Where to begin? Is there a better word to describe him than Legend? In the NBA not all points are created equal. 19 comments While some teams have had more high-pressure moments than others, each has a long history of players thriving or wilting when the chips were down. To me, he’s without a doubt one of the best small forwards in the history of the game. And, best of all and more importantly to this list, Pierce is an even better player when the lights shine brightest, as proven by his ability to knock down shots in the most critical of moments. In Game 4 of the 2002 WCF, the Lakers had the ball late, trailing the Kings, 99-97. Is there anyone with a jump shot harder to guard than Dirk Nowitzki? He’s been consistently one of the best shooters in the game, and even if a defender does his best to contest a shot from Dirk, the Big German still stands at seven feet tall and can simply just shoot over that defender. He has made regular season game-winner after game-winner, even at the ripe old age of 37. Simply put,taking and making shots mostly during the fourth Quarter,usually when the score is tied and the clock is ticking into its final minutes. Some insist there is no such thing. In some ways I really wish that had been Jordan’s last shot – that one clutch moment putting an exclamation point on a career riddled with them and the final verse in Jordan’s illustrious run in the NBA. A few others include when Miller hit a game-winner against the Pistons in the 2005 Conference Semis, a game-tying jumper with five seconds left against the Knicks in the ’98 conference semis, a game-winner in Game 4 of the ’98 conference finals against Jordan’s Bulls, and had a game-winner against the 76ers in Game 1 of a 2001 first round series. Even those are only a small portion of Reggie’s greatest, clutchest (I think that’s a word), most breathtaking shots, but it would be nearly impossible to discuss each one of them. Take a look at our list, then read how our readers ranked their list of the best clutch players or teams of all-time. The dagger he hit in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz was probably one of the most memorable in NBA history, one that our great grandkids will be talking about. Amazingly, 1980 was his rookie season, and Johnson is the only player to ever win the award in his first year in the league. And you know what, say what you want about this dude, but to me, there is no doubt he deserves a spot this high on this list. Here are the most clutch players in NBA history: Derek Fisher. They don’t call him Magic for nothing. Other than Antetokounmpo, of course. Who could forget this one? Most clutch player of all time? The most exciting moments in NBA history are last second plays. The all-time greats were dominant all the time, but … With the Celtics trailing the Indiana Pacers by a score of 97-96, Pierce drained a three that gave Boston the lead before he knocked down four straight free throws to clinch the Game 1 victory. Six years later, in the 2009 Eastern Conference First Round against the Chicago Bulls, with the game tied at 104 and the series tied 2-2, Pierce hit a game-winner with just three seconds remaining in overtime. Kobe Bryant. Of course the GOAT is also the most clutch performer in NBA history. The Heat trailed by two, 93-91, when he banked in a jumper on their final possession to tie the game, leaving less than three seconds on the clock and forcing overtime. Maybe it’s his boring playing style, I don’t know. A perennial scoring leader, MJ would lead the Chicago Bulls to six world championships in seven years. No always buzzer beaters, but also scoring in the last minutes is a clutch action, or even, important games of the finals.. Perhaps mathematically two points scored at the beginning of a game are the same as two points scored at the end, but basketball is not purely a game of math. Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History | Orlando Magic After the Heat won by a landslide in Game 4, it was again Wade carrying the team to victory in a very tight Game 5. And, speaking of playoff game-winners, Dirk has some of them, too. Of course, guys like Brian Scalabrine tried to, but he and many others fell tremendously short. Arguably the best big man in the history of the league, Bill Russell used his incredible defensive prowess to scare off those who even considered entering his lair in the post. The NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, Stockton was also one of the deadliest shooters in NBA history (his 60.8 true shooting percentage is 15th best in NBA history). Intro. With his Pacers trailing 95-89, Reggie hit a three to cut the Knicks’ lead in half and then stole the ball off the inbounds pass before he hit the game-tying three. #10 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). All I know is Paul Pierce deserves his spot on this list. This guy never... 2. It's surprising to see Stephen Curry, one of the greatest shooters of all... #9 Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets). Prior to his Finals MVP, Thomas scored 25 points in the third quarter of the sixth game in the 1988 NBA Finals, setting an NBA record. I think it’s fair to say since entering the league in 1998, few players, if any, have consistently performed as well in the clutch as Dirk Nowitzki has, as the lovable German sharpshooting 7-footer has proven time and time again that, when it’s money time, he knows how to show up and get the job done. The answer is clearly none other than Michael Jeffery Jordan. Top 10 Super Bowl Commercials of All Time, Derek Jeter Career Highlights ‘RE2PECT’-HD, Derek Jeter | Career Defensive | Highlights. Related Videos. Coach Paul Westphal decided to insert the 6’9″ Johnson at center, despite his primary position being point guard. The move paid off big time. He’s going to be truly missed by all of us fans… I’m not so sure his opponents feel the same way. Knicks fans everywhere (for the rest of eternity) can’t see or think about Reggie Miller without cringing, crying and possibly passing out. He just had a knack for making clutch plays and shots, especially against the Knicks, and the most recognizable Reggie Miller moment came in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Click through the slideshow for a look at the 70 most clutch players in NBA history. For those who don’t know Sam Jones, he has more NBA Championships than Kobe and Shaq combined. Then, 3 seasons later, Horry’s new team, the Spurs, were in a similar position as his old team, except this time it was the NBA Finals. Ray Allen will forever be known as the dude who essentially saved LeBron James legacy after his ridiculous and unlikely corner three-point shot in 2013 against the Spurs. A 5 time champion and 2 time NBA Finals MVP, Kobe has hit more game winning shots than one can even count his two fingers – just look him up on Youtube under “Kobe clutch shots” and you will be hooked for hours. It’s no question that LBJ was born with a clutch gene and he’s displayed this time and time again in the NBA’s biggest stage, the Playoffs. About the NBA: The NBA is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. We remember NBA players, rightly or wrongly, for how they performed at the end of games. Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . The No.1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, the Rookie of the Year in 1959, an 11-time All-Star, and an astounding 10-time First-Team All-NBA selection, Baylor … Kerr, who played a key role in each of the Bulls final three titles in the Jordan era, promptly made the shot of his life, breaking the tie and clinching the 1997 NBA championship for Chicago. If I wanted to, I could recount some of the other clutch jumpers that Kerr hit throughout his career, but it hardly feels necessary – that game set him in stone on a list like this (but he, to his credit, was so much more than just one game). Although only a one-time NBA champion (that’s what happens when you play the same time as Bill Russell’s Celtics), West was one of the best playoff performers in NBA history. Has there ever been a player in the history of the NBA that was more confident in his abilities than Larry Legend? Kobe, the modern day MJ, is undoubtedly the most iconic clutch player of the 21st century. Crazy impressive stuff from Sam Jones. (All shooting percentages are rounded off) Some Notable Exclusions: Paul … One of the more underrated players to ever step foot on a basketball court, “The Truth” has always been recognized as a great scorer and a good defender, but Pierce’s ability to both pass and rebound has been incredibly undervalued. Ranking 70 Greatest Shooting Guards in NBA History. The feat would’ve been impressive enough if he were completely healthy. The 34-year-old point guard has been the NBA's top clutch-time scorer this season and with one more made 3, would be a 50-40-90 player in the final five minutes and score within five. The display of balloons in the Forum rafters had reportedly angered West as giving the Celtics extra motivation, and he responded with 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. The Lakers lost in heartbreaking fashion, 108-106, but West was still awarded the Finals MVP for his efforts, the only player ever to do so from a losing team. He is known for his freakish athleticism and amazing dunks but he is also one of the most clutch players of all time. Many are convinced that it exists. Kids do not count out the seconds in their head of a second-quarter possession before launching a ball of paper towards their wastebasket. What a player – Bird takes the third spot. With 2017 ending, let's count down our 20 most clutch players in the league right now. 2. The Underdog is the New Favorite in the Super Bowl? He currently holds the... 2. With only six seconds left, Dirk’s 16-foot fadeaway jumper gave the Mavericks the win and pulled the team into a 1-1 series tie. Next, although it wasn’t a game-winning shot, it’s worth noting that Nowitzki hit two free throws (one to tie the game and one to win) with just seven seconds left in Game 3 of the ’06 Western Conference Semifinals against the then-defending champion Spurs. Turns out Butler isn’t the top player by clutch WPA, but he has terrorized opponents for years with the game on the line. The thing I like most about that particular shot is Fernando Medina’s photograph that was taken of Jordan shooting it. Guess the 10 most clutch NBA players of all time. The all-time greats were dominant all the time, but they didn’t shy away from the biggest moments. With the series tied up, Game 5 couldn’t have been more decisive, and in the final seconds of overtime, the Spurs trailed the Pistons, 95-93. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982, and 1987. Later on during that finals, Thomas would proceed to score 20 points in a single quarter. Clutch,” chances are you’ve done something right over the course of your Hall of Fame NBA career. Jerry West, also affectionately known as “The Logo”, made amazing happen in the NBA decades before the league started using that as their motto. Take a trip through basketball history with us, as we examine which players most fulfill our late-game dreams, and how. Jones won all his titles in an eleven year span with the Boston Celtics. Although the NBA Finals MVP Award did not exist during Jones’ time in the league, it’d be hard to imagine Jones, of of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, not earning the accolade at least once or twice. When your name is “Mr. Ranking The NBA's Most Clutch Players Of All Time Music The all time playoff leader in total rebounds (4104) and rebounds per game (24.9), and recorded over 40 rebounds three separate times in the postseason. Having played in 11 series deciding games (10 Game 7’s & one Game 5), you’d think he’d had lost one or two along the way. And please, stop calling him a ring chaser. All hail, Jimmy Buckets. “Flash” has always been one to make clutch shots, including a number of game-winners, and he was at his best during the 2006 NBA Finals. Before his heroics, the ’06 Finals looked like an utter blowout of the Miami Heat at the hands of Dirk Nowitzki‘s Dallas Mavericks. He got the ball in the most clutch situations in the biggest games, and everyone knew it. Yes… Twenty fucking five game winning shots! The Mavericks proceeded to win the series and ultimately came just two wins short of an NBA championship. He's near automatic from the free throw line and on the other end of the floor, is tied for the league lead in clutch-time steals. It has to be MJ. And what moment defines their clutch play the most? Michael is the greatest player to ever play in the entire history of the NBA. nuff said. I do my best to explain in about 90 seconds. His most clutch moment however, came in the decisive game 5 in their 1984 playoff series against the Knicks, when Thomas scored 16 points in the game’s final 94 seconds to give the Pistons an extremely improbable victory. One of the most underrated fourth quarter performances in NBA history, the video demonstrates Isiah’s unique combination of fearless competitive desire and tremendous skill. With less than four seconds left in a tied 103-103 game, Dirk faced up Chris Bosh before dribbling, spinning, and driving to the basket to hit the game-winner. The King of Clutch. Still, there is no doubting the fact that Jordan is not only the greatest player to ever live but to me – there is no debate about this one either. NBA: 5 Most Clutch Players of All Time 1. 50 Most Clutch NBA players of all Time Quiz Stats. Isiah Thomas may not have been the most clutch general manager, there’s no doubt about that; but when it came to his playing days however, there were few who could perform better down the stretch. The two time NBA Champion and 1990 NBA Finals MVP was an absolute force in the playoffs, especially in the 1990 championship series against Portland, during which he averaged a remarkable 27.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. Michael Jordan is without question the most clutch NBA player of all-time. Defensive moves ar e also considered as clutch. For his postseason career, Bryant has averaged 25.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Jones has also accrued 2,909 postseason points in 154 games, the 15th most in league history. Problem is, most people equate "clutch" with hitting buzzer beaters at the end of regulation. Jones is in the elite company of players who have scored 50 or more points in an NBA playoff game. The guard’s 51 point performance came during game four of the 1967 Eastern Division Semi-Finals (Yes, it was called the “eastern division” back in his day) against the New York Knicks. Clutch may be the most misunderstood word in pro basketball. Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Hoops Habit and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 3. And in that very overtime, he made two of the biggest free throws in NBA history (one to tie and one to win the game) with just 1.9 seconds left. The Heat clinched the championship in Game 6, and while Wade has been a great closer throughout his career, it was those NBA Finals that have cemented him as one of the sport’s all-time great clutch players. Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images, Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images). Whether it be division title winning three pointers, overtime playoff buzzer beaters, or orchestrating 15 point game 7 comebacks, Kobe’s resume is simply too long to list. It sucks that his career is about to end because he truly is one of the greatest players of all-time, not just one of the most clutch performers to ever do it. But, similarly to ’02, Horry was able to ignore the immense pressure and come through, knocking down a three with six seconds left to win the game and save the series, which San Antonio won in seven. And, although those shots were his two greatest, Horry had plenty of others; he hit a game-winner in Game 3 of the 2002 Western Conference First Round series, he hit a three with under a minute left to extend the Lakers’ lead from one to four and clinch Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals, and he also hit a three-ball with 14 seconds left to clinch Game 3 of the 1995 NBA Finals for his Houston Rockets. No doubt about it. If you were to look in the background of that picture you’d see about 1,000 Jazz fans with this uniform look of hope, fear, and amazement all in one moment. It took the Lakers seven long games to win the series, and without Horry’s heroics in Game 4, they would have never won their third consecutive title. With the NBA season on hiatus, what better time to rank the NBA’s greatest players. The Miami Heat wing has never shied away from … Clutch WPA: 2.17. When the NBA Finals MVP Award is named after you, chances are you’ve been a pretty clutch player throughout your career. You want to talk about clutch; here’s a guy that used to come out of the huddle after a timeout and tell his opponent the play the coach had drawn up. Pretty crazy when you think about it. The undoubted greatest player in the world at the time might not even be the one to have the ball with the game on the line? Then he would proceed to run the exact play on the guy guarding him and of course nail the shot. There is simply nothing you can say to convince me otherwise. It’s a game of emotion, of narrative, of players rising to meet the pressure of a clutch moment. http://hoopstribune.com/top-15-most-clutch-players-in-nba-history/, Why Michael Jordan is the GOAT over Lebron James, What to expect from the 2019 IIHF Hockey World Championships, Shaquille O’Neal Says He Doesn’t Consider Tim Duncan a ‘Big Man’, Michael Jordan 55 Points- 1993 NBA Finals Game 4 Bulls VS Suns- Best Quality, Michael Jordan Career High 69 Points vs Cavs HD Best Quality | March 28,1990. Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young’s stock is rising as an All-Star starter, Toronto Raptors: 3 trades that can change the outlook on the season, 50 Greatest Players Without a Championship, 50 Greatest Players Not In The Hall of Fame, Most Clutch Player From Each Team’s History, Best Shot Blocker From Each Team’s History, Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic should be an All-Star, but won't be, Paige VanZant Choked Britain Hart During Weigh-Ins Ahead of Their Bare Knuckle Fight, Dallas Mavericks: 3 ways to fix their 3-point shooting, Miami Heat: 4 power forwards to target via trade. Another one was in the 2010 EC First Round against the Dwyane Wade-led Heat, Pierce again hit a game-winner, this one coming at the buzzer and breaking a 98-98 tie game. And, though it wasn’t a game-winner, Pierce had one of the clutchest shots of his career in one of the biggest games in his career. Growing up we instead placed ourselves at the very end of a game, when the stakes were higher and the pressure unbearable. Johnson’s age however, is not even the most impressive factoid regarding his performance in that Finals. He came into the NBA at a young age and has been dominant at a level that has never happened before. When Carter broke into the league with Toronto a lot of attention went to … Magic recorded 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals while playing three different positions, leading the Lakers to the promised land. In 1987, Magic’s clutch ways surfaced again against the hated Celtics. Top 10 clutch players in the NBA 10 most clutch players in the NBA right now. Even his last pro performance was a clutch one, the perfect completion of the superhero arc that made up his entire career. Any list presenting the must clutch NBA players will not lack controversy, especially when we consider the fact that LeBron James, Golden State, and the San Antonio Spurs have owned all championship hardware for several years running. However, it is his undying will to win that propels Bryant over the rest of the opposition, especially in later game situations. Over the course of MJ’s career, the man hit 25 game winning shots. Zeke takes eighth spot on this list. Michael Jordan vs Shaq Jan 16 1993 MJ 64 Points Best Quality! Michael Jordan. Popular Quizzes Today. What a truly legendary basketball player. Now he is coaching a team to the best record in NBA history after playing on the team who set the original record. Being clutch is putting your team on your back in the fourth quarter when you go in down 5, 10, 15 points, getting a stop in the last minutes, getting a perfect dime to give to go ahead, and yeah hitting buzzer beaters too (among other intangibles). The 34-year-old point guard has been the NBA's top clutch-time scorer this season and with one more made 3, would be a 50-40-90 player in the final five minutes and score within five. Of course, the reason those questions arose was a pretty good and obvious… the great Dwyane Wade. Even when he didn't take the shot, there was the pass to paxson, the pass to kerr. He was simply a master at making the final shot, it’s crazy he never won that elusive ring. You could also put this man on the list of most underrated players in NBA history as well. Lebron James has been a player on another level during his entire basketball career. NBA Power Rankings: The 50 Most Clutch Players of All Time 1. That's absolutely outrageous. The 15 Most Clutch NBA Players of All Time 15 Paul Pierce. Need I say more? Whenever somebody wins 10 rings, its extremely hard not to consider them clutch. TGH NBA staff writers voted for their top 50 players in league history on a points system, and then the players were ranked by points in a final aggregate list. Regarded by many as the GOAT or the Greatest of All-Time, Michael Jordan was the most dominant player of his generation. Not only he has the most game-winners of all time, but he has literally decided playoffs series and even championships with his clutch shots. The definition of clutch. On that final possession, Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal each missed layups before the ball bounced out to Robert Horry, who was standing beyond the three-point arc at the top of the key. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. Steve Kerr was one of the best three-point specialists in the history of basketball and made countless jumpers throughout his career, but he earns a spot here because of one shot and only one shot. The day was Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals, and Kerr’s Bulls, who held a 3-2 series lead, were tied with the Utah Jazz, 86-86. Out of a timeout, perhaps the greatest clutch player of all time, Michael Jordan, decided to defer to Kerr, dishing him the ball with about six seconds remaining. His silhouette is the NBA logo. When the Celtics drafted Pierce I don’t think they expected the Hall of Fame career, but are certainly... 14 Vince Carter. His first came in Game 2 of the 2005 Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns. Who are the most clutch players in each NBA team’s history? Juan Estevez (@JuanEstevez90): Michael Jordan. In the NBA not all points are created equal. by R4bz Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . How can one not love this dude. 6. The epidemy of clutch. The iconic PG, who had two 50-plus-point playoff games in his career, averaged 29.1 points per game during the postseason, which ranks second to Michael Jordan all time. West’s most memorable playoff moment came during Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers took a 3-2 lead with a Game 5 victory, but star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar severely injured his ankle and was unable to play in Game 6. Although defenders are probably scared to death that the Black Mamba will scowl at them and thus stay as far away as possible, they’d be unable to stop him regardless, something Ruben Patterson learned the hard way. Need I say more? 5:09. Support Sporcle. Craziness. Everyday on this sub there's an argument of Lebron vs. Durant, Mj vs. Kobe, etc but I'm wondering who you guys think is the most clutch player of all time? Ray Ray was massive reason Boston was able to raise their 17th banner as he hit plenty of huge shots as a member of the Celtics, including one dagger that helped clinch Game 4 of the ’08 Finals. And, very calmly, Horry grabbed the ball, pulled up, and hit the game-winning three as the buzzer sounded. by R4bz Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . And on Indiana’s next possession, he hit two FT’s to win the game. While those two three-pointers are probably his most iconic shots, Reggie has a long list of other plays and shots that were just as clutch as, if not more clutch than that moment in the Garden. How we performed in those moments would make us the talk of the town, one way or another. Most Clutch NBA Players of All Time. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. In addition, other players, ones who may not have been the stars on their teams, made a name for themselves by performing in a huge moment. Here are three of The King’s top clutch moments. Go Orange. Get the ad-free and most optimal, full-featured Sporcle experience. The Mavericks held a 2-0 series lead going into Game 3, and were up by as much as 13 points with six minutes remaining in the third game, clearly on their way to taking a 3-0 advantage in the Finals. But, led by D-Wade, the Heat made an incredible comeback and won the game. You knew Larry was going to take a top 3 spot on this list, I mean come on. ESPN voted on the 20 most influential players in NBA history based upon the following ... One of Boston's best clutch athletes of all time." Who are the players who have been the best in the clutch for each franchise? Lebron James. In game four, with the Lakers trailing by a point, Johnson hit an improbable hook shot over Kevin McHale in the game’s closing seconds, giving the Lakers a one point victory. The Lakers would go on to win the series, and Johnson and his 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, and 8.0 rebounds won the Finals MVP. Still others say the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In game one of that series, Thomas scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, rallying the Pistons from a 10 point deficit halfway through the quarter. Wade was easily one of the best closers in basketball during his prime ever since his rookie season. Zeke, however, did so with a severely sprained ankle. (Well, all except for the top two names on this list.) When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat, there were suddenly questions about whether or not he would even be the finisher on his new team. Though Ray Allen was so much more than that and so much more than just a three point shooter. He handled the ball, drove, played defense, and people forget that he was in the ’97 dunk contest – did you forget too? Allen was also the leader on some good Bucks teams in the late ’90s and early 2000s where he averaged 19.6 PPG in 7 seasons up North where he made countless clutch shots damn near once or twice every week. But it doesn’t hurt to start the conversation about the NBA’s most clutch shooters of all time. Top Five NBA Clutch Players… Indeed being one of the nba clutch players is a great honor. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 All Rights Reserved. What a basketball life for Steve Kerr. We remember NBA players, rightly or wrongly, for how they performed at the end of games. The king of the modern day dagger, the first one that comes to mind was in the first round of the 2003 Eastern Conference Playoffs. He may not get the appreciation he deserves as one of the best players at his position ever, but what can’t be argued is that Pierce has certainly been one of the best ever at making those last shots to both extend and win basketball games.