NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever (Single Game)
This is my rankings of the NBA top 10 best playoff performances ever. This was a very difficult list to do considering all of the possible outcomes. That’s why I made sure to consider the magnitude of games. Game 7 of a series matters. Winning the game instead of losing matters. I will elaborate for each ranking why they are ranked where they are.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #10 Donovan Mitchell
#10 – Donovan Mitchell
Of all the playoff series that took place in the bubble, the most entertaining series by far came in the first round where the Utah Jazz faced off against Denver in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 was the most exciting, as Mitchell was in a duel with guard Jamal Murray who finished with 36 on the night.
Despite the loss, Donovan Mitchell’s arrival to superstardom started this game. Donovan ran Utah’s offense, hitting six three point shots and 19 total. 57 points speaks for itself, as Mitchell asserted himself as a top playoff performer after the game.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #9 Shaquille O’Neal
#9 – Shaquille O’Neal
This game exemplified the complete dominance that Shaquille O’Neal had on the NBA in the early 2000’s. In the second round of the 2001 NBA playoffs, O’Neal had his very best performance, accumulating 44 points, 21 rebounds, and a whopping 7 blocks against the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento was a team many regarded as the next best team in the entire league, and Superman demolished the squad all the same. While Kobe will be regarded as the better all-time player, Shaquille O’Neal was the rock that made the Los Angeles Lakers an unbeatable dynasty. During the Lakers legendary 2001 16-1 finals run, no performance was better than this Shaq takeover.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #8 Kevin Durant
#8 – Kevin Durant
Originally, I had Bill Russell’s 30 point, 40 rebound performance coming in at 10 on the list. After game five of Brooklyn vs Milwaukee the other night, I knew I had to make an adjustment to the list.
It was the first 45 point, 15 rebound, and 10 assist playoff game in the history of the league, and it came without any help from either other superstar in Brooklyn’s big three. Playing all 48 minutes, Durant was able to overcome a 17 point deficit controlling Brooklyn’s offense.
While never regarded as a facilitator, KD managed to reach double digit assists, as well as countless clutch three point shots down the stretch. Durant’s performance was an absolute masterclass, and easily the greatest game in KD’s illustrious playoff career.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #7 Lebron James
#7 – Lebron James
You can not get more clutch than this. To cap off the most memorable finals in recent memory, Lebron finished off the 73 win Warriors with a 27 point triple double and the most iconic block in league history.
His 40 point game 6 may have been statistically more impressive, but the stakes around game 7 placed this onto the list. Only scoring 27 keeps him at 7th on the list, however this will not be the only entrance onto the list from the King.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #6 Elgin Baylor
#6 – Elgin Baylor
Before MJ’s 63 point outing, this was the highest scoring game in NBA history. Against the dynastic 1960’s Boston Celtics, Baylor asserted himself as an all-time great player against legends such as Bill Russell and Bob Cousy.
With the series tied 2-2, he produced a scoring performance never seen before in the Finals, and also managed to clean the glass with 22 rebounds in the game. While Boston would go on to win the series, no performance would be as memorable than the late legend’s scoring onslaught.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #5 Lebron James
#5 – Lebron James
This was a legacy game for the King, and by all means did he respond. Down 3-2 to the Boston Celtics, narratives were already beginning to be created about Lebron James and his inability to lead a team to an NBA championship, just a year after his historic choke job against the Dallas Mavericks in the finals.
With their backs against the wall, James and the Heat blew out Boston behind his 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. This game would be the spark that soared Miami past Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, and eventually a championship against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the most important game of Lebron’s career up to this point, he responded in the most effective way possible.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #4 Allen Iverson
#4 – Allen Iverson
If you want a good laugh, look at the roster Allen Iverson took to the finals in the 2001 season. With his second best scorer being Eric Snow, Iverson defeated the vaunted Los Angeles Lakers in game 1 of the NBA finals, which would be the Lakers’ only loss of their postseason run.
Iverson dropped 48 points, along with one of the most memorable plays in Finals history with his step over of Ty Lue late in the game. While Philadelphia lost the series ultimately, the one-man show of Iverson was a spectacle to witness, especially without any true number 2 option.
Top 10 Best NBA Playoff Performances Ever – #3 Michael Jordan
#3 – Michael Jordan
The Flu game was iconic. While 38 points was a modest statline for the GOAT, it was the story behind this game that places it into the top 3 of the list. With the series tied 2-2, it was essential for Chicago to win game 5 on the road in order to win their 5th championship in 7 years.
While there has been better percentage nights from the floor and much higher scoring outputs in MJ’s career, the iconic nature surrounding this performance places it in the top 3. His ability to overcome his obvious impairments at the time and hit clutch shots when it mattered most late in the game defined the greatness of Jordan, and remains one of his most memorable games of all time.
NBA Top 10 Best Playoff Performances Ever – #2 Michael Jordan
#2 – Michael Jordan
If Chicago wins this game, I would have put this number one. In an overtime loss to the legendary 1986 Celtics, MJ was a one man show, breaking the NBA record for points in a single playoff game. Jordan’s 63 still stands as the record today, exemplifying the utter dominance he had the minute he stepped into the NBA.
Larry Bird famously called Jordan “God disguised as Michael Jordan” after the game, already aware that he was the future of the league and the best player in his 3rd year. While this was the best scoring output in the history of playoff basketball, the loss in the box score puts it just short of the number one spot.
Top 10 Best NBA Playoff Performances Ever – #1 Magic Johnson
#1 – Magic Johnson
The circumstances surrounding this situation is completely mind blowing when looking back upon. As a rookie, with MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out in game 6, Magic Johnson was forced to do something crazy. Not only did he completely change his role from a pass first player into to a scorer, he was also forced to change his position from Point Guard to Center. Yes, you heard me. Magic Johnson changed positions to Center from Point Guard and not only held his own, but dominated the game.
Magic finished the game with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, completely controlling pace and the game itself on both ends of the floor against the Dr. J and the Philadelphia 76ers. While Magic had already solidified himself as a face of the NBA, this all-time playoff performance transformed his legacy into one of a future NBA legend.
This list was done by Dan Beairsto! You can find him on Instagram or Twitter
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