The top five playoff runs by Australians in the NBA

Aussies never shy away from the big moments, but which of them have had the best playoff runs in NBA history?

The NBA playoffs are where stars are made, and our Australian contingent has had their fair share of moments on the big stage.

Josh Green and Danté Exum are still on their own runs in the current playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks, and they’ll be hoping they get the opportunity to claim a moment of their own, just like many have done so before them.

Here’s the guidelines for this ranking: Australian, NBA playoffs, one entry per player.

So, in no particular order, here are the top five postseason campaigns by Australians in NBA history.

Luc Longley | 1995/96 Chicago Bulls (Champions)

Starting centre and close to 25 minutes per game on the greatest team of all time? This pick was about as easy as they come.

The Chicago Bulls lost just three games on their way to the 1995/96 championship, with Luc Longley averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game across the playoffs. In fact, the Aussie ranked equal second in total blocks for the postseason alongside Patrick Ewing and David Robinson.

What stood out even more for Longley was that his best performances came at the business end of the playoffs. He upped his scoring to 11.7 points per game and his top outing came in the crucial game three road victory, registering 19 points on 8/13 shooting to go along with three rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Luc Longley’s playoff run in the The Last Dance (i.e. the NBA 1997/98 season) was the next best of the Aussie big man’s NBA playoff career, going close but not quite topping his feats in 1995/96.