The NBA Finals have seen many legendary players over the years. Here are some of the most notable ones: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics), Wilt Chamberlain (Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia Warriors), Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls), Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs), LeBron James (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers), and Larry Bird (Boston Celtics). These players have left an indelible mark on the NBA Finals and their legacies continue to inspire future generations of basketball players.
Notable Players from Past NBA Finals
The NBA Finals have seen many legendary players over the years. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- Won 11 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-66)
- Named the greatest player in the history of the NBA by the league on its 50th anniversary
Wilt Chamberlain (Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia Warriors)
- Won 2 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (1972, 1972)
- Holds the record for most rebounds in a single game (55)
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- Won 6 NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls (1991-93, 1996-98)
- Named the greatest basketball player of all time by ESPN in 2020
Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
- Won 5 NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- Named one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history in 2021
LeBron James (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers)
- Won 4 NBA Championships with the Miami Heat (2012, 2013), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), and Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
- Named one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history in 2021
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Won 5 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02, 2009, 2010)
- Scored 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, which is the second-highest total in NBA history
Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Won 5 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
- Named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996
Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
- Won 3 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986)
- Named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996
These players have left an indelible mark on the NBA Finals and their legacies continue to inspire future generations of basketball players.