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#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.
