The year 2015 gave us some of the best statistical performances from the best players in the NBA and we’re rounding out the five.
1. Anthony Davis (vs Denver, March 15, 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfz3ZZmSwd4
Eleven days before this game versus Denver, Anthony Davis terrorized the Detroit Pistons with an 8-block performance. Little did we know, he still has something up his sleeve versus the Nuggets.
Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, and 9 blocks March 15th, making him the only NBA player to ever reach those numbers in a single night since the league officially began recording blocks in 1973-74.
2. Russell Westbrook’s String Of Triple Doubles
From February 24 to March 4, 2015, Russell Westbrook became the first man since Michael Jordan to put up a string of four consecutive triple-double performances. He is good for 37 points, 13.25 rebounds, and 10.5 assists during that span, capped with a very strong 49-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist, and 3-steal performance against the Sixers.
3. Klay’s 37
We know Klay Thompson can shoot but not this well. The other half of the Splash Brothers erupted for 37 in the third quarter of the Jan. 23, 2015 game versus the Kings, to which he went 13-for-13 from the field (including NINE from deep). He finished with 52 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 11 3PM.
Stephen Curry may have better numbers overall but in my eyes, an immaculate 12 minutes puts Thompson’s performance way above any other outing his MVP teammate has put up.
4. Pau Gasol (vs Bucks, Jan. 10, 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcCFG8j-2Tk
There are many more statistically-diverse performances than Pau’s, but to think he achieved his career-high in points at age 34 is nothing less than amazing. Gasol’s 46 points and 18 rebounds made the second player in franchise history besides Michael Jordan to have at least 40 points and 15 rebounds in a game.
5. Kyrie Irving (vs Spurs, March 12, 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXxt8hJbelo
There was something about the hoop in San Antonio that made Kyrie Irving click. Uncle Drew had 57 points (perfect 10-10 FT and 7-7 3-PT) on top of 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and four steals that night, leading the Cavs to a 128-125 victory over the Spurs. That was one of the rarest wins by a visiting team in San Antonio, the most points scored by a Spurs opponent, and a Cleveland Cavaliers franchise record.
Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
