The 25 greatest playoff runs by one NBA player

En route to his third straight championship and third straight Finals MVP trophy, MJ put the team on his back, averaging 35 points a night. The Bulls went undefeated in the first two rounds, and when it got tougher in the latter rounds, Jordan didn't disappoint. In the Finals, he had three 40-point games and one 55-point performance.

The 73-win Warriors were expected to cruise their way to a championship, especially after they went up 3-1 in the finals against LeBron's Cavs. Then, James went off, most notably with his iconic block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7. He was dominant throughout the series, leading both teams in all five major statistical categories for the seven-game run.

Shaq delivered about 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game in the 2000s postseason. He set the tone early in the Finals with 43 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1. Through the rest of the six-game series, he had multiple 40-point games and 20-rebound games and generally could not be stopped.

Hakeem had to go through two 60-win teams and a 59-win squad to face the 57-win Magic in the 1995 Finals. There were a couple close games, but regardless, Olajuwon thoroughly dominated the 4-0 series. He flexed his all-around game with series averages of 32 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

For years, Jordan chased his first title. All the pieces fell into place in 1991, when the Bulls had little trouble in the postseason, losing just two games on their way to a championship. Jordan was consistent in the Finals and elevated his playmaking, averaging 11 assists over the five games.

Most of Duncan's teammates this playoff run were either fresh-faced young'uns or aging veterans, but he carried them to the Finals. TD did a bit of everything that postseason, averaging 23 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks per game. He showed out in the closing game with a near-quadruple-double of 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks.

Dirk did not have an easy path to the Finals in 2011. He faced off against Kobe's Lakers in the second round, Durant and Westbrook's Thunder in the conference finals, and LeBron and Wade's Heat in the Finals. His most memorable performance came in the OKC series, a 48-point onslaught in which he went 24-for-24 from the free throw line.

After losing to the Mavericks in 2011, LeBron redeemed himself the next season. As he does, LeBron contributed everywhere on the court, averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists throughout the run. His defining moment came when the Heat were down 3-2 against the Celtics, and he put up 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists to save the season.

Larry Legend had a masterful run to his third championship, averaging nearly a triple-double in the 1986 playoffs with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists a game. The Celtics lost just three games that postseason thanks largely to Bird's all-around play. In the Finals, he had a pair of triple-doubles, including one to secure the title.

The Raptors took a chance bringing Kawhi in, knowing that he might bolt after one season (which he did). It worked out, though, as he carried that team to a championship. The 76ers series featured one of the most iconic shots in NBA history: his series-winning buzzer-beater, which bounced on the rim what felt like a hundred times before going in.

Kobe was out to prove that he could win a title without Shaq, and he did it for the first time in 2009, alongside Pau Gasol. After a dominant 67-15 regular season, he led LA through the playoffs to face the Magic in the Finals. He set the tone early with a 40-point Game 1, and they went on to win the series in five games.

Giannis was consistent for the Bucks in the 2021 postseason, averaging 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. It was in the Finals, though, when it counted the most, that he had his big moment. In Game 6, he dropped an astounding 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks to close out the series, making it hard to deny his superstar status.

In the 2022 postseason, Curry somehow improved his 3-point shooting, hitting 40% of his attempts from long range. Down 2-1 against a young Celtics team in the Finals, Curry came up clutch with a 43-point performance. This swung the series in Golden State's favor, as they won their next two match-ups to take home the title.

On offense, the 2001 Sixers had very, very little to offer outside of Iverson. So, he shouldered that load over and over: He had a 40-point game in the first round, two 50-point nights in the second, and back-to-back 40-point contests in the conference finals. In the Finals, he opened with 48 in an overtime win, but the Shaq-and-Kobe Lakers were just too big a hill to climb.

In just his third year in the league, Wade was already one of the league's most threatening guards. He led Miami, featuring Shaq and mostly other aging players, to the Finals, which began with Dallas going up 2-0. Wade then put up multiple 40-point games and put the Heat on his back to win four straight games.

Magic was ready to contribute to the Lakers' winning right away, serving as one of the Lakers' leaders during their 1980 championship run. In the deciding Game 6, Johnson, normally a guard, started at center and absolutely delivered, putting up 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win. Magic made it clear immediately that he was a star to look out for.

Beyond LeBron and Kevin Love, the '18 Cavs did not have much going for them. Despite the team's relative weakness, LeBron managed to carry them all the way to the Finals (where the Warriors promptly swept them). It certainly wasn't for lack of trying, as LeBron put up 51 points in the opening game of the series.

Moses famously predicted his Sixers would sweep the playoffs ("Fo', Fo', Fo'," as he phrased it), and they ended up losing just one game. Malone was a monster all the while, averaging 26 points and 16 rebounds a night. His physicality was just overwhelming enough to earn him a Finals MVP trophy.

Some may have taken exception to Durant joining the already-awesome Warriors, but he definitely wasn't riding on anybody's coattails. After sweeping the first three rounds, they lost only one game to LeBron's Cavs in the Finals. He was terrific every game that series, especially in the first one when he nearly had a triple-double with 38 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The 2023 Nuggets lost just four total postseason games on their way to the championship. Jokic led his squad with his characteristic all-around style, averaging 30 points, 13 rebounds, and just under 10 assists in the playoffs. That included a pair of Finals triple-doubles and a 40-point night.

Returning to the playoffs as defending champs, Thomas led the charge to back-to-back titles with postseason averages of 20 points and 8 assists. They went 4-1 in the Finals, with Isiah providing consistent leadership throughout. No one game stands out as eye-popping, but he just delivered night after night.

Barkley famously never won a title, but that doesn't mean he was without deep and impressive postseason runs. He didn't shrink from the spotlight, like with his 42-point, 13-rebound game in the Finals. The Bulls were overwhelming favorites to win, but Chuck actually gave them a chance.

There's a reason he's called "Playoff Jimmy." He's great in the regular season, but come the postseason, he elevates even further. Down 0-2 in the Finals, he put up a 40-point triple-double to get a win and stop the bleeding. His Heat ultimately fell short to the Lakers, but Butler established his playoff legacy regardless.

While Wilt's early career was defined by massive scoring numbers, he became more of a playmaker during his Philly years. That reached its apex in the '67 postseason, averaging a near-triple-double with 21 points, 29 rebounds, and 9 assists per contest. He actually started the Finals with back-to-back triple-doubles while putting ego aside and taking a scoring backseat to Hal Greer.

After missing a handful of games leading up to the postseason, Bryant toughed it out and led LA all the way to the Finals. They were up against Boston, and even on nights when his shooting was off, he was still the most impactful Laker on the court. Throughout the postseason, Kobe averaged 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, showcasing his well-honed all-around game.