Michael Jordan is the only player in NBA history to never score less than 20 points in any of his Finals games but that is just one reason that every time the greatest player ever never once let his team lose in the Finals and was named Finals MVP all six times.
The truth is that although he did record the best Finals and playoff stats of any player ever it was that he was never a sidekick and he took control of every single Finals game he played in and JUST ABSOLUTELY REFUSED to let his team lose a Finals series, which no one else can really say (Duncan is 4 for 4). He never even let it get to seven games – not even once, which is sick.
Wilt lost in the Finals numerous times, Russell lost in the 18=958 Finals, Bird lost in the Finals, Erving lost in the Finals, West lost in the Finals, Shaq lost in the Finals (2004) and Kobe lost in the Finals twice (2004 and 2008), Kareem lost in the Finals and Magic lost in the Finals, including against MJ himself.
Why is Jordan the greatest. His stats? Yep. 10 time scoring champion? Yep. Defensive Player of the Year? Yep. Five time NBA MVP? Yep. Perfection in the Finals with 6 MVP’s? Yep and Yep.
Here we see why no one can can in this guys rare air.
1991 Finals 4-1 over LA Lakers
Man you should’a seen this kids! Yo, this was straight sick. MJ went up against Magic and went out and busted through with four straight wins to take his first title.
The fabled Lakers couldn’t hang with this one man. Don’t even try the Pippen statement. Believe me, I was there dude. Pippen could do nothing on his own and he actually kinda sucked, except on defense. But Jordan was just dirty with it. He scored and passed better than Magic himself and averaged over 10 assists and 30 points. WTF?
In game one he scored 36 points had eight rebounds, 12 assists and three steals.
In game two he scored 33 points on 15/18 shooting, seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and a block.
In game three MJ scored 29 points and had nine rebounds and nine assists, four steals and two blocks.
In game four he scored 28 points, dished off for 13 assists and had five rebounds and two blocks.
In the closer MJ had 30 points, 10 assists and five steals.
Can’t hate on that. That is the GOAT right there.
1992 Finals 4-2 over Portland
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6’7″ Drexler was in his all-around prime and the Portlans team had way more options than Chicago who had uh….Michael Jordan.
He showed what was up in the first 24 minutes of the series. No one, even if they were bigger, heavier or stronger ever could or did stop him. Did they? Nope.
In game one he scored 39 points in 34 minutes and added 11 assists, but the six threes before halftime is the most exciting half in Finals history. 35 points at halftime is still a Finals record beeatches!
In game two MJ had 39 points and 10 assists.
In game three Jordan scored 26 and had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
In game four he scored 32 and added five rebounds and six assists.
In game five MJ went off on 14/23 from the field and 16/19 from the line and 2/3 from threes and schooled for 46 points.
In the closer MJ scored 33 points, had four steals, four rebounds and four assists and one block.
Totally unstoppable man.
1993 Finals 4-2 over Phoenix
All MJ went out and did was record the highest scoring average in a Finals series ever with 41.0 ppg. Yep, let’s see anyone in the league today be that dirty in the Finals. IMPOSSIBLE!
Just put it this way: Game one 31 points, game two 42 points, game three 44 points, game four 55 points, game five 41 points and in the closer 33 points versus Barkley, Ainge, KJ, Chambers and Majerle.
Yes, that was FOUR STRAIGHT FINALS GAMES WITH OVER 40 POINTS. Get yourselves a reality check people. I saw every game MJ was obviously the best player in history and Pippen wasn’t really that awesome in this series. Get it real: MJ is the only reason they won against a superior team.
1996 Finals 4-2 over Seattle
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Man, this guy was greater at age 32-33 than any player ever. He had come out of retirement in 1995 and led the Bulls to a 13-4 record to finish the 1994-95 season but the Bulls didn’t make it to the Finals. MJ was rusty really, after not playing for 18 months.
So he said to himself and his teammates – watch this!
He proceeded to lead his team to the greatest single season in NBA history with a 72-10 regular season record.
In game one of the Finals MJ scored 28 points and added seven rebounds.
In game two MJ scored 29 points and added six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
In game three MJ scored 36 and had five assists and two steals.
In game four he scored 23 but the rest of the Bulls were actually on fire.
In game five MJ scored 26 points and added four rebounds.
In the closer MJ and the Bulls won so easily that MJ only needed to score 22, which is the least points he has ever scored in the Finals.
Payton and Kemp could stop every one but not MJ.
1997 Finals 4-2 over Utah
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The Bulls were led by 34 year old Michael to the second best record in NBA history with a 69-13 record. They have the top place too with 72-10. Over two season MJ led them to 141 wins and 23 loss record.
MJ was there for every game and led the NBA in scoring both times, shooting 50%.
In game one of the Finals vs Stockton and Malone and Hornacek – MJ scored 31 points and added eight assists.
In game two he scored 38 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists and two steals.
In game three he scored 26 points and had six assists.
In game four MJ scored a game high for either team with 22 points.
In game five MJ scored 38 points (he was sick that day too).
In the closer MJ scored 39 points and added 11 rebounds.
Man, this dude was 34 and schooling these guys still. Jordan will not be topped we was that freaking great.
1998 Finals 4-2 over Utah
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At age 35 MJ became the oldest MVP and scoring champion ever.
He also led the Bulls to a 62-20 record and took them to face Utah again.
In game one MJ had 33 points.
In game two MJ scored 37.
In game three he had 24 points in 32 minutes, because the Bulls were SO ahead.
In game four MJ scored 34 and added eight rebounds and two steals.
In game five Jordan scored 28 and had three steals.
In his last ever Finals game (cuz he retired again after this one) Jordan scored 45 points! One of his four steals led to him hitting the greatest and most famous and momentous last shot of a Finals series ever.
They way he held his hand in the air was so cool. No one left has such style.