Best second option in NBA playoff history?

[TheCorporation]

Among all NBA Finals MVP winners, who had the best second option of all time?

Jordan had:
Pippen in 1991 put up 22/9/6 on 50% with 2.5 steals per game

Shaq had:
Kobe in 2001 put up 29/7/6 on 47% with 1.6 steals per game

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Kareem had:
Magic in 1985 put up 18/7/15 on 51% with 1.7 steals per game

Kobe had:
Pau Gasol in 2010 put up 20/11/4 on 54% with 2 blocks per game

LeBron had:
Dwyane Wade in 2012 put up 23/5/4 on 46% with 1.7 steals per game

Wade had:
Shaquille O' Neal in 2006 put up 18/10 on 60% with 1.5 blocks per game

Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Bird had:
McHale in 1986 put up 25/9/3 on 58% with 2.4 blocks per game

Duncan had:
Ginobli in 2005 put up 21/6/4 on 51% with 1.2 steals per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game

When you look at who had the best second option of all time, it makes it pretty hard. If I had to rank them into tiers I would do it like this:


Tier 1
Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Bird had:
McHale in 1986 put up 25/9/3 on 58% with 2.4 blocks per game

Shaq had:
Kobe in 2001 put up 29/7/6 on 47% with 1.6 steals per game

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Kareem had:
Magic in 1985 put up 18/7/15 on 51% with 1.7 steals per game

Tier 2

Jordan had:
Pippen in 1991 put up 22/9/6 on 50% with 2.5 steals per game

Kobe had:
Pau Gasol in 2010 put up 20/11/4 on 54% with 2 blocks per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game

Tier 3

Duncan had:
Ginobli in 2005 put up 21/6/4 on 51% with 1.2 steals per game

LeBron had:
Dwyane Wade in 2012 put up 23/5/4 on 46% with 1.7 steals per game

Wade had:
Shaquille O' Neal in 2006 put up 18/10 on 60% with 1.5 blocks per game

[Black and White]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980

KAJ 1980 Playoffs:
31.9 ppg / 12.9 rpg / 3.1 apg / 1.1 spg / 3.9 bpg / 57.2 fg% / 79.0 ft% / 61.1 ts%

KAJ also won MVP during the regular season

[Deuce Bigalow]

This thread makes no sense. Maxwell was first option? Parker was too?

[SamuraiSWISH]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.

[TheCorporation]

Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980

KAJ 1980 Playoffs:
31.9 ppg / 12.9 rpg / 3.1 apg / 1.1 spg / 3.9 bpg / 57.2 fg% / 79.0 ft% / 61.1 ts%

KAJ also won MVP during the regular season

I'm taking the Finals MVP winner, and comparing their second option that year.

We can argue Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980 and Parker vs Duncan, etc. but the easiest way is to take the Finals MVP winner that year and compare him to his second option. Less room to be subjective.

[TheCorporation]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.

29/7/6 on 47% is amazing for a second option, but not GOAT 2nd option.

Check out 1980 when Magic won Finals MVP, Kareem put up godly numbers:

32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

That's some GOAT second option shit. No wonder them dudes won 5 chips haha

[TheCorporation]

Why are u saying Maxwell 'had' Bird in 81', Magic 'had' Kareem in 80', Parker had Duncan and Kareem had Magic in 85'? (this example is too a lesser extent then the others but still)...

Anyway, GOAT sidekick is 01' Kobe, dude was amazing that year...

In order to not be subjective I took the Finals MVP winner and compared their second option. Takes out the argument of "But Duncan/Parker/Magic etc was better that year."

[Milbuck]

2001 Kobe was on current Lebron/Durant level, knowing he was a 2nd option really sheds light on how incredible peak Shaq was.

[Eye Test]

kobe doesnt qualify since he played 1a for many series

[Rose'sACL]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.

you're also forgetting that without bosh/lebron, wade's career would already be over.
Wade got much more help from the big 3 than lebron or bosh. If wade is able to get another contract then he should pay half to lebron and bosh. although i am sure that wade will accept the player option and get some money. he would probably retire after next couple of years of very little playing time.

[Black and White]

you're also forgetting that without bosh/lebron, wade's career would already be over.
Wade got much more help from the big 3 than lebron or bosh. If wade is able to get another contract then he should pay half to lebron and bosh. although i am sure that wade will accept the player option and get some money. he would probably retire after next couple of years of very little playing time.

LeBron should pay Wade his entire salary for what happened in 2011

[TheCorporation]

2001 Kobe was on current Lebron/Durant level, knowing he was a 2nd option really sheds light on how incredible peak Shaq was.

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.

Unless you think scoring slightly less points much less efficiently, while getting far less rebounds and steals is on the same level?

[Rose'sACL]

LeBron should pay Wade his entire salary for what happened in 2011

why? He and bosh carried them to finals. Wade's finals stats wouldn't matter if he lost against chicago. Wade had worse stats against bulls in ECF than lebron's 2011 finals stats.

[Black and White]

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.

Interesting how he said current LeBron and you then bring up stats from 2012