Breakout Performances in The NBA Finals

Kawhi Leonard stole the spotlight in Miami.

Kawhi Leonard Skips World Cup of Basketball to Rest Body - After winning the NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard was a sure shot to make the U.S. basketball team and participate in the World Cup of Basketball tournament late August in Spain. However, Leonard chose to skip consideration for the team altogether to rest his body, something he said he learned is needed after watching teammates like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili struggle with their health after playing for their respective national teams and Spurs. "I went through those two seasons going down to June 20," Leonard told the San Antonio Express-News of playing in back-to-back NBA Finals now. "That's tough on your body to keep going. I'm just learning from Tony and Manu Ginobili, just going into that offseason and playing so hard and then coming back and their bodi...

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Kawhi Leonard Scores Career-High in Game 3 of NBA Finals - Be clear — Kawhi Leonard showed flashes of brilliance in the NBA Finals last year. But he never put a more complete game together like he did Tuesday night during Game 3 of the NBA Finals. After scoring just nine points in Game 2, the San Antonio Spurs small forward shot a sizzling 10-of-13 from the field for a career-high 29 points to lead his team to victory over the Miami Heat. He also did a solid job defending LeBron James late in the game. Like Leonard, there always seems to be a young player who stamps his presence with a breakout performance in the NBA Finals. Here, BET.com takes a look at some notable moments when little known players came up big in the NBA Finals.  (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images) (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Robert Horry – 1994 NBA Finals - The 1994 NBA Finals memorably pitted Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets up against the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. But with everyone's eyes focused on the epic battle at center, it was crucial for each team's supporting cast to step up. Robert Horry, then just 24 and in his second year as a pro, got the memo...especially in Game 3 of the series. There, Horry had 16 points and eight rebounds, while also providing solid defense. And to think the Rockets were going to trade Horry in February of that same year. Not only was Game 3 his Finals breakout performance, but it was also the first of seven championships that Horry would win. Big Shot Bob, ya dig! (Photo: Getty Images)

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Robert Horry – 1994 NBA Finals - The 1994 NBA Finals memorably pitted Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets up against the Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. But with everyone's eyes focused on the epic battle at center, it was crucial for each team's supporting cast to step up. Robert Horry, then just 24 and in his second year as a pro, got the memo...especially in Game 3 of the series. There, Horry had 16 points and eight rebounds, while also providing solid defense. And to think the Rockets were going to trade Horry in February of that same year. Not only was Game 3 his Finals breakout performance, but it was also the first of seven championships that Horry would win. Big Shot Bob, ya dig! (Photo: Getty Images)

Sam Cassell – 1994 NBA Finals - Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, Robert Horry wasn't the only Houston Rockets breakout performer in the 1994 NBA Finals. There was also a rookie named Sam Cassell. Just 24 at the time, the first-year Rockets reserve guard never seemed to be fazed by the bright lights of the Finals, finding ways to knock down big shots for H-Town in pressure-cooker moments. Cassell scored seven straight points in the final 32.6 seconds of Game 3 to lead the Rockets to victory, and then came through with 13 more in the decisive Game 7. Immediately, a star was born. Sorry for the reminder Knicks fans. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Sam Cassell – 1994 NBA Finals - Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, Robert Horry wasn't the only Houston Rockets breakout performer in the 1994 NBA Finals. There was also a rookie named Sam Cassell. Just 24 at the time, the first-year Rockets reserve guard never seemed to be fazed by the bright lights of the Finals, finding ways to knock down big shots for H-Town in pressure-cooker moments. Cassell scored seven straight points in the final 32.6 seconds of Game 3 to lead the Rockets to victory, and then came through with 13 more in the decisive Game 7. Immediately, a star was born. Sorry for the reminder Knicks fans. (Photo: Getty Images)

Scottie Pippen – 1991 NBA Finals - Scottie Pippen was on the verge of stardom before the 1991 NBA Finals even began. Then, once the series between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers tipped off, Pippen broke out and solidified his status. After a Bulls loss in Game 1, Pip changed the climate of the series when he started guarding Magic Johnson in Game 2. Chicago would win that game and the next two before Pippen turned in a 32-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 5, which not only outshined Michael Jordan, but also served as the official start of the Bulls dynasty that won six championships in eight years.  (Photo: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport/Getty Images)

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Scottie Pippen – 1991 NBA Finals - Scottie Pippen was on the verge of stardom before the 1991 NBA Finals even began. Then, once the series between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers tipped off, Pippen broke out and solidified his status. After a Bulls loss in Game 1, Pip changed the climate of the series when he started guarding Magic Johnson in Game 2. Chicago would win that game and the next two before Pippen turned in a 32-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 5, which not only outshined Michael Jordan, but also served as the official start of the Bulls dynasty that won six championships in eight years.  (Photo: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport/Getty Images)

Mario Chalmers – 2012 NBA Finals - Even the Miami Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh needed a lift in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They got just that from Heat guard Mario Chalmers, who scored 25 points, including a driving layup and two clutch free throws late in the fourth quarter, to break out and help deliver Miami a 3-1 series lead. If only the Heat can get a similar output from Chalmers in these current NBA Finals. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Mario Chalmers – 2012 NBA Finals - Even the Miami Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh needed a lift in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They got just that from Heat guard Mario Chalmers, who scored 25 points, including a driving layup and two clutch free throws late in the fourth quarter, to break out and help deliver Miami a 3-1 series lead. If only the Heat can get a similar output from Chalmers in these current NBA Finals. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Leon Powe – 2008 NBA Finals - A second-year bench player, Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe turned in a more than memorable breakout performance during Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Powe poured in 21 points, on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 9-of-13 from the charity stripe, in only 15 minutes of action. Although it may have been a flash in the pan type of breakout performance — as Powe would fall out of the league altogether just four years later — he turned in a game nobody will forget. That was his moment.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Leon Powe – 2008 NBA Finals - A second-year bench player, Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe turned in a more than memorable breakout performance during Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Powe poured in 21 points, on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 9-of-13 from the charity stripe, in only 15 minutes of action. Although it may have been a flash in the pan type of breakout performance — as Powe would fall out of the league altogether just four years later — he turned in a game nobody will forget. That was his moment.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Rajon Rondo – 2008 NBA Finals - That same Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals saw Boston Celtics second-year guard Rajon Rondo dish 16 assists, but he was still saving his best for last. The scrappy 22-year-old guard made sure to fill nearly every stat with a dazzling 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals in a decisive Game 6 in which Boston finished off its rival Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo not only broke out, but put the league on early notice for the 2008-09 season that his star was on the rise.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Rajon Rondo – 2008 NBA Finals - That same Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals saw Boston Celtics second-year guard Rajon Rondo dish 16 assists, but he was still saving his best for last. The scrappy 22-year-old guard made sure to fill nearly every stat with a dazzling 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals in a decisive Game 6 in which Boston finished off its rival Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo not only broke out, but put the league on early notice for the 2008-09 season that his star was on the rise.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Cedric Maxwell – 1981 NBA Finals - He was on a Boston Celtics team stacked with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, but when the 1981 NBA Finals rolled around, Cedric Maxwell answered the bell in the biggest way. The 25-year-old small forward found a way to stamp his name on each game, including a pivotal Game 5, in which he posted a monstrous 28 points and 15 rebounds. That win gave the Celtics a 3-2 series lead over the Houston Rockets before the Celtics finished them in Game 6. Maxwell was named Finals MVP for Bird's first of three titles with Boston.(Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Cedric Maxwell – 1981 NBA Finals - He was on a Boston Celtics team stacked with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, but when the 1981 NBA Finals rolled around, Cedric Maxwell answered the bell in the biggest way. The 25-year-old small forward found a way to stamp his name on each game, including a pivotal Game 5, in which he posted a monstrous 28 points and 15 rebounds. That win gave the Celtics a 3-2 series lead over the Houston Rockets before the Celtics finished them in Game 6. Maxwell was named Finals MVP for Bird's first of three titles with Boston.(Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images)