored nine straight points for Dallas over the last three minutes of the game to help the Mavericks level the series 1-1. Nowitzki finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the game that finished 95-93.
Something similar happened in Game 4 as well. With Dallas trailing 65-74 and ten minutes left to play in the game, Nowitzki scored 10 of the Mavs' last 21 points to help his team to square the series 2-2. Nowitzki had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the game.
A 29-point outing in Game 5 and a 21-point, 11-rebound showing in Game 6 by Nowitzki ensured that the Dallas Mavericks took home their first NBA championship in franchise history.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021 NBA Finals MVP)
2021 NBA Finals Stat line: 35.2 ppg, 61.8% FG, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.8 bpg over six games
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the last non-American to win Finals MVP and had the best performance among the three players on this list. What he did in the 2021 NBA Finals was nothing short of unbelievable. This is when he wasn’t even expected to play in the Finals after injuring himself in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Atlanta Hawks.
To put things in proper context, Giannis’ Game 1 showing of 20 points and 17 rebounds was probably his worst outing of the six-game series against the Phoenix Suns. He followed it up with two 40-point double-doubles in Games 2 and 3 as the Milwaukee Bucks finally picked up their first win in the series.
The Greek Freak continued his dominance in the next two matchups as the Bucks edged closer to a championship. In the closeout Game 6, Antetokounmpo put up a performance for the ages as he racked up 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to put the final nail in the Phoenix Suns' coffin.
Giannis also put up two of the most iconic plays in NBA history during the 2021 Finals. His block on Deandre Ayton in the dying moments of Game 4 and his alley-oop dunk with 13.5 seconds left in Game 5 are the stuff of absolute legend. Giannis’ incredible journey to winning the 2021 Finals MVP award will live on for decades to come.
