Hi everyone, first off welcome back to the Top 12 as I took a couple of weeks off from making this list due to moving. Also a huge thanks to DeAndre Ayton’s amazing putback last night. This inspired me to make our Top 12 list of all time NBA Playoff Shots. DeAndre Ayton’s lob dunk is in the conversation but did not make the cut. This proves there has been some amazing clutch moments in the history of basketball. Let’s not waste anytime and get started.
#12. John Stockton’s Buzzer Beater (1997 Western Conference Finals)
The Utah Jazz had been to the Conference Finals in three out of four years falling short every season. The Jazz were in a hard fought Western Conference Finals in 1997 against the Houston Rockets. The Jazz had a 3-2 Series lead and the game was tied at 100 with 2.8 second left. The Rockets lost contain on John Stockton on an inbounds pass and the legendary point guard known for being a great distributor proved he can make a shot or two as well.
#11. Michael Jordan’s Game 1 Buzzer Beater (1997 NBA Finals)
I initially was going to put Steve Kerr’s championship clinching shot in these same finals in this spot but I think many have forgotten the impact of Michael Jordan’s game 1 Buzzer Beater in this spot so we have to go back to this time. The Jazz Karl Malone won the MVP this season under some heavy scrutiny as many thought Michael Jordan should have won the award. Karl Malone would miss two critical foul shots with the game tied at 82 with 9 seconds left. Michael Jordan would do what he has done so many times in the past and hit the game winner and prove why he was still the best player at that time and arguably the best of all time (know many of you efficiency nerds will be holding your beer up for Lebron James). Here is the last few minutes of that epic game. That Stockton three was just days before this game but felt like years ago for Jazz fans after Jordan stuck them with dagger.
#10. John Paxson Championship Sealing 3 (1993 NBA Finals)
Spoiler alert there will be a lot of 1990’s Bulls on this list. This latest moment is from the 1993 NBA Finals where the Bulls had a 3-2 Series lead over the Phoenix Suns and the Suns had a 98-96 lead with 14.4 seconds left and the Bulls had the ball coming out of a timeout. The Bulls took the ball out from the full court and set up a brilliant play call. Horace Grant made a great drive and kick out to John Paxson who was wide open and hit the big shot to win the championship. The thing about the 1990’s Bulls was Jordan was the greatest player on the planet but he often would be a decoy for a role player to make a big wide open shot.
#9 Robert Horry’s Buzzer Beating 3 (2002 Western Conference Finals)
The 2002 Lakers were going for their third straight NBA Championship. They hit a huge speedbump in the 2002 Western Conference Finals as they were down 2-1 to the upstart Sacramento Kings and were trailing 99-97 with under 10 seconds left coming out of a timeout. The late Kobe Bryant drove to the basket and had a good look but his shot came up short. Shaquille O’neal got the rebound and had a good look at a putback but also missed. The Kings Vlade Divac tipped the ball away from the hoop thinking he was doing the right thing but he tipped it to Robert Horry (or Big shot Rob as he was known as) and Horry coldblooded as he was hit the game winner at the buzzer. The Lakers would win the series and their third NBA Championship.
#8. Sam Jones Buzzer Beater (1969 NBA Finals)
The Boston Celtics were the team of the 1960’s winning 8 championships in every year except 1967. In 1969 however they may have met their match against the upstart Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics were down 88-87 late in game 4 with a 2-1 series deficit but Sam Jones would hit a mid range jumper at the buzzer to give the Celtics the win and eventually their 10th Championship in 11 years.
#7 Jerry West 60 footer to Force OT (1970 NBA Finals)
I know that this list is deprived of game winners and huge Championship moments but when you make a 60 footer to force overtime even in a game you lost I have to put it on the list. Jerry West is on the logo by the way. Watch this beaut of a shot, this was before the 3 point line was implemented so only two point for this bomb. Knicks would win in 7 games in one of the best NBA Finals in NBA History.
#6. Kyrie Irving’s 3 to win a Championship for the land (2016 NBA Finals)
Kyrie Irving has had an up and down career for sure. But one thing that can’t be denied is Kyrie’s ability to be a big moment shot maker. His game winning step back three to give the Cavs a 92-89 over the Warriors in game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals was one of the most clutch moments in sports history. Not just the NBA, it brought the City of Cleveland a Championship for the first time since 1964. What was a forgotten footnote was the Warriors blowing a 3-1 Series lead with homecourt. They lost games 5 and 7 on their homecourt, a rarity in the usually very home dominant landscape that is the modern NBA postseason.
#5. Ray Allen’s corner 3 to force Overtime (2013 NBA Finals)
The Heat and Spurs played in one of the best NBA Finals ever in 2013. 2013 was the last season of the 2-3-2 format (2 home, 3 road, 2 home for team with homecourt advantage) so the Heat had game 6 and 7 at home. The Spurs had a 3-2 series lead and a 95-92 lead with under 20 seconds left. Lebron James would get a good look but missed the potential tying three. Chris Bosh would get arguably the biggest offensive rebound in NBA Finals history and kick the pass out to Ray Allen in the corner who would hit the game tying three. The Heat would in overtime and Game 7 to win their second straight NBA Championship. The Spurs would get revenge the following year winning it all in what was known as the Kawhi Leonard coming out party.
#4. Michael Jordan stars in “The Shot” (1989 1st Round)
All we can say is that Michael Jordan is better than Craig Ehlo. The Bulls were down 100-99 with 3 seconds left and the Bulls were inbounding the ball in the deciding game 5 against the Cavaliers. At this time Michael Jordan was a talented player that had never got out of the first round of the playoff. Jordan would get the ball hit was is known as “the shot” and the narrative would be changed on M.J forever starting with that buzzer beater. This moment was one of the most influential moments in modern sports history.
#3. Kawhi Leonard’s rim bouncing Buzzer Beater (2019 Conference Semifinals)
The Sixers didn’t just struggle getting out of the 2nd round before this season. In 2019 they were locked in a 90-90 in Game 7 with the Toronto Raptors. There was 4.2 seconds left on the clock and Kawhi Leonard gets the ball. He is forced to the corner with Joel Embiid draped all over him. Puts up the shot and it the ball bounces around the rim four times before going down. It was the only game 7 buzzer beater in NBA history. The Raptors would go on to win the Championship in what would be Kawhi Leonard’s only season in land that is known as the North. All we can say is this was the most profitable rental in sports history.
#2. Magic Johnson’s Sky Hook (1987 NBA Finals)
The Lakers and Celtics had some great NBA Finals matchups in the 1980s with the Celtics winning in 1984 and the Lakers winning in 1985. The Lakers would miss out on the finals in 1986 but would return in 1987 to play the Celtics in the rubber match between the two historic franchises. The Lakers would be up 2-1 in the series but down 106-105 with 07 seconds left and inbounding the ball under their own basket. Magic Johnson would get the inbounds pass and dribble to ball to inside the free throw line and make the most famous sky hook in NBA history over the Celtics twin towers of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. The Lakers would go on to win the title in 6 games in what was the last NBA Finals Larry Bird would ever play in.
#1 Michael Jordan’s Killer Crossover (1998 NBA Finals)
This isn’t just the most iconic shot in NBA history in my opinion the most iconic moment in modern sports history. The Bulls were trailing 86-85 in the 1998 NBA Finals to the Jazz with the Bulls up 3-2 in the series. The Jazz had the ball and Karl Malone got the ball in the post. He did not see Michael Jordan sneak behind the back side as Jordan would steal the ball from Malone and would take the ball upcourt. Everyone knew M.J was not going to give the ball to anyone in this moment it was his game to win or lose. As the G.O.A.T did many times before he came through in the clutch in what may have been a slight push off on Byron Russell on his killer crossover. The Bulls would win their sixth NBA Championship and that shot would be the last shot M.J would ever shoot with the Bulls and in my beer goggle’s memory his last shot he would ever shoot in the NBA (don’t argue with me give me this moment :-).