Top 10 NBA Finals performances of All-Time

9. Jerry West scores first triple-double in NBA Finals Game 7 history

Jerry West scores first triple-double in NBA Finals Game 7 history

The 1969 NBA Finals was another epic chapter in the one of the biggest rivalry in sports history between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers were making their sixth appearance to the NBA Finals in the 1960s, with the previous five ending in defeat by the hands of none other than their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics.

This time around, the scenario appeared to be different with the Lakers taking a 3-2 lead in the series. But, with a loss in Game 6, the series shifted back to Los Angeles. Jerry West up till that point had been the star of the series, averaging an unfathomable 38 points per game, and Game 7 was nothing different. West logged the first triple-double in NBA Finals Game 7 history scoring 42 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and distributing the ball 12 times while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.

Despite West's herculean performance, the Lakers faltered down the stretch on their home floor to finally lose the game 108-106 and the series. While the Lakers failed to claim any hardware, West was named the Finals MVP for his unbelievable performance throughout the series and in Game 7. With this award, he became the first and only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP while being on the losing team.