The Lakers’ Pau Gasol delivered a massive 19-point, 18-rebound double-double in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
The 2025 NBA season will have the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016 as the Thunder will host the Pacers in a winner-take-all clash. Game 7 often brings out the best performances from the best players in the biggest moments. Below we’ll detail the best fantasy performances in NBA Finals Game 7 history.
2016 NBA Finals: Draymond Green, 68 fantasy points
The most recent NBA Finals to go to Game 7 was the Cavaliers-Warriors rematch in 2016. It was an instant classic to put a bow on an incredible series with plenty of twists and turns. That game featured some unbelievable individual performances. Most people remember LeBron James’ chasedown block as the moment from this game, and it helped round out what was an extremely strong fantasy output from King James.
James finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks and two steals as the Cavaliers took Game 7 on the road. That was good for 67 fantasy points. What’s often forgotten is just how well Draymond Green played on the other side that night.
Green finished the night with 32 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and two steals over 47 minutes. That adds up to an astounding 68 fantasy points. Green’s 32 points that night were five shy of a personal postseason best set earlier in those playoffs when he dropped 37 on the Trail Blazers.
2013 NBA Finals: LeBron James, 61.4 fantasy points
The Heat had some momentum entering Game 7 as they were coming off of a season-saving outing from the ever-clutch Ray Allen in Game 6. Time was running out on the Heat and preparations were in motion for a Spurs trophy ceremony until Allen canned a corner three to send it to overtime, where the Heat would ultimately prevail.
This set up an epic Game 7 between two of the league’s best teams playing their best ball. Game 7 unfolded in dramatic fashion as both teams got incredible performances from their stars. Ultimately, Game 7 didn’t have the same dramatic flourish at the end because James had taken over. James lit it up for 37 points on 52% shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing four assists. This stat line added up to 61.4 fantasy points, which eclipsed a pair of great individual outings from Tim Duncan (53.4) and a young Kawhi Leonard (42.2).
2010 NBA Finals: Pau Gasol, 51.6 fantasy points
The Lakers and Celtics have met in the NBA Finals 12 times in their storied rivalry. Five of those have gone seven games, including the most recent installment in 2010. The Lakers were in search of their second consecutive title and a little revenge after falling to the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals.
The Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the series after five games, but the Lakers put together a 22-point victory at home in Game 6 to set up a decisive Game 7.
Kobe Bryant had been a driving force for the Lakers in that series. However, it was Gasol who shone brightest in the clincher. Gasol dropped 19 points and pulled down 18 rebounds while dishing out four assists and racking up four blocks. Add those altogether, and that’s good for 51.6 fantasy points from Gasol as the Lakers closed out the series on the road and won the title.
2005 NBA Finals: Tim Duncan, 43.7 fantasy points
The 2005 NBA Finals featured two of the best defensive teams of the 2000s. In fact, in the previous season, the Spurs (94.1) and Pistons (95.4) still rank as the two best defensive seasons in the NBA since 2000 by defensive rating. In 2005, the Spurs’ defensive rating (98.8) was the best in the league and the Pistons’ 101.2 ranked third.
As a result, points were at a premium in the NBA Finals matchup between these two squads. There was exactly one instance – the Pistons in Game 4 – in which a team reached 100 points over the seven games. Game 7 was a defensive battle to the nth degree, with the Spurs scratching out an 81-74 victory to prevent a back-to-back championship run from the Pistons.
While actual points were hard to come by, Tim Duncan mustered a strong performance by fantasy standards. The Big Fundamental recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 42 minutes to finish with 43.7 fantasy points. For his career, Duncan played in 34 Finals games and scored at least 25 points in nine of them.
