The Ten Best Individual Perfomances of the 2009-'10 NBA Season

Throughout an NBA season we are sometimes treated to the performance of a lifetime. Everyone remembers Kobe's 81, Wade's game winning running three-pointer at the buzzer, or LeBron's should have been triple-double at Madison Square Garden. These games stick out in our minds for years, and with the 2009-'10 dwindling down, we have more individual performances that will go on to replay in our minds for years to come.

From rookies to veterans, the best performances of the season came from a wide array of NBA players, each one as exciting as the next.

LeBron James —43 Points, 15 Assists, 13 Rebounds, Four Blocks, Two Steals vs. the Denver Nuggets

If only he would have won.

In a 118-116 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, LeBron added yet another amazing statistical reason why he is the reigning MVP and Hall of Fame bound. Of LeBron's four triple-double's this season, this was easily the most well-rounded. The game itself was captivating, as we saw James and Carmelo Anthony duke it out in a battle of top 2003 prospects.

Anthony would come out on top with a huge shot over James in the final seconds, but statistically and over their careers, LeBron comes out on top here.

Carmelo Anthony —50 Points, Six Rebounds, Five Assists vs. the New York Knicks

It might not have been at the Mecca—where LeBron and Kobe put on their performances last year—but this was just as good.

The third highest scoring output of the season came from Melo who lit up the Knicks on 17 of 28 shooting in a tight game where the score reached all the way to the 120's before Denver put it away in a 128-125 thriller. Anthony made two decisive free throws in the final seconds to end the game, which capped off the 15 of 16 shooting clinic he put on from the charity stripe.

Anthony is currently third in scoring in the league, and has scored 40 or more seven times over the course of a semi-injury plagued season.

Dwyane Wade —43 Points, Nine Rebounds, Six Assists, Three Steals, Three Blocks vs. the Indiana Pacers

Believe it or not with all the amazing performances Wade has put on in his career, he has never recorded a triple-double in his illustrious career.

It didn't happen (yet?) this year either, but this was his most well-rounded of the 2009-'10 season and it came with only a few games left in the season. In an overtime game with the Indiana Pacers, Wade overcame 1-5 shooting to start and finished 14-22 from the field, with back to back three-pointers in overtime to put the game away in a 105-96 win at Conseco Fieldhouse.

This season wasn't quite as spectacular statistically for Wade, but with his team improving and a huge summer coming up, who knows what we could expect next from him.

David Lee —37 Points, 20 Rebounds, 10 Assists, One Block vs. the Golden State Warriors

This won't be the last time we see the Warriors, trust me.

In probably the best game of his NBA career, David Lee put on a show against the Golden State Warriors becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record a 30 points, 20 rebound, and 10 assist game. Lee shot 14-24 on the night to go along with 9-10 from the free throw line. A dream night for Lee.

If only the Knicks didn't lose by 11.

Brandon Jennings —55 Points, Five Assists, Five Rebounds vs. the Golden State Warriors

Seven games into his NBA career and this is what he gives us.

The highest scoring game of the season by an individual would appropriately come from a rookie who most people thought would be a bust considering his decision to forgo college and join a Euroleague team instead. It appears to have payed off after Jennings shot 21 of 34, including seven of eight from beyond the arc, in a 129-125 win against the Golden State Warriors.

This accomplishment has been somewhat overshadowed because of the fact that he hasn't come close to this again, and only scored over 30 one other time during the season. Nevertheless, Jennings made a statement with this game and we can be assured that we will see this coming again in Brandon's long career.

Andre Miller —52 Points, Five Rebounds, Two Assists, Two Steals vs. the Dallas Mavericks

Andre Miller averages 14 points per game as a Portland Trail Blazers. This game was a little different.

Miller shocked the NBA world when he dropped an unheard of 52 points in a game where he replaced an injured Brandon Roy. This probably exceeded any expectations Nate McMillan had when he put Miller in the starting lineup. Andre went on to shoot 22 of 31 from the field with only one three-pointer, and he also went seven for eight from the free throw line.

Miller has had a resurgence in his first year with Portland and has found a stable role as the Blazers starting point guard. Chances are games like these by Miller probably won't happen again.

Stephen Curry —27 Points, 14 Assists, Eight Rebounds, Seven Steals vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves

We all love near quadruple-doubles. I think we all love it a little more when it's from a rookie.

One of the front-runners for rookie of the year, Stephen Curry capped it off with probably the most well-rounded game of any NBA player in this season, with a near quadruple-double against the T'Wolves in a 116-107 win. Curry has easily become one of the top shooters in this league as a rookie and has shown great strides when it comes to passing the ball and disrupting passing lanes.

It's currently a two man race for rookie of the year between Curry and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans. With a game like this, Curry could see himself as the clear cut favorite.

Dwight Howard —25 Points, 11 Rebounds, Seven Blocks, Five Assists, Two Steals vs. the Los Angeles Clippers

Superman had too many games that were worthy of this list, but considering he came pretty close to a quadruple-double in this one, it takes the cake.

Dwight Howard has quickly established himself as the top center in the NBA and showed his dominance early in the season with a 25-11-7-5-2 game against the other Los Angeles team. This fantastic performance led the Orlando Magic to a 97-86 win on the road that probably captivated the many Clippers fans in attendance.

Howard is on pace to become the first NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain to lead the NBA in rebounds and blocks in the same season. I assume that Chamberlain guy was pretty good.

Kevin Durant —45 Points, 11 Rebounds, Two Assists, Two Steals vs. the Golden State Warriors

Let's put this into perspective: Kevin Durant is leading the league in scoring and has the Oklahoma City Thunder currently in the eighth spot. Oh yeah, he's also 21 years old and is in his third year in the NBA.

Durant hit 45 points twice this year, but saw the better 45 points come in a 112-104 win against the Golden State Warriors where he shot 16 of 21 from the field and 11 of 11 from the charity stripe.

Durantula is averaging 30 points per game this year and leads the league. He is also an MVP candidate, leading the young Thunder to their first postseason, curing cancer, and rebuilding Haiti.

Kobe Bryant —44 Points, 11 Assists, Four Rebounds, One Steal vs. the Golden State Warriors

It just wouldn't be the same if Kobe Bryant wasn't mentioned at least once on this list.

This list is purely statistical, but if you want a top ten theatrical performances of the season, Bryant could fill up a book. Anyway, Bryant was not only able to score a lot, which he tends to do, but also pass for 11 assists in a 124-118 win over the Warriors. Kobe shot 13 of 27 from the field, two of six from beyond the arc, and a perfect 16 of 16 from the free throw line.

Like I said, Kobe's four buzzer beaters this season triumph over this any day, but this is statistical, and statistically this game was huge.

I told you the Golden State Warriors would show up quite a few times, at least they weren't on the opposite end of these games in one instance. Thanks Stephen.