The Unforgettable NBA: The Best Individual Performances of the 2008-09 Season

The 2008-09 season has been capped off with a number of unforgettable performances by the NBA's elite with some players that could have a whole article of amazing games just from this year.

Dwyane Wade vs the Chicago Bulls: 48 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks.

Nobody can fill a stat sheet like Dwyane Wade does. Wade had quite a few games that could end up on this list, but this one stuck out in my eyes the most.

Facing an onslaught of comebacks led by Ben Gordon, the Heat just couldn't seem to put the Bulls away as the game went to two overtimes and looked like it was heading to a third until Wade decided to disrupt fate and take the game over himself.

With a little over 5 seconds left and the Bulls inbounding in a tied game, Wade played the anticipation perfectly and stripped John Salmons of the ball before racing down court putting up a running 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game. T

This was the most well-rounded game of any player in NBA this season and it couldn't have ended any better.

LeBron James vs. the New York Knicks: 52 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks.

You can take the triple double away from LeBron, but you can't take away the spectacular game the future MVP had in one of the most anticipated games of the season.

Players usually make sure to perform above and beyond when visiting the basketball mecca of the world, much to the dismay of the Knicks, and sure enough LeBron made sure to make the most of it.

The game was close most of the way, in fact the Cavaliers only won by five, but LeBron led his team to victory with what appeared to be a triple double before a rebound was taken away to strip him of becoming an even bigger piece of history.

Like Wade, James has numerous games this season that could be on the list, but to go into New York and put on a performance like this stands out.

Kobe Bryant vs the New York Knicks: 61 points, 3 assists, 1 block

Only two days before LeBron James's performance, Kobe Bryant put on a show of his own.

While not the most well-rounded game, Kobe just put up points and lots of them. Kobe shot 19 of 31 from the field and shot 100 percent—20 for 20—from the free throw line.

This is the only 60 point game from anyone this season, and if anyone could expect any differently, of course it would be from Kobe Bryant. Bryant led his team to a nine point victory over the team that was experiencing hell week where it faced three of the top teams in the NBA over the course of a week.

Dwight Howard vs the Oklahoma City Thunder: 30 points, 19 rebounds, 10 blocks, 3 assists

Maybe because it was against the Thunder it shouldn't be up here, but a triple-double with blocks is always deserving of one of the best performances of the year. In fact, Howard nearly did this on two occasions this year when he put up a 45 point, 19 rebounds, 8 block game against the Bobcats.

Howard and the Magic made short work of the Thunder early on leading by 20 after just one quarter and would cruise to an early win capped off by Howard's stunning game. The kid's young, and we can only expect more games like this from Superman in the future.

Tony Parker vs the Minnesota Timberwolves: 55 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds.

Who could've guessed the Frenchman could erupt for a game like this? Tony Parker had a stunning game when he shot 22 of 36 in a double overtime thriller versus the Timberwolves early in the season.

Parker made the jumper that sent the game into two overtimes where he eventually would lead his team to victory that overshadowed a 30 point, 16 rebound performance by teammate Tim Duncan.

This game proved once again Tony Parker and the Spurs are once again a force to be reckoned with for this year and years to come.

David Lee vs the Golden State Warriors: 37 points, 21 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 block.

I just couldn't help myself putting this game up here. When I first saw what David Lee had done, I was shocked.

Lee has emerged as one of the great, young talents of the NBA and is highly underrated considering this game has had little to no publicity.

This game also featured a 22 assist outburst by Chris Duhon, but David Lee's game easily overshadows it considering eight of those 21 rebounds were offensive.

The Knicks made easy work of the Warriors and for once are on the other side of this list.

Carmelo Anthony vs the Minnesota Timberwolves: 45 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists.

It's not what Melo did in the whole game, it's what he did in one quarter.

Carmelo Anthony had 33 of those 45 points in one quarter. The scoring outburst tied George Gervin's record of points for a quarter. Melo had 33 of the team's 40 points in the quarter as he led his team to victory.

He was 12 of 15 from the field, 5 of 6 from the stripe, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, and also pulled down 5 rebounds in the process, all in one quarter.

A quarter like that will not be matched again most likely for a long time.

Chris Paul vs the Dallas Mavericks: 33 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 7 steals.

Who doesn't love a near quadruple-double? Chris Paul nearly did the impossible and almost pulled off the 5th quadruple-double in NBA history, but fell 3 steals short in his historical bid.

The performance capped off a win against the Mavs as CP3 showed why he is the best point guard in the league.

Honorable Mention

Brandon Roy vs the Phoenix Suns: 52 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds.

He's going to be doing more games like this soon to come for the up-and-coming Blazers.

Shaquille O'Neal vs the Toronto Raptors: 45 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal.

The Great Aristotle's still got it.

Steve Nash vs the Houston Rockets: 25 points, 17 assists, 3 steals, 1 rebound.

He does this once a week.

This season has been capped off very well by the NBA's elite players and has shown some rising and emerging stars that will soon be part of this elite upper class.

It is for games like these players had that give you a reason to still watch some NBA whenever you get the chance.