Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Latest Basketball News & Rumors Today / Latest NBA News & Rumors Today / Ranking the 5 Worst NBA Finals Single Game Performance by a Star

Ranking the 5 Worst NBA Finals Single Game Performance by a Star

The Worst Single-Game Performances in NBA Finals History!
Publish Date: 04/14/2022
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis
SEATTLE, WA - 1978: Dennis Johnson #24 of the Seattle Supersonics shoots the ball against the Washington Bullets during a game in 1978 at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1978 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Worst single-game Performances in an NBA Finals game!

The Top 5 worst NBA Finals Performances by a star are what we are taking a look at today. Even legends have bad days at the worst time possible and today we will look at the 5 worst. Check out our Best Bookmakers, for betting on the NBA Playoffs!

Check out our top sportsbook bonuses for betting on the NBA!

DraftKings
1.
4.6/5
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 5
Go to DraftKings
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
FanDuel
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to FanDuel
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
BetMGM
3.
4.5/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to BetMGM
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
4.
4.5/5
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to Bet365
Get bonus now
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
5.
4.5/5
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit
Copy
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+

5) Reggie Miller 2000 NBA Finals Game 1

Miller was known for being clutch in his career and in 2000 he got his only shot at winning an NBA Finals. Now, Miller performed well during the last 5 games of the series, but game 1 was maybe Miller’s worst performance of his career as he made just 1 out of his 16 shots as the Pacers fell behind 1-0 in a series they would eventually lose in six games.

Video: Kobe Bryant Defense on Reggie Miller - 2000 Finals Game 1

Kobe Bryant Defense on Reggie Miller – 2000 Finals Game 1

4) Kenyon Martin 2003 NBA Finals Game 6

The Nets made back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 and Martin was a big reason the Nets made those trips. In 2003 with the Nets backs to the door, Martin made a grand total of 3 of his 23 shots as for the second year in a row the Nets lost in the finals.

Video: Kenyon Martin 3-23 FG Offensive Highlights vs Spurs Game 6 2003 NBA Finals

Kenyon Martin 3-23 FG Offensive Highlights vs Spurs Game 6 2003 NBA Finals

3) John Starks 1994 NBA Finals Game 7

The Knicks led this series 3 games to 2 headed to Houston for games 6 and 7. In-game 6 the Rockets tied the series and then in the climactic game 7 Starks missed 11 three-point shots and overall made just 2-18 on the way to eight points, two assists, and two rebounds in 42 minutes played.

Video: The Worst Choke Job In NBA History | 1994 Game Seven Knicks vs Rockets

The Worst Choke Job In NBA History | 1994 Game Seven Knicks vs Rockets

2) Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman 1957 NBA Finals Game 7

Cousy and Sharman at the time were the best backcourt in the NBA and Cousy was looking for his first title. Cousy capped his historic rookie season with a shockingly poor game 7, finishing 2 for 20 from the field in 58 minutes. His backcourt mate, Hall-of-Famer Bill Sharman, was 3 for 20 in 48 minutes. Luckily Tommy Heinson and Bill Russell saved the day and led the Celtics to the title. Check out the best Gambling news!

Video: 1957 NBA Finals Lookback: Boston Celtics vs St. Louis Hawks

1957 NBA Finals Lookback: Boston Celtics vs St. Louis Hawks

Check out the top sportsbooks!

DraftKings
4.6/5
DraftKings Review
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now
FanDuel
4.6/5
FanDuel Review
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now
BetMGM
4.5/5
BetMGM Review
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now

1). Dennis Johnson 1978 NBA Finals Game 7

Johnson is one of the most underrated players in NBA history, so I hate to put him on the worst list, but how bad he was in Game 7, of the 1979 NBA Finals cannot be ignored. Johnson missed all 14 of his shots in a 6 point home loss to the Washington Bullets. Now Johnson and the Sonics returned to the Finals in 1979 and Johnson redeemed himself by being named the 1979 Finals MVP.

Video: 1978 NBA Finals: Washington Bullets vs Seattle Super Sonics Game 7

1978 NBA Finals: Washington Bullets vs Seattle Super Sonics Game 7

Once again all of the players on this list were great players and that simple fact is why this list is intriguing to me. All of these guys would probably make a list for greatest single-game performances in an NBA Finals game also. Sometimes it’s nice to show that even all-time great players have off-nights and sometimes those off-nights are at the worst possible time. The greatest story on here would be Dennis Johnson who went from being a scapegoat in game 7 of the 1978 Finals and in 1979 turned around and was named the Finals MVP. Johnson was number one because he was usually as clutch as any player in NBA history.

Read Also
Top 10 Best NBA Defensive Teams Of All Time
The NBA has gone through many phases in its history, from the ...
Top 10 White American NBA Players in History
Today, we look at the greatest white American basketball players in the ...
Bet365 Promo
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Indiana Basketball Weekly
Welcome to Indiana Basketball Weekly, your dedicated podcast for all things Indiana ...
17 Reasons Why Michael Jordan is Greater than LeBron James
I'd like to begin by stating that I do not automatically label ...
Come Fly with me: How the 1988-89 Chicago Bulls pushed forward to an NBA dynasty.
Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Prologue: By ...
Ranking the decade: Top ten NBA point guards of the 2010s
During the 2010s, elite wings took over facilitating duties from point guards ...
What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History?
15Every NBA player and fan thinks that their generation of basketball was ...
Top 50 NBA players under 25 years old in 2021: Doncic bests Young
This year’s playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. The ...
Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes
Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is ...
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to FanDuel
Get Bonus
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code:
Go to Bet365
Go to Bet365
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now