4. Jerry West 1969 NBA Finals Game 7 – 43 points, 13 asissts, 12 rebounds in loss
If by now, you are too lazy to read anymore about the Lakers’ top 20 individual performances of all time, the annotated version of this slide is that Jerry West, “The Logo,” “Mr. Clutch,” is savage.
In Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, West finished the game with 43 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds but the Lakers ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics 108-106. That said, West remains the only player in NBA history to take home Finals MVP honors in a losing effort, though LeBron James came close last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That year in the Finals, West ended up averaging 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game. If there is such thing as a moral victory, this was it. Even though the Celtics took home the big prize, the title of being NBA champions, West would not let them have the glory of individual honors that is the Finals MVP.
It is tough to imagine how a team stacked with Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West could ever lose a game, but they did so many a time to the Boston Celtics.
Similar to their 33 game win streak, this remains one NBA record that will likely remain in tact for the foreseeable future.
Next: James Worthy's 1988 NBA Finals Game 7 Performance