Most Clutch NBA Players of All Time
Michael Jordan defined clutch.Clutch may be the most misunderstood word in pro basketball. Other than Antetokounmpo, of course. Many are convinced that it exists. Some insist there is no such thing. Still others say the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Most can agree on this much — some athletes are calmer, cooler and more confident than others when the stakes are highest. Hence, they are more likely to succeed in those situations.
Based on a combination of factors that include clutch field-goal percentage, postseason metrics and career achievements, these players were at the front of the clutch gene line.
The fine print: Clutch shot percentage includes field-goal attempts that tie the score or give a team the lead in the final 60 seconds of fourth quarters and/or overtime periods. The regular season and postseason have been combined to increase sample sizes. Statistics are through the 2020-21 season. Incomplete data (asterisk) or unavailable numbers (N/A) are marked accordingly.
25. Robert Horry, Forward
They call him "Big Shot Rob" for a reason.Career: 1992-2008 (17 seasons)
Clutch shot percentage: .400* (12 of 30)
Teams: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs
Postseason stats/game: 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .128
NBA championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007)
Bottom Line: Robert Horry
Robert Horry won seven rings.Has any part-time starter made more of a name for himself than "Big Shot Rob" in the postseason?
When he averaged at least 24 minutes per game in the playoffs, his teams won six league titles in 11 seasons.
In nine Game 7s, he shot 50 percent or better from the field eight times. His team's record in those games: 7-2.
24. Ray Allen, Shooting Guard
Ray Allen saved the Heat with a clutch 3-pointer in 2013.Career: 1996-2014 (18 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Clutch shot percentage: .365* (54 of 148)
Postseason stats/game: 16.1 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.6 AST, 1.0 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .143
NBA championships: 2 (2008, 2013)
Bottom Line: Ray Allen
Ray Allen won two NBA titles."Ray can be 0-for-99 in a game, and if he gets an open look late in the game, it's going down," his Miami Heat teammate LeBron James once said.
That was a slight exaggeration, of course, but you get the point. Ray Allen's cold-blooded 3 that tied the score with nine ticks left in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals was the stuff of legends.
23. John Havlicek, Small Forward-Shooting Guard
Need a big play? John Havlicek was the man.Career: 1962-78 (16 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 22.0 PTS, 6.9 REB, 4.8 AST, 1.1* STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .135
NBA championships: 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
Bottom Line: John Havlicek
John Havlicek was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.The 1974 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player made the cut on four words alone — Havlicek stole the ball (Game 7, 1965 Eastern Division finals).
The fact that "Hondo" was a go-to guy with eight league champions didn’t hurt, either.
22. Stephen Curry, Point Guard
Don't let the baby face fool you.Career: 2009-present (12 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors
Clutch shot percentage: .333 (32 of 96)
Postseason stats/game: 26.5 PTS, 5.4 REB, 6.3 AST, 1.6 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .194
NBA championships: 3 (2015, 2017, 2018)
Bottom Line: Stephen Curry
Only Warriors fans like to see this."St. Stephen of Arc" is one of 40 players (minimum: 25 games played) to connect on at least 40 percent of his 3-pointers in the postseason. And nobody has drained more.
His handle, range and shooter mindset make him the ideal option in the 3-ball era.
Only the lack of an NBA Finals MVP award prevents a higher rank here.
21. Shaquille O’Neal, Center
"The Big Diesel" was a beast.Career: 1992-2011 (19 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Clutch shot percentage: .476* (10 of 21)
Postseason stats/game: 24.3 PTS, 11.6 REB, 2.7 AST, 2.1 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .184
NBA championships: 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
Bottom Line: Shaquille O’Neal
Watch out, below."The Big Booty" (sorry, "Shaq Daddy," I own the trademark) was a beast among children in the Lakers’ postseason three-peat, as evidenced by his 29.9/14.5/3.0/2.4 slash line.
He’s one of five players with as many as three NBA Finals MVP awards. The others: Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James.
So why doesn’t "The Diesel" rank higher in the order? An unsightly .473 free-throw percentage in 13 close-out playoff losses.
20. James Worthy, Power Forward
Look up clutch in the dictionary, and you'll see a picture of "Big Game James."Career: 1982-94 (12 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 21.1 PTS, 5.2 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.2 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .135
NBA championships: 3 (1985, 1987, 1988)
Bottom Line: James Worthy
James Worthy averaged 17.6 points per game in his career."Big Game James" got his name in the 1988 playoffs, when he put up crazy slash lines of 23/6/2/4, 28/7/7/1 and 36/16/10/2 in consecutive seventh games.
Truth is, he had been clutch long before then. For years, his number was the one that coach Pat Riley called most on plays after timeouts, especially in crucial moments.
Bonus point: Worthy was one of the few stars who rocked in protective goggles.
19. Rick Barry, Small Forward
Four on one? No problem for Rick Barry.Career: 1965-67, 1972-80 (10 seasons)
Teams: San Francisco-Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 24.8 PTS, 5.6 REB, 4.6 AST, 2.2* STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .146
NBA championship: 1 (1975)
Bottom Line: Rick Barry
Rick Barry won one NBA ring.The greater the odds and higher the stakes, the better he was. In the 1967 NBA Finals, "Super Soph" put up an epic 40.8/8.8/3.3 slash line versus the mighty Philadelphia 76ers. On a bum knee, no less.
Eight years later, he was the MVP of the greatest NBA Finals upset ever. If he hadn’t spent much of his athletic prime in the rival ABA, he would be further up the list.
18. Dolph Schayes, Forward-Center
Dolph Schayes would have been a big star in the Internet age.Career: 1949-64 (15 seasons)
Teams: Syracuse Nationals
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 19.5 PTS, 12.2* REB, 2.6 AST, N/A
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .189*
NBA championships: 1 (1955)
Bottom Line: Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes put up big numbers in the postseason.For 12 seasons, the Nationals went as far in the playoffs as the future Hall of Famer could take them.
He outplayed George Mikan and Bill Russell in two memorable Game 7 performances on the road, only to have his underdog team fall short both times.
The would-be 1955 NBA Finals MVP ranks 17th in career win shares per 48 minutes in the postseason.
17. Reggie Miller, Shooting Guard
Reggie Miller could be an assasin.Career: 1987-2005 (18 seasons)
Teams: Indiana Pacers
Clutch shot percentage: .378* (87 of 230)
Postseason stats/game: 20.6 PTS, 2.9 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.0 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .180
NBA championships: None
Bottom Line: Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller scored 25,279 points in his career.Any game that was on the line was Miller time. As he once put it, "If you want to be a hero, you've got to take hero shots."
Against the New York Knicks, Mr. Eight Points In Nine Seconds was famously great in the clutch.
Against every other team, he was merely very good.
16. Walt Frazier, Point Guard
Walt Frazier was always clutch.Career: 1967-80 (13 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 20.7 PTS, 7.2 REB, 6.2 AST, 2.1* STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .193
NBA championships: 2 (1970, 1973)
Bottom Line: Walt Frazier
Walt Frazier had style — on and off the court.How could "Clyde" not win an NBA Finals MVP Award? A case could be made for him in the 1970 and 1973 championship rounds.
Heck, he could have been the 1970 MVP on his momentous 36-point, 19-assist, seven-rebound performance in Game 7 alone.
Only three guards own a higher career field-goal percentage (.511) in the playoffs.
15. Sam Jones, Guard
Sam Jones was born clutch.Career: 1957-69 (12 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 18.9 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.3 AST, N/A
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .157
NBA championships: 10 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
Bottom Line: Sam Jones
Sam Jones, No. 24, won 10 NBA titles.Contrary to widespread belief, this was the original "Mr. Clutch," not Jerry West, who would share the title a few years later.
Truth is, Bill Russell would have fewer NBA championship rings if not for the teammate who averaged 27.1 points in nine Game 7s, all of them victories.
The bank-shot artist might have been the NBA Finals MVP in three consecutive seasons (1963-65) if the award had existed (the first one was awarded in 1969).
14. Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard was the first player in NBA history to hit a Game 7 buzzer-beater game winner.Career: 2011-present (10 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers
Clutch shot percentage: .377 (23 of 56)
Postseason stats/game: 20.8 PTS, 7.9 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.8 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .219
NBA championships: 2 (2014, 2019)
Bottom Line: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard was a first-round pick in 2011.The two-time NBA Finals MVP took down LeBron James and the Miami Heat dynasty. Plus Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, too.
Can you think of a more dramatic buzz-bomb than his corner jumper in the 2019 Eastern Conference semis, the one that danced on the rim not once, not twice, not thrice but four times before it sent the Raptors to the next round?
Neither can we.
13. Larry Bird, Forward
Larry Bird was as cold-blooded as they come.Career: 1979-92 (13 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 23.8 PTS, 10.3 REB, 6.5 AST, 1.8 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .173
NBA championships: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986)
Bottom Line: Larry Bird
Larry Bird could do everything on the court.Clutch can happen at either end, you know. Take "Larry Legend," who’s remembered as much for his steals in Game 5 of the 1985 and 1987 Eastern Conference finals as much as any late shot.
He was pretty good in eight Game 7s as well — 27.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists.
His team won six of them.
12. Kobe Bryant, Shooting Guard
Kobe Bryant had no fear.Career: 1996-2016 (20 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: .338* (97 of 287)
Postseason stats/game: 25.6 PTS, 5.1 REB, 4.7 AST, 1.4 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .157
NBA championships: 5 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Bottom Line: Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was tough to stop when he was in the zone.No moment was bigger than "The Mamba," whose supreme confidence, outrageous athleticism and flair for the dramatic made him one of the all-time greatest closers.
True, the two-time NBA Finals MVP jacked up too many H-O-R-S-E shots over the years, many of them with multiple defenders in his grill. Yet no one drained more ridiculous money balls, either.
Really, who would you rather take those shots — Smush Parker? When the game is on the line, we want the rock in the hands of someone with big cojones. And nobody had bigger ones than this guy, Michael Jordan included.
11. Kevin Durant, Forward
Don't make him mad.Career: 2007-present (13 seasons)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets
Clutch shot percentage: .325 (67 of 206)
Postseason stats/game: 29.2 PTS, 7.7 REB, 4.0 AST, 1.0 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .198
NBA championships: 2 (2017, 2018)
Bottom Line: Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant was the NBA Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018."Durantula" blew hot and cold in crunch time early in his career, but no sooner did he drop anchor in the Bay Area than he became a certified assassin.
The transformation was punctuated by the Death Stare, the stone-cold glare at LeBron James that followed his pull-up 3 and capped the first of his back-to-back NBA Finals MVP selections.
In Game 7s, the guy has been money — 33.3 points on 55 percent in the field.
10. Bob Pettit, Power Forward
Bob Pettit, right, played big at both ends of the floor.Career: 1954-65 (11 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 25.5 PTS, 14.8 REB, 2.7 AST, N/A
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .159
NBA championships: 1 (1958)
Bottom Line: Bob Pettit
Bob Pettit was an 11-time All-Star.His then-record 50-point, 19-rebound masterpiece in the Game 6 championship clincher versus the Boston Celtics may be the greatest postseason performance that time has forgotten.
He accounted for 18 of his team’s final 21 points.
Game 7s didn’t phase Big Blue, either, as he averaged 29.2 points and 16.2 rebounds in six of those.
9. Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki broke a lot of hearts with his heroics.Career: 1998-2019 (21 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks
Clutch shot percentage: .428 (68 of 159)
Postseason stats/game: 25.3 PTS, 10.0 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.0 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .188
NBA championships: 1 (2011)
Bottom Line: Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki changed the game of basketball."Dirty" averaged 3.2 more points per game in the playoffs than the regular season (22.1), among the largest differentials for regulars in league history.
In 11 of his first 12 postseasons, the 2011 NBA Finals MVP averaged between 23.4 and 28.4 points per game in all except one of them.
Now check out that crazy good clutch shot percentage.
8. Hakeem Olajuwon, Center
A "Dream" come true.Career: 1984-2002 (18 seasons)
Teams: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Clutch shot percentage: .750* (3 of 4)
Postseason stats/game: 25.9 PTS, 11.2 REB, 3.2 AST, 3.3 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .177
NBA championships: 2 (2004, 2005)
Bottom Line: Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was on another level.There was "Akeem the Team," the young pup who carried the Rockets past the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in the 1986 Western Conference finals.
Then there was "Hakeem the Dream," the clutch in Clutch City who outplayed Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal as the NBA Finals MVP a decade later.
Olajuwon averaged 4.1 more points in the playoffs than the regular season (21.8).
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Center
"Cap" was money.Career: 1969-89 (20 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: NA
Postseason stats/game: 24.3 PTS, 10.5 REB, 3.2 AST, 2.4* STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .193
NBA championships: 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Botttom Line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made it look so easy that he was underappreciated at times.Over 18 postseasons, how many times did the ball go to "Cap" in the low post late in a close game? And how many times did he deliver? The answer: a helluva lot more than anyone remembers.
He ranks 15th in win shares per 48 minutes in playoff history. Let’s also not forget the other end, where he was the postseason blocked shots leader no fewer than a half-dozen times, the last at 40 years of age.
6. Tim Duncan, Power Forward-Center
Tim Duncan was a quiet killer on the court.Career: 1997-2016 (19 seasons)
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Clutch shot percentage: .419* (49 of 117)
Postseason stats/game: 20.6 PTS, 11.4 REB, 3.0 AST, 2.3 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .194
NBA championships: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005 2007, 2014)
Bottom Line: Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan was a two-time NBA MVP.Timmy liked to pick his spots in the 82-game taffy pull, but when the games really counted, he upped his game to a whole other level.
Among bigs, only Shaquille O’Neal owns as many NBA Finals MVP trophies (three) in the 3-ball era.
Tim Duncan's 2003 postseason belongs on the short list of best ever at any position — 24.7 points. 15.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 blocked shots per game.
5. Magic Johnson, Point Guard
Magic's baby sky hook to beat the Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals is one of the most iconic shots in basketball history.Career: 1979-91, 1995-96 (13 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: NA
Postseason stats/game: 19.5 PTS, 7.7 REB, 12.3 AST, 1.9 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .208
NBA championships: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Bottom Line: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson really was a magician on the court.While known primarily as a ball distributor, the "Showtime" orchestrator could take matters into his own right hand when necessary. Namely, his ballsy runner with two seconds left that gave the Lakers a 107-106 lead (and victory) over the Celtics in the crucial Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.
One year later, he put up a 22.0/13.7/7.7 slash line in three consecutive Game 7s en route to another league title.
He and Michael Jordan are the only guards with as many as three NBA Finals MVP selections on their resumes.
4. George Mikan, Center
"Mr. Basketball" has the rings to prove it.Career: 1948-56 (7 seasons)
Teams: Minneapolis Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: NA
Postseason stats/game: 24.0 PTS, 13.9* REB, 2.2 AST, N/A
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .254*
NBA championships: 5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)
Bottom Line: George Mikan
George Mikan was one of the NBA's first superstars.Because "Mr. Basketball" played way back, back, back when, he doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his complete and utter dominance in the pivot, especially in high-stakes games.
In a span of six seasons, five of which his Lakers won it all, he was the postseason leader in points five times and rebounds three times. In three of those, he had the most offense and defense win shares of any player in the field.
Get this: Only Michael Jordan (.255) had more win shares per 48 minutes in the playoffs. Barely.
3. LeBron James, Forward-Guard
It's good to be the King — and have him on your team.Career: 2003-present (18 seasons)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: .390 (90 of 231)
Postseason stats/game: 28.7 PTS, 9.0 REB, 7.2 AST, 1.8 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .244
NBA championships: 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
Bottom Line: LeBron James
LeBron James is making a GOAT case.Remember when the critics considered "King James" to be the very definition of "unclutch"? Hey, we're talkin’ to you, Scottie Pippen!
Would you believe that Bron-Bron has hit eight shots to tie or win games in the final seven seconds, two more than Michael Jordan himself? And his five buzzer-beaters are the most in league history?
What’s more, his 35.3/9.1/7.3/1.6/0.9 slash line in 2009 may be the best ever in one postseason. If LBJ hadn’t arrived to the clutch party a tad late, he would be in the discussion for numero uno.
2. Jerry West, Guard
Mr. Clutch.Career: 1960-1974 (14 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Clutch shot percentage: N/A
Postseason stats/game: 29.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 6.3 AST, N/A
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .203
NBA championship: 1 (1972)
Bottom Line: Jerry West
Jerry West was a highlight machine. Too bad so little data exists from the pre-3-point era. Because if we knew how many games that "Mr. Clutch" decided in the final seconds, minds would boggle.
By our unofficial count, there were more than two dozen of them — and that didn’t include his 63-foot jaw-dropper in the 1970 NBA Finals, a game that his team went on to lose.
"The Logo" fun fact: In the NBA's first 24 years of existence, his two buzzer-beaters were one more than the rest of the league had combined in its first 24 years of existence.
1. Michael Jordan, Shooting Guard
What pressure?Career: 1984-93, 1994-98, 2001-03 (13 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Clutch shot percentage: .409* (9 of 22)
Postseason stats/game: 33.4 PTS, 6.4 REB, 5.7 AST, 2.1 STL
Postseason win shares/48 minutes: .255
NBA championships: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Bottom Line: Michael Jordan
Be like Mike.Six NBA Finals trips, six NBA Finals MVP awards.
Need more? OK, try this: He owns two of the seven buzzer-beaters that clinched playoff series in league history. From "The Shot" (1989 Eastern Conference first round) to "The Push-off" (Game 6, 2007 NBA Finals), there was no more lethal late-game shot-maker in hoops history.
Of course, that doesn’t include all those fouls he drew and defensive stops he willed and teammates he made better with games on the line. This is the one guy who we gotta have against the martians with the future of civilization at stake.