For some, it’s all concerning the rings when rating gamers.
However when you take a look at the numbers of NBA stars in Finals they misplaced, it exhibits how flawed that logic might be. Generally, opponents are simply too powerful to beat regardless of heroic performances.
Jerry West, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, for instance, all posted stat strains in defeats that will have gotten them Finals MVP indisputably had they gained their collection. West really did win Finals MVP in 1969 regardless of his Los Angeles Lakers falling to the Boston Celtics in Sport 7, making him the one participant in league historical past to earn Finals MVP regardless of shedding within the championship collection.
And taking a look at a number of the numbers beneath, perhaps that’s one thing that ought to occur extra typically.
Moreover West, James and Durant, there are just a few different gamers who’ve a status for struggling to win the massive one beneath who really posted nice numbers in defeat.
For extra on how NBA legends fared in Finals losses, simply peruse the gallery we put collectively beneath.
Jerry West: 9 Finals performed, eight misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 31.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.1 rpg, 47.2 FG%
Elgin Baylor: Seven Finals performed, seven misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 26.4 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 43.2 FG%
LeBron James: Ten Finals performed, six misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 28.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.7 apg, 1.5 spg, 47.3 FG%, 34.9 3P%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Ten Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 25.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.9 bpg, 50.4 FG%
Wilt Chamberlain: Six Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 18.7 ppg, 24.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 55.1 FG%
Magic Johnson: 9 Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 17.4 ppg, 12.2 apg, 7.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, 47.4 FG%, 21.7 3P%
Bob Pettit: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 28.1 ppg, 16.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 41.7 FG%
Julius Erving: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 26.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.2 spg, 1.5 bpg, 53.6 FG%
James Worthy: Six Finals performed, three misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 22.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 54.4 FG%
Karl Malone: Three Finals performed, three misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 19.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 spg, 46.0 FG%
Wes Unseld: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 12.6 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 45.6 FG%
Kevin Durant: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 55.0 FG%
Shaquille O’Neal: Six Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 27.2 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 61.4 FG%
Stephen Curry: Six Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 26.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 40.9 FG%, 37.4 3P%
Clyde Drexler: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 25.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.7 apg, 46.7 FG%, 15.6 3P%
Larry Chicken: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 25.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 4.6 rpg, 46.0 FG%, 47.8 3P%
Kobe Bryant: Seven Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 24.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 spg, 39.3 FG%, 25.5 3P%
Kevin McHale: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 23.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 59.2 FG%
Dwyane Wade: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 21.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, 50.6 FG%, 31.0 3P%
Elvin Hayes: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 20.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 40.5 FG%
Jason Kidd: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 20.1 ppg, 8.6 apg, 6.6 rpg, 39.3 FG%, 28.1 3P%
Ray Allen: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 12.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 38.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%
John Stockton: Two Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 12.3 ppg, 8.8 apg, 3.3 rpg, 49.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Bob McAdoo: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 12.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 44.6 FG%
Gary Payton: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Stats in misplaced Finals: 11.7 ppg, 5.8 apg, 4.8 rpg, 41.5 FG%, 29.7 3P%
