NBA Finals Statistical Records
The NBA Finals represent the highest level of competition in professional basketball, bringing together the league's two conference champions to determine the NBA title. Throughout the history of the championship series, some of basketball's greatest players have delivered remarkable individual performances and helped their teams establish records that have endured for decades.
From Elgin Baylor's 61-point performance against the Boston Celtics in 1962 to Magic Johnson's legendary passing displays and Bill Russell's dominance on the boards, the NBA Finals have produced some of the most impressive statistical achievements in league history.
NBAHoopsOnline maintains an archive of historical Finals records covering individual players, teams and combined performances. These records include single-game achievements, records for individual quarters and halves, shooting percentages, and both the highest and lowest statistical totals recorded in championship games.
Use the categories below to explore NBA Finals history by statistical category. All nine original record pages remain linked from this index.
NBA Finals Scoring and Shooting Records
Points
NBA Finals Scoring Records
Explore the highest-scoring individual performances in NBA Finals history, including Elgin Baylor's 61-point game, Rick Barry's 55-point performance and Michael Jordan's greatest championship scoring efforts.
Field Goals
NBA Finals Field Goal Records
Individual and team records for field goals made, field goal attempts and shooting percentages. Includes single-game, half and quarter records, along with historic shooting performances.
Three-Point Shooting
NBA Finals Three-Point Records
Historical records for three-pointers made and attempted by players and teams. Includes individual games, team totals, combined records and shooting achievements from memorable Finals performances.
Free Throws
NBA Finals Free Throw Records
Explore free throws made, attempts, percentages and perfect shooting performances, including records involving Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal and other NBA Finals stars.
NBA Finals Rebounding, Passing and Defensive Records
Rebounds
NBA Finals Rebounding Records
Records for total rebounds, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds by individuals and teams. Includes Bill Russell's two 40-rebound NBA Finals performances.
Assists
NBA Finals Assists Records
Individual and team assist records, including Magic Johnson's 21-assist performance in the 1984 NBA Finals and other historic championship playmaking achievements.
Blocked Shots
NBA Finals Blocked Shots Records
Explore the greatest shot-blocking performances in NBA Finals history, including individual and team records, single-game totals and defensive achievements.
Steals
NBA Finals Steals Records
Historical NBA Finals records for steals by individual players, teams and both teams combined, including defensive performances that changed championship games.
Turnovers
NBA Finals Turnover Records
Explore historical records for turnovers committed by individual players and teams, including the highest and lowest totals recorded during NBA championship games.
Notable NBA Finals Statistical Performances
Many of the most memorable moments in NBA Finals history are associated with extraordinary statistical performances. The following achievements illustrate the variety of records documented in the NBAHoopsOnline archive.
| Category |
Player or Team |
Performance |
Date |
| Most Points in a Game |
Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers |
61 points vs. Boston Celtics |
April 14, 1962 |
| Most Rebounds in a Game |
Bill Russell, Boston Celtics |
40 rebounds vs. St. Louis Hawks |
March 29, 1960 |
| Most Rebounds in a Game |
Bill Russell, Boston Celtics |
40 rebounds vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
April 18, 1962 |
| Most Assists in a Game |
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers |
21 assists vs. Boston Celtics |
June 3, 1984 |
| Most Field Goals Made in a Game |
Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers |
22 field goals vs. Boston Celtics |
April 14, 1962 |
| Most Field Goals Made in a Game |
Rick Barry, San Francisco Warriors |
22 field goals vs. Philadelphia 76ers |
April 18, 1967 |
| Perfect Field Goal Shooting |
Scott Wedman, Boston Celtics |
11-for-11 vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
May 27, 1985 |
| Most Free Throw Attempts in a Game |
Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers |
39 attempts vs. Indiana Pacers |
June 9, 2000 |
| Most Blocked Shots in a Game |
Multiple Players |
8 blocked shots |
Multiple Finals games |
Archive note: The performances above are selected historical examples from the linked record pages. They should not be treated as a fully verified list of current all-time leaders in every category. The individual statistical pages should be reviewed and updated to include more recent Finals performances.
How NBA Finals Records Have Changed
The Early Years: During the NBA's first decades, championship games were frequently dominated by traditional centers and high-volume scorers. George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor produced many of the league's earliest championship records. Rebounding totals were often exceptionally high because teams played at a faster pace and shooting percentages were generally lower than in the modern game.
The Expansion of Statistical Tracking: As the NBA developed, more statistical categories became part of the official record. Blocked shots and steals were first recorded as official NBA statistics during the 1973-74 season. Offensive and defensive rebounds also became separately tracked, allowing historians to compare different aspects of rebounding performance.
The Three-Point Era: The NBA introduced the three-point line for the 1979-80 season, creating an entirely new category of championship records. Over time, three-point shooting became increasingly important, particularly as teams placed greater emphasis on spacing, perimeter offense and shooting efficiency.
The Modern NBA Finals: Today's championship games feature a different balance of scoring, shooting, passing and defensive strategies. The increased use of three-point shooting has changed team shot selection, while modern statistical analysis has expanded the ways in which Finals performances can be evaluated.
These changes make NBA Finals records especially interesting because they reflect not only individual greatness but also the evolution of professional basketball across different eras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the most points in a single NBA Finals game?
Elgin Baylor scored 61 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics on April 14, 1962.
Who recorded the most rebounds in an NBA Finals game?
Bill Russell grabbed 40 rebounds in two separate NBA Finals games, once against the St. Louis Hawks in 1960 and again against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1962.
Who holds the NBA Finals single-game assists record?
Magic Johnson recorded 21 assists against the Boston Celtics on June 3, 1984.
When did the NBA begin recording steals and blocked shots?
The NBA began officially recording steals and blocked shots during the 1973-74 season, so those statistics are not available for many of the league's earliest championship games.
What statistical categories are included in the NBAHoopsOnline Finals records archive?
The archive includes nine categories: points, field goals, three-pointers, free throws, rebounds, assists, blocked shots, steals and turnovers.
More NBA Finals and Playoff History
Submit a Record or Correction
If you know of an important record that would make a good addition to this page, or notice an error in one of the existing entries, please send the information.
When suggesting an addition, please include the date, teams, player or record involved and a reliable source when available.
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Submissions will be reviewed before changes are made to NBAHoopsOnline historical records.
