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The NBA Finals is the most high-profile contest in basketball, in which players receive the opportunity to win the coveted NBA championship. Over the years, we have been treated to jaw-dropping performances in the Finals from some of the league's superstars.
Points win games, and several players who are adept at getting on the scoreboard have graced the sport since its inception. With the NBA Finals acting as a showdown between two champions from the Eastern and Western Conferences, witnessing 40-point games on occasion should hardly come as a surprise.
The 2021 NBA Finals have been spectacular so far, as players from both teams have had record-breaking outings. Giannis Antetokounmpo registered back-to-back 40+ points in Games 2 and 3, joining the players mentioned on this list. However, what is more notable was him joining Shaquille O'Neal on a more exclusive list of back-to-back 40+ points and 10+ rebounds games in the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker and Khris Middleton took center stage in Game 4 to sign their names into the record books. Both players registered 40+ points to join superstars like Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant on the list.
While several players have managed to register one or two of their 40-point games in the NBA Finals, only a handful have done the same consistently.
Here are the top five players with the most 40-point games in the NBA Finals.
#5 Elgin Baylor, 4
Elgin Baylor played for the LA Lakers for 14 seasons from 1958-1971. In that time, he made the NBA Finals eight times but failed to win the championship.
Baylor holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA Finals. During a 126-121 Game 5 win against the Boston Celtics in 1962, he registered 61 points and 22 rebounds while playing all 48 minutes of the game. His four 40+ point games were all against the Boston Celtics.
Baylor's retirement was forced through injury, causing him to miss the Lakers' 1972 championship run. The Lakers awarded him a ring regardless, even though he did not feature in any of the NBA Finals games.
#4 Shaquille O'Neal, 5
Shaquille O'Neal recorded five 40-point games during his 19-year career. Despite winning a championship with the Miami Heat, his greatest run in the NBA Finals came with the LA Lakers from 2000 to 2002.
O'Neal's partnership with Kobe Bryant created a superteam in the NBA, one that was the NBA Finalist from 2000 to 2002. Not only did he deliver the trophy to the Lakers, he also incredibly won the Finals MVP on all three occasions.
As mentioned earlier, O'Neal was the first player to record back-to-back 40+ points and 10+ rebounds. He achieved this in Games 1 and 2 of the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
#3 Michael Jordan, 6
Michael Jordan went undefeated in the NBA Finals, which solidifies his case as the greatest player in NBA history. During a career that spanned 15 years, he featured in the Finals six times and won the championship as many times.
Jordan was one of the most explosive players in the NBA, and he showed it often, especially in the NBA Finals. The 55 points he registered against the Phoenix Suns in 1993 was his highest scoring tally in the NBA Finals.
Despite recording only six 40-point games, Jordan remains the gold standard for players even today. He is the only player to have recorded four consecutive 40-point games in the NBA Finals.
#2 LeBron James, 8
LeBron James is the only active player on this list, with eight 40-point games in the NBA Finals so far. Although James missed the 2021 NBA Finals due to a first-round elimination with the Lakers, he is still in fine shape to tie the record holder at the least.
James has reached the NBA Finals ten times and has won the championship four times. His most recent victory was in 2020 after the LA Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games during a campaign disrupted by COVID-19.
Although James has incorporated a pass-first mentality into his game, the 36-year-old is capable of taking over the scoring reins if needed. His 430 assists in the NBA Finals alone are a testament to the veteran's passing ability. However, his 1,562 points are also proof that he can score points aplenty.
James's single-highest tally in the NBA Finals came in a 114-124 Game 1 loss against the Golden State Warriors in 2018. He helped the Cleveland Cavaliers force overtime, but his 51 points were not enough to secure victory for his side.
#1 Jerry West, 10
Jerry West, whose silhouette is the current NBA logo, holds the record for the most 40-point games in the NBA Finals. Despite his heroics, however, the LA Lakers legend has won the least number of championships among other players on this list with just one.
West plied his trade with the LA Lakers during his 14-year career and had ten 40-point games in nine NBA Finals appearances. He remains the only player to have won the NBA Finals MVP despite being on the losing team.
The argument for West being the best performer in the NBA Finals is well-founded. Coupled with his brilliant 40-point streak, the point guard has also scored the most career points in the Finals, recording an incredible tally of 1,679 points.
West's highest scoring night in the NBA Finals came against the Boston Celtics in 1969, where he registered 53 points. He won the Finals MVP award in the same year as well.
Guess the Lakers players!
