Brandon Ellis’ Top 5 NBA Finals Clutch Shots of All-Time
With Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s game winner in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, I wanted to count down some of my favorite clutch shots in Finals History. There have been a lot of clutch moments in Finals history throughout the years, but these five particular shots and moments are the ones that stick out to me the most over the years. With all of the preliminaries out of the way, here is my list of the Top 5 Clutch Shots in NBA Finals History.
1. Jordan’s Iconic Step Back in ’98
The first one on the list to go over is the iconic step-back to seal the 1998 NBA Finals for the Chicago Bulls for their second three-peat. Michael Jordan’s iconic step-back on Bryon Russell in the final seconds of Game 6 became one of the most iconic shots of NBA Finals History, and it is probably the most iconic shot in NBA History.
The “Last Shot” is what kids in the late 90s not only wanted to replicate to be “Like Mike,” but also the fact that the shot would end up changing the course of both the Bulls and Jazz, as both haven’t been back at the Finals since that shot. Personally, I think this shot will always be at the top of my list of the most clutch shots in NBA Finals history because of the significance of the Jordan Era.
2. Kyrie seals the 3-1 Comeback
The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the 3-1 Comeback with two great plays late in the fourth quarter of Game 7 2016 NBA Finals. The Lebron James block on Andre Iguodala gets replayed over and over again, but that’s not what we are talking about. We’re talking about 53 seconds left, right wing one-one with Stephen Curry after getting the switch that he wanted, Kyrie Irving created space with a series of isolation moves into a fade away three, that would go on to be the game winner and brought the city of Cleveland it’s first World Champion in over 50 years at that point in time.
This shot and the next shot on this list were the toughest to place for me on this list as they both helped Lebron James out in his legacy, but this one is a little bit more of a sentimental touch because it created the most improbable comeback possible and it would create the unstoppable Warriors the next year by them adding Durant. But the call from Mike Breen, on the next shot, is SO GOOD!
3. Ray Allen’s Clutch Gene Saves Lebron
“James catches puts up the three, won’t go, rebound Bosh, back out to Allen, his three-pointer, BANG! Tie Game with 5 seconds remaining!” Mike Breen strikes again with that call of the shot that defined the 2013 NBA Finals, as Ray Allen’s three in Game 6 changed the series in a huge way. If he doesn’t make that three-pointer, the San Antonio Spurs would have six championships, with back-to-back in 2013 and 2014, and Lebron wouldn’t be even close to the GOAT conversation with only three rings to show for it.
The way that Allen backpedaled into that shot was an insane feat of situational awareness and talent to perform that at that moment with a ton of pressure on the line in that moment. The only reason the other two shots are much higher on this list is that those two won the series. The next shot also would help win the series, but it would tie Game 7, not win it.
4. Ron Artest’s Game-Tying Three vs the Celtics in 2010
Before he became Meta World Peace, Ron Artest would help the Los Angeles Lakers complete the repeat and revenge for 2008 with the game-tying three against the Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. Yes, there was still a minute left when he hit the shot, but the circumstances of Game 7 magnify this moment above the final shot on this list. Also, I can’t not have this list without a great Lakers moment on it, and most of the great Lakers clutch moments come in the earlier rounds of the Playoffs. Anyways, let’s get to the Final Shot on the List, and I’ll introduce it with another iconic call, this time from Al Michaels.
5. Big Shot Bob Strikes Against Pistons in 2005
“Horry for Three, Unbelievable, This guy is off the charts!” Al Michaels’ call of the Robert Horry game winner in Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals, with 5.9 Seconds remaining, also Hubie Brown’s great analysis of the shot, makes it stand out. But the main reason this makes the list at 5 is the fact that this shot, would cement the Spurs as one of the great teams in the 2000s and cost the Pistons tail spin all because of one missed assignment by Rasheed Wallace double-teaming Manu Ginobli in the corner and leaving Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry OPEN on the Wing. Yeah, this one had to be on this list!
Final Thoughts
We will see where Tyrese Haliburton’s winner will be remembered in the lexicon later down the road, depending on who wins the 2025 NBA Finals, but all of these shots I mentioned are going to stand the test of time for the rest of NBA History. I probably won’t ever change this list unless some other shot happens in my lifetime that edges out one of these, but the Pacers guard’s game winner on Thursday is one of those clutch moments in NBA Finals history that could be remembered for a long time.
