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Eleazar Gonzales lists the top-five all-time clutch performers in the NBA playoffs.
What is the definition of "clutch" in basketball? Firstly, any moment can be considered clutch if that moment happens within the final five minutes of the game. Secondly, the final point differential is five or less. In other words, that clutch moment changes the outcome of a close game.
Every basketball player can score. However, scoring in clutch moments during the playoffs is a different animal that only a few players can tame. After all, the postseason is where we can separate the men from the boys.
In this article, we'll list the top-five clutch performers of all time in the NBA playoffs.
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Michael Jordan
There's a reason why he is considered by many as the greatest player of all time. Jordan constantly produced during the regular season but also delivered during the playoffs -- specifically during clutch situations.
Some of his game-winners are forever etched in history. Who could forget the infamous "Flu Game" where His Airness scored 38 points? His basket over Craig Ehlo and the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their first-round playoff series in 1989? We could go on and on with the list of moments where Jordan delivered in the playoffs.
In his playoff career, Jordan averaged 31.2 points, while in the NBA Finals, he increased that average to 33.4. Six championships with six Finals MVPs. GOAT numbers indeed.
Michael Jordan Playoff Clutch Shooting Stats (89-93):
Last 5 minutes, Score within 5:
51.4 FG% (76/148)Last 2 minutes, Score within 3:
56.1 FG% (23/41)The Clutchest ever? pic.twitter.com/0zYI3njo4N
— KBs GOAT (@KbsGoat) December 18, 2020
Stephen Curry
Arguably the greatest shooter of all time, Curry has had numerous clutch moments during the playoffs. He will hope to add more depending on whether the Warriors can deliver another playoff run in 2024.
What makes Curry more dangerous in the playoffs is when his shots weren't falling in early in games, he could still drop long-range bombs to take the game away and say "night night" to his opponents.
Remember his game-winner over Anthony Davis in the first round of the 2015 playoffs against the Pelicans? Or the game where he scored 17 points in overtime against the Trail Blazers during the 2019 Western Conference Finals?
In the playoffs, Curry averages 27.0 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the perimeter. For his career, he is shooting 50.4 percent during clutch situations.
Here's 2 minutes of Steph Curry’s most clutch 3s from every playoff series he played in pic.twitter.com/yZeIL57zht
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) May 2, 2020
Kobe Bryant
Bryant's clutch baskets in the playoffs are some of the most memorable in league history. He had multiple fourth-quarter scoring outbursts that carried the Lakers to victory. His game-tying basket and eventual game-winner against the Suns are just the icing to the multi-tier cake.
According to ESPN, the Black Mamba scored more clutch baskets than any other player since 1997. How many you ask? 2,359 points in clutch situations to be exact. If this doesn't make you think of Kobe as a clutch player, nothing will.
"Bryant for the win...BANG!"
On this day in 2006... Kobe was ELECTRIC in the clutch, forcing OT and hitting an iconic game-winning jumper in overtime to win Game 4! #NBAVault #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/o4Yfs9HOEg
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 30, 2022
LeBron James
Let's face it, we've seen more clutch moments in the playoffs from James than from any other player in this generation. That's certainly a testament to the King's longevity.
He has long tormented the Raptors in the playoffs with multiple heartbreaking game-winners. In the 2020 NBA Finals inside the Orlando bubble, the King had the game-winning basket over Jimmy Butler and the Heat to give the Lakers their first championship in a decade. Who could ever forget the iconic block on Andre Iguodala in the final moments of Game 7 during the 2016 NBA Finals? He scored 45 points to stave off elimination against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
Although he has missed 2,925 shots in the playoffs (the most of any player) in his career, to say James isn't built for clutch situations is wrong. He has four NBA championships and career statistics that tell you otherwise.
LeBron James has made the same number of clutch shots in the playoffs as Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving COMBINED. pic.twitter.com/u8xQWr9XZL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2020
Reggie Miller
"Miller Time" happened in the playoffs most of the time -- cementing Miller's legacy as one of the game's best clutch performers.
He famously scored eight points in nine seconds during a playoff game in 1995 against the Knicks. Fell agonizingly short of completing an upset against Jordan and the Bulls in 1998. Routinely scored multiple clutch baskets against Michael Jordan himself.
Throughout his career, Miller averaged 20.6 points in the playoffs.
24 years ago today, Reggie Miller silenced Knicks fans with 8 points in 9 seconds pic.twitter.com/vbOEeUP9Vt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 7, 2019
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