For some, it’s all concerning the rings when rating gamers.
However for those who have a look at the numbers of NBA stars in Finals they misplaced, it exhibits how flawed that logic may be. Typically, opponents are simply too robust to beat regardless of heroic performances.
Jerry West, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, for instance, all posted stat strains in defeats that may have gotten them Finals MVP indisputably had they received their sequence. 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 dropping within the championship sequence.
And taking a look at a few of the numbers beneath, possibly that’s one thing that ought to occur extra typically.
Apart from West, James and Durant, there are a number of different gamers who’ve a repute for struggling to win the large 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
Elgin Baylor: Seven Finals performed, seven misplaced
LeBron James: Ten Finals performed, six misplaced
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Ten Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Wilt Chamberlain: Six Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Magic Johnson: 9 Finals performed, 4 misplaced
Bob Pettit: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
Julius Erving: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
James Worthy: Six Finals performed, three misplaced
Karl Malone: Three Finals performed, three misplaced
Wes Unseld: 4 Finals performed, three misplaced
Kevin Durant: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
Shaquille O’Neal: Six Finals performed, two misplaced
Stephen Curry: Six Finals performed, two misplaced
Clyde Drexler: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Larry Fowl: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Kobe Bryant: Seven Finals performed, two misplaced
Kevin McHale: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Dwyane Wade: 5 Finals performed, two misplaced
Elvin Hayes: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Jason Kidd: Three Finals performed, two misplaced
Ray Allen: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
John Stockton: Two Finals performed, two misplaced
Bob McAdoo: 4 Finals performed, two misplaced
Gary Payton: Three Finals performed, two misplaced