Larry Bird, Damian Lillard, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James. They have plenty of things in common. They’re some of the greatest scorers to ever set foot in a basketball hardwood, they dominate opposing defenses in the NBA, and they have a huge feel for knocking down the biggest shots you’ll ever see. Regardless of what their doubters may or may not think about them, they’re just clutch. They were born with that gene, and you know they will take and make the last-second shot.
Throughout the course of history, we’ve seen countless players dominate in the clutch. Their defender knows that they’re going to pull up when the clock is nearing zero, yet they can’t do anything to prevent it.
Being a clutch player is not for everybody. Those cold-blooded stars prove to be on a whole new level when their team needs them the most. Today, we’ll let you know about the most clutch players in NBA history.
Honorable Mentions: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Joe Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki
5. Larry Bird
Larry Bird. (Getty)
Larry Bird, also know as Larry Legend, wasn’t the one to shy away from a big moment. Considered by some as the greatest shooter of all time, there was no stopping him when the clock was running down.
Bird knocked down 18 game-winners throughout his career. Perhaps the most impressive part of this is the fact that he actually told his rivals what he was going to do before sinking the shot right in front of them.
4. LeBron James
LeBron James. (Getty)
LeBron James is one of the most polarizing players of all time. His critics came he’s not clutch due to his well-documented struggles from the charity stripe, even though stats prove that he’s one of the most reliable guys when it comes to defining a game.
Thus far, The King has knocked down 21 game-winning shots throughout his career. Moreover, the way he takes over games for the last two minutes is almost unprecedented. Love him or hate him, stats don’t lie.
3. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard. (Getty)
Once it’s all said and done, Damian Lillard might as well become the most clutch player of all time. He’s already knocked down multiple series-ending shots. There’s a reason why they call it Lillard Time.
As a matter of fact, Lillard leads the whole league since 2012-13 (his rookie season) with 33 shots to go ahead or tie in the final minute of a game, including the playoffs. He was born for those moments.
2. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant. (Getty)
Kobe Bryant was the ultimate cold-blooded assassin. Everybody on the building knew that he wasn’t going to give up on a chance to ice the game, yet not even the best defenders on earth could stop him.
Bryant knocked down 7 game-winning shots in one season alone and he holds the record for most of those shots in NBA history with 36. The Black Mamba was the fiercest competitor night in and night out.
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan. (Getty)
While Michael Jordan may not lead the list of game-winning shots, he sure hit the biggest of all time. His 6-0 flawless record in the Finals includes perhaps one of the most iconic buckets in NBA history, ‘The Shot’ over Bryon Scott to beat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals.
Jordan was the greatest scorer to ever do it and knocked down 25 game-winning shots over his career, including 9 buzzer-beaters. When the money was on the line, you could always trust His Airness to get the job done.
