Top 10 individual performances in the NBA Finals from the 21st century

2020 NBA Finals - Game Five
2020 NBA Finals - Game Five

#4 Kyrie Irving - 2016 NBA Finals, Game 7

2016 NBA Finals, Irving was huge for the Cavs
2016 NBA Finals, Irving was huge for the Cavs

The 2016 NBA Finals are one of the most memorable series of all time, and easily the most memorable in the 21st century.

When the Cleveland Cavaliers returned from their 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors, Kyrie Irving played a huge role alongside LeBron James. In Game 7, Irving scored 26 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, but the ultimate moment of the game came with 53 seconds on the clock, when he hit the game-clinching three-pointer over Stephen Curry.

Before Irving's shot, the game had been tied at 89 apiece from the 4:39 minute mark of the fourth quarter.


#3 Dirk Nowitzki - 2011 NBA Finals, Game 2

Dirk earned NBA Finals MVP recognition in 2011: Getty Images
Dirk earned NBA Finals MVP recognition in 2011: Getty Images

Though Dirk Nowitzki's performance in Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals was not the most spectacular game of his career statistically, he came up big in the closing stages to give the Dallas Mavericks a pivotal win in the series.

Before the Mavs controlled the Miami Heat from Game 4 four until Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals, the pivotal moment was Game 2, particularly the fourth quarter. With the Heat leading by 15 points with six minutes left, the Mavs mounted a comeback which Nowitzki capped off by scoring nine straight points, including the game-winning layup with two seconds left.

More than a statistically great performance, this was a clutch display by the German which probably ignited the Mavs' run to the 2011 title. Also, his Game 4 performance, in which he scored 10 points in the fourth quarter while playing with a fever, was huge for his NBA Finals MVP award.

His stat line in Game 2 was 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in 42 minutes.


#2 LeBron James - 2016 NBA Finals, Game 6

James dominated in the 2016 NBA Finals
James dominated in the 2016 NBA Finals

LeBron James had a unique 2016 NBA Finals performance. Not only did he lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title after falling 3-1 down (becoming the first team to overcome that deficit in the NBA Finals), he also led both teams on every statistics - points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

In Game 6 at Cleveland, The King dominated with 41 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks to force a Game 7 which the Cavs eventually won.


#1 LeBron James - 2016 NBA Finals, Game 7

2016 NBA Finals - Game Seven
2016 NBA Finals - Game Seven

Another performance from the 2016 NBA Finals and another one from LeBron James.

As the historically great 2016 NBA Finals came to a close at Oracle Arena for Game 7, the momentum was with the Cavs. The King played his part fantastically well in Game 7, achieving a 27-point triple-double with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and leading the Cavs to a 93-89 win.

Kyrie Irving's game-winning shot was the turning point of the game, but it was James who commanded Cleveland's attack in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of the team's 18 points in the period. His transition block on Andre Iguodala with the game tied and 1:50 minutes on the clock was memorable and impressive.

James took his third NBA Finals MVP trophy with averages of 29.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 8.9 assists on 49 percent shooting.


Also Read: NBA Trade Options: 3 most valuable assets for the Miami Heat going into the 2020-21 season.

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