Deciding the ultimate NBA Finals starting five of the 2020s

The NBA Finals have come and gone, with the New York Knicks capturing their first NBA championship since 1973. Along the way, Jalen Brunson turned into a masterful Finals performance that culminated in a brilliant Game 5. 

However, Brunson is far from the only star to shine on basketball's biggest stage. Since the start of the 2020s, the NBA Finals have produced a plethora of legendary performances. 

Here are the greatest Finals performances of the 2020s in a starting lineup format. 

1. PG Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks, 2026)

The three-time All-NBA guard had a prolific five-game performance in the NBA Finals. Across five games, Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Brunson led the historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs that saw him contribute 36 points, but scored 17 in the second half when needed most. 

In Game 5, Brunson willed the Knicks to victory since his running-mate Karl Anthony-Towns was in early foul trouble. Brunson scored 45 points and was responsible for 47.8% of the Knicks' collective points. 

Brunson's NBA Finals debut against a Spurs defense anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama was nothing short of impressive. The 29-year-old has been nicknamed the "King of New York" since securing the Larry O' Brien Trophy and perhaps his Hall of Fame legacy has been solidified. 

2. SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder, 2025)

The two-time NBA MVP was the driving force behind the Thunder capturing the franchise's first NBA championship. In the seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. 

The former Los Angeles Clipper was named NBA Finals MVP, regular-season MVP and won the scoring title all in the same campaign. 

3. SF LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers, 2020)

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title in 2020 under abnormal circumstances. COVID-19 reshaped the NBA landscape as the NBA suspended its season in March and held the playoffs that summer in Orlando, Florida without fans. 

However, James still excelled despite being in year 17 as a professional basketball player. The 2003 No. 1 pick averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the six-games series. James dominated on both ends of the floor and became the only player in history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises (Heat, Cavaliers and Lakers). 

4. PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks, 2021)

The "Greek Freak" led Milwaukee to its first NBA championship since 1971. The two-time league MVP averaged an impressive 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and five assists on 61.8% shooting from the field to close out the Phoenix Suns in six games. 

In Game 6, Antetokounmpo had arguably one of the greatest closeout games in NBA Finals history. The 2013 first-round pick scored 50 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks on his way to having earned the Finals MVP award. 

5. C Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets, 2023)

Three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic was the catalyst to having the Nuggets win their first championship in franchise history. The dynamic big man averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists to bypass the Miami Heat in five games. 

Jokic shot an efficient 58.3% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range. The 2014 second-round pick led both teams in scoring, rebounding and assists on his way to winning Finals MVP.