Top 10 Incredible Performances in Losing Efforts

Sometimes, there is one performance that stands out to everyone even when the player who performs that way is on a losing team in the postseason. These are the top ten best performances in a losing effort.
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The Top Ten
1 Michael Jordan (63 points vs. Celtics in 1986) Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player.

In just his second season, Michael Jordan would put on a scoring display by dropping 49 in game one. But it was in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Celtics that lives on in memory. He scored 63 points, which broke an NBA Playoff record. In spite of this performance, the Bulls lost in double overtime.

Wilt Chamberlain scored 78 points and added 43 rebounds in a 1961 Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles NBA game. Apparently his teammates really sucked, because Wilt's Philadelphia team still lost to the Lakers.

The record he topped was the 61 point effort by the Laker's Elgin Baylor against the Celtics. "Except" Baylor's team won their game!

2 LeBron James (35.8 ppg in 2015 NBA Finals) LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers.

Perhaps the NBA wanted to avoid a similar situation by awarding the NBA Finals MVP to Andre Igoudala of the Golden State Warriors. But really, LeBron James deserved the MVP for his performance even after the Cavs lost in six games.

3 Tom Brady (505 passing yards in Super Bowl) Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr., is a retired American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Brady is known for being the only quarterback in history to win 7 Super Bowls, and was often considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Brady was also frequently considered to be the biggest steal in NFL history as a late 6th round pick. He had previously played for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2019.

Tom Brady had broken the Super Bowl passing yard record in the infamous comeback win over the Falcons. But in the next season, he smashed his own record with 505 passing yards in Super Bowl 52. But while his team scored 33 points, they lost to the Eagles, who ended up with 41.

4 Jerry West (Triple double in Gm7 of 1969 NBA Finals vs. Celtics) Jerry Alan West is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.

Jerry West was the first player to be named Finals MVP after his incredible triple double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics. But West wasn't able to get a champion and he remains the only player to receive the NBA Finals MVP on a losng team.

West was also tragically denied a championship the following year. In the 1970 NBA finals, West sank a 64-foot buzzer beater. If it had been the 3-point era, the Lakers would have won. However, that 64-footer was only worth 2 points, which only forced overtime, which the Lakers lost.

5 Nathan Eovaldi (9 innings relief against the Dodgers in 18-inning 2018 WS Gm3)

While Red Sox pitcher Eovaldi would suffer a loss in this contest, he pitched nine innings of relief in the longest World Series game ever against the Dodgers. Had it not been for a walkoff homer, Eovaldi might still be pitching.

6 Chuck Howley (2 INT, one forced fumble in Super Bowl V)

Even if it had a game-winning field goal in the final seconds, Super Bowl V was so bad that it remains the only Super Bowl with a losing player as the MVP. But when you look at the Dallas Cowboys linebacker, he had a big impact for his team that game.

7 Sidney Crosby (Hat-Trick vs. Capitals in 2009 Semifinals Gm2) Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently serves as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Down 1-0 in the series to the Capitals, Sidney Crosby scored all three goals for the Penguins in Game 2. But he would be matched by Alexander Ovechkin, who also scored a hat trick. Only a fourth Washington goal secured the win and a 2-0 series lead.

8 George Brett (3 HRs vs. Yankees in 1978 ALCS Gm3)

George Brett became the fifth player to hit three homers in a playoff game. And he would do so against the Yankees. But his heroics were not enough as the Yankees won the game and would go on to win the series.

9 Ed Podolak (350 Total Yards Against the Dolphins in 1971)

Ed Podolak's greatest game as an NFL player saw him pick up 350 total yards (85 rushing, 110 receiving, and 155 return yards). But in the longest playoff game in NFL history, the Chiefs could not get by the Dolphins, who won on a field goal.

10 Dominique Wilkins (47 Points vs. Celtics in 1988 ECSF Gm7) Jacques Dominique Wilkins is an American retired professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.

Wilkins got himself in a Game 7 duel with Larry Bird. Wilkins ended up scoring 47 points, including all 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, Larry Bird, despite finishing with 34 points, outscored Wilkins with 20 points and led the Celtics to a win.