Basketball Reference Blog

Top Single-Game Performances in the NBA Finals (Part Three: the 2000s)

Posted by Darren Baker on July 3, 2024

(last updated on October 17, 2025)

We are going to continue our look at the greatest single-game performances in the NBA Finals. This list will focus on the 2000s. This was a decade heavily dominated by two Western Conference powers. To refresh your memory from the previous edition, for a player’s performance to qualify for this list, his team had to win the title during that series. Another rule for this list is that no player will get multiple entries. For instance, San Antonio legend Tim Duncan appeared on a previous list, so he will not appear again even though he has a few worthy single-game performances during the 2000s. 

Let’s transport back to the 2000s … a time of Y2K paranoia, flip phones, and traditional NBA titans returning to glory. We will now revisit some of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history during the 2000s.

Shaquille O’Neal (Game 1 of the 2000 NBA Finals)

Photo of Shaquille O

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal ▪ Twitter: SHAQ

(Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, Shaq Fu, Shaq Daddy, Warrior)

Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Right

7-1, 325lb (216cm, 147kg)

Born: March 6, 1972 (Age: 52-074d) in Newark, New Jersey us

Relatives: Son Shareef O’Neal

College: LSU

High School: Cole in San Antonio, Texas

Draft: Orlando Magic, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1992 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: November 6, 1992

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2016 (Full List)

Career Length: 19 years

SUMMARY

Career

G

1207

PTS

23.7

TRB

10.9

AST

2.5

FG%

58.2

FG3%

4.5

FT%

52.7

eFG%

58.2

PER

26.4

WS

181.7

Shaquille O’Neal played in 26 NBA Finals games in his career, and his best single-game performance may have been his first Finals appearance on June 7, 2000. After three straight earlier-than-planned playoff exits to start his Los Angeles Lakers career, Shaq and company finally broke through in 2000. In Game 1 of the Finals against the Indiana Pacers, the Diesel dominated with 43 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks as the Lakers cruised to a 17-point victory. The man in the middle had a 37.9 game score rating, which was his fourth best out of 216 career playoff games and his top for any Finals game. LA ended up winning the title in six games as they broke a 12-year title drought. The 2000 Finals marked O’Neals first of three consecutive Finals MVPs. That series he averaged 29.7 ppg and 13.6 rpg. In Finals history, The Big Aristotle ranks second all time in field goal % (.601) and fifth all time in ppg (28.8). Of course, he added another NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006 to go along with his LA three-peat. Shaquille O’Neal is one of the best centers ever, and he owns one of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history.

Richard Hamilton (Game 3 of the 2004 NBA Finals)

Photo of Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton

Richard Clay Hamilton ▪ Twitter: ripcityhamilton

(Rip, Hollywood, The Man in the Mask)

Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right

6-6, 185lb (198cm, 83kg)

Born: February 14, 1978 (Age: 46-095d) in Coatesville, Pennsylvania us

College: UConn

High School: Coatesville Area in Coatesville, Pennsylvania

Draft: Washington Wizards, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1999 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: November 2, 1999

Career Length: 14 years

SUMMARY

Career

G

921

PTS

17.1

TRB

3.1

AST

3.4

FG%

44.9

FG3%

34.6

FT%

85.2

eFG%

46.9

PER

16.5

WS

62.8

Trivia time … what Eastern Conference team won 50 or more games every season from 2002 to 2008? The answer is the Detroit Pistons. Maybe the lack of a true superstar makes these Detroit teams less heralded in the NBA annals, but they were a true collection of selfless players who knew how to win. One of these glue guys was Richard Hamilton, and he had one of the best single-game performances in the NBA Finals during the 2000s. The LA Lakers were heavy favorites in the 2004 Finals with their bevy of big names, but enormously efficient Richard Hamilton had the game of the series. With the Finals sitting at 1-1 heading into Game 3, Hamilton had a stat-filling 31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals; that included 7 for 7 from the line. His most impressive number from that dazzling display was his +15 plus/minus en route to a 88-68 decimation of the vaunted Lakers. The upstart Pistons won this series in five games to secure their third NBA championship in franchise history. Richard Hamilton may not be a Hall of Famer, but he is an NBA champion, a three-time All-Star, and he owns a signature performance in the NBA Finals.

Dwyane Wade (Game 6 of the 2006 NBA Finals)

Photo of Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. ▪ Twitter: DwyaneWade

(D-Wade, Flash, WOW, Pookie, Father Prime)

Position: Shooting Guard and Point Guard ▪ Shoots: Right

6-4, 220lb (193cm, 99kg)

Born: January 17, 1982 (Age: 42-123d) in Chicago, Illinois us

College: Marquette

High School: Richards in Oak Lawn, Illinois

Draft: Miami Heat, 1st round (5th pick, 5th overall), 2003 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: October 28, 2003

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2023 (Full List)

Career Length: 16 years

SUMMARY

Career

G

1054

PTS

22.0

TRB

4.7

AST

5.4

FG%

48.0

FG3%

29.3

FT%

76.5

eFG%

49.5

PER

23.5

WS

120.7

LeBron James may be the crown jewel of the fabled 2003 NBA Draft, but Dwyane Wade was the first from that group to win an NBA title. Wade had one of the top single-game efforts in the NBA Finals to help the Miami Heat lock down their first Larry O’Brien Trophy. Playing against the Mavericks on the road in Dallas, D-Wade had a sensational close-out game: 36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. The Heat won the 2006 NBA title in six games, and this do-everything guard won the Finals MVP Award. #3 showed why he was a major force in The Association with Finals averages of 27.2 ppg, 6.7 apg, and 5.7 rpg. In later years, with the help of a prominent contemporary, Flash added two more championship rings to help cement his Hall of Fame reservation. In addition to that, he was a 13-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA performer. Dwyane Wade has been one of the NBA greats since the turn of the century, and a top single-game performance in the NBA Finals reinforces that status.

Kevin Garnett (Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals)

Photo of Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Maurice Garnett ▪ Twitter: KevinGarnett5KG

(KG, The Big Ticket, The Kid)

Position: Power Forward, Center, and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right

6-11, 240lb (211cm, 108kg)

Born: May 19, 1976 (Age: 48-205d) in Greenville, South Carolina us

Relatives: Cousin Shammond Williams

High Schools: Mauldin in Mauldin, South Carolina, Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois

Draft: Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st round (5th pick, 5th overall), 1995 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: November 3, 1995

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020 (Full List)

Career Length: 21 years

21 21 5 2
+3
SUMMARY

Career

G

1462

PTS

17.8

TRB

10.0

AST

3.7

FG%

49.7

FG3%

27.5

FT%

78.9

eFG%

50.1

PER

22.7

WS

191.4

His team won by 39 points in a championship close-out game, and this guy had a +32 plus/minus rating. How’s that for efficiency? Kevin Garnett finally got his NBA ring with a stellar display in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals. In maybe the most storied rivalry in American professional sports, the Boston Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers for 11th time in the Finals. The Boston Celtics were aiming to snap a 22-year title drought, and KG made sure it happened. It was Celtic domination from the opening tip, and The Big Ticket dropped 26 points, grabbed 14 boards, and dished 4 assists to delight the Garden crowd. The final margin of 131-92 is the second biggest blowout in NBA Finals history. Garnett helped break ground for the new era of big men with his all-around versatility and ability to play outside of the post. This Hall of Famer won an MVP award, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and he was a 15-time All-Star. Kevin Garnett was a vital reason the Boston Celtics broke their championship dry spell, and his spectacular Game 6 performance was one of the best in NBA Finals History.

Kobe Bryant (Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals)

Photo of Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant ▪ Twitter: kobebryant

(Black Mamba, KB24, Vino, Showboat, Little Flying Warrior, The Eighth Man, Lord of the Rings)

Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right

6-6, 212lb (198cm, 96kg)

Born: August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania us

Died: January 26, 2020 (Aged 41-156d)

Relatives: Father Joe Bryant; Uncle Chubby Cox

High School: Lower Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Draft: Charlotte Hornets, 1st round (13th pick, 13th overall), 1996 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: November 3, 1996

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020 (Full List)

Career Length: 20 years

24 33 8 24 10 10
+5
SUMMARY

Career

G

1346

PTS

25.0

TRB

5.2

AST

4.7

FG%

44.7

FG3%

32.9

FT%

83.7

eFG%

48.2

PER

22.9

WS

172.7

Kobe Bryant appeared in the NBA Finals seven times and won the ring five times; he played in a total of 37 Finals games. Out of those 37 games, his outstanding outing in Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals may have been his best. By this point the Lakers were Kobe’s team, and he had yet to win a title without Shaq. The Mamba was ready to change that against the Orlando Magic with 40 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a 100-75 Lakers W. His 33 game score rating was by far his best in any Finals appearance. They later won that series in five games, and then they repeated in 2010 over the hated Celtics. Kobe was the Finals MVP in both series as he led a collection of great role players to glory. His 25.3 ppg average in the Finals ranks 13th all time, and his 65 steals are 4th all time. Doubtlessly, Kobe Bryant was an NBA legend who delivered in the clutch, and he has one of the top single-game performances in NBA Finals history.

FAQs

What is the most points scored in a single game of the NBA Finals in the 2000s?

Allen Iverson scored the most points in an NBA Finals game during the 2000s. On June 6, 2001, Iverson scored 48 points for the Philadelphia 76ers in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers later won that series in five games. 

Who has the most triple-doubles in NBA Finals history?

LeBron James has the most triple-doubles in the NBA Finals with 11.

What is the most points scored in a single game of the NBA Finals?

Elgin Baylor holds the NBA record for most points scored in an NBA Finals game. On April 14, 1962, Baylor scored 61 points in a win for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers later lost that series in seven games. 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 at 9:15 pm and is filed under Top 10 Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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