As it said, the Final Four is the place where legends are made. On one side, some people leave their marks; on the other side, some show sheer dominance. But a few performances make fans sit on the edges of their seats. So it’s easy to say they are the ones who named themselves on the list of top 10 stars who played in the Final Four.
Take a Look a the Most Incredible Final Four Stars of All Time
1. Magic Johnson (Michigan State, 1979)
You can never talk about the Final Four without mentioning Magic Johnson. His legendary showdown against Larry Bird in the 1979 championship game is one of the most-watched college basketball games ever. Magic led Michigan State to a 75-64 win over Indiana State. And if that wasn’t enough, he put up 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. That crazy performance sealed his place as a college basketball icon before he even entered the NBA.
2. Larry Bird (Indiana State, 1979)
This is a pretty cool story, as on the losing end of that 1979′ Final Four was Larry Bird. However, his impact was equally legendary. Bird also led Indiana State that far in the competition. Even though the results weren’t up to the mark, he averaged 27 points and 13 rebounds in the tournament. Fans also remembered him for his epic NBA rivalry with Magic
3. Christian Laettner (Duke, 1991 & 1992)
Then comes Christian Laettner; hands down, he is considered the greatest college basketball player of all time. On top of his performance in the Final Four was an add-on to his resume. The player led the Duke to back-to-back national championships, one in 1991 and another in 1992. Laettner’s buzzer-beater against Kentucky in the Elite Eight is the most famous moment of his career. With all that, he had dominated the Final Four tournament and averaged 20 points in the 92 championship game.
4. Bill Walton (UCLA, 1973)
If you’re talking about pure dominance, Bill Walton is the name no one will forget. Walton’s 1973 title game performance is not only unmatched but also the most talked about one. The UCLA big man went 21-of-22 from the field, scoring 44 points against Memphis in the championship game. His near-perfect night is still considered one of the best individual performances in NCAA history.
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor, UCLA, 1967-1969)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor inside the court. He has won three straight Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards. That’s surely something no one else has done. UCLA went 88-2 during his time there, and his Final Four performances were pure domination. His skyhook was virtually unstoppable, and he helped UCLA secure three national titles in a row.
6. Kemba Walker (UConn, 2011)
No one owned March Madness quite like Kemba Walker in 2011. Walker led UConn on an 11-game winning streak through the Big East and NCAA Tournament. And on top of that, he carried the team to a national title. In the Final Four, he dropped 18 points on Kentucky and followed it up with 16 in the championship game against Butler. His step-back jumper against Pitt in the Big East Tournament was just the beginning of his legendary run.
7. Danny Manning (Kansas, 1988)
Manning was so dominant that Kansas’ 1988 title team is literally called “Danny and the Miracles.” As a No. 6 seed, the Jayhawks weren’t expected to make a deep run. However, Manning wasn’t having it. Nah, he put up 31 points and 18 rebounds in the championship game against Oklahoma. This performance made him secure one of the most surprising NCAA titles ever.
8. Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse, 2003)
‘Melo played just one year in college, but he made it count. As a freshman, he led Syracuse to its first-ever national title. The star athlete torched Texas for 33 points in the Final Four and followed it up with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in the championship game. His performance sealed his status as one of the best one-and-done players in history.
9. Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston, 1983 & 1984)
Olajuwon led Houston’s famous “Phi Slama Jama” teams to back-to-back Final Fours, but unfortunately, they never won it all. Still, his 20-point, 18-rebound effort in the 1984 semifinal against Virginia showed just how dominant he was. Even though Houston fell to Georgetown in the title game, Olajuwon was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. It was definitely a rare feat for someone who didn’t win the championship.
10. Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012)
Davis’ numbers in the 2012 championship game weren’t as flashy as the others. He managed to make just 6 points, but the way he dominated on the court made fans believe in his skills. He had 16 rebounds and six blocks and completely shut down Kansas’ offense. His impact on defense helped Kentucky cruise to a national title. He even went on to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
The Final Four has been the proving ground for some of the greatest players in college basketball history. Let’s now wait for the new names to be added to this list. Also, tell us who you think has got that spark on the court to be beside one of these legendary players.
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