The NBA Finals have come and gone, with the New York Knicks capturing their first NBA championship since 1973. Alongside the best way, Jalen Brunson become a masterful Finals efficiency that culminated in a superb Sport 5.
Nonetheless, Brunson is way from the one star to shine on basketball’s largest stage. For the reason that begin of the 2020s, the NBA Finals have produced a plethora of legendary performances.
Listed here are the best Finals performances of the 2020s in a beginning lineup format.
1. PG Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks, 2026)
The three-time All-NBA guard had a prolific five-game efficiency within the NBA Finals. Throughout 5 video games, Brunson averaged 32.6 factors, 4.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Brunson led the historic 29-point comeback in Sport 4 towards the San Antonio Spurs that noticed him contribute 36 factors, however scored 17 within the second half when wanted most.
In Sport 5, Brunson willed the Knicks to victory since his running-mate Karl Anthony-Cities was in early foul bother. Brunson scored 45 factors and was liable for 47.8% of the Knicks’ collective factors.
Brunson’s NBA Finals debut towards a Spurs protection anchored by Defensive Participant of the Yr Victor Wembanyama was nothing in need of spectacular. The 29-year-old has been nicknamed the “King of New York” since securing the Larry O’ Brien Trophy and maybe his Corridor of Fame legacy has been solidified.
2. SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, 2025)
The 2-time NBA MVP was the driving power behind the Thunder capturing the franchise’s first NBA championship. Within the seven-game collection towards the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 factors, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
The previous Los Angeles Clipper was named NBA Finals MVP, regular-season MVP and gained the scoring title all in the identical marketing campaign.
3. SF LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers, 2020)
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers gained the NBA title in 2020 underneath irregular circumstances. COVID-19 reshaped the NBA panorama because the NBA suspended its season in March and held the playoffs that summer season in Orlando, Florida with out followers.
Nonetheless, James nonetheless excelled regardless of being in 12 months 17 as knowledgeable basketball participant. The 2003 No. 1 decide averaged 29.8 factors, 11.8 rebounds and eight.5 assists within the six-games collection. James dominated on each ends of the ground and have become the one participant in historical past to win Finals MVP with three totally different franchises (Warmth, Cavaliers and Lakers).
4. PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks, 2021)
The “Greek Freak” led Milwaukee to its first NBA championship since 1971. The 2-time league MVP averaged a powerful 35.2 factors, 13.2 rebounds and 5 assists on 61.8% taking pictures from the sphere to shut out the Phoenix Suns in six video games.
In Sport 6, Antetokounmpo had arguably one of many best closeout video games in NBA Finals historical past. The 2013 first-round decide scored 50 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks on his approach 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 historical past. The dynamic massive man averaged 30.2 factors, 14 rebounds and seven.2 assists to bypass the Miami Warmth in 5 video games.
Jokic shot an environment friendly 58.3% from the sphere and 42.1% from three-point vary. The 2014 second-round decide led each groups in scoring, rebounding and assists on his approach to successful Finals MVP.
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