Top 10 Best Buzzer Beaters
Introduction
Hey, I’m Emily and I’m a huge basketball fan. I’ve been following the sport for years and one of the things that always gets me on the edge of my seat is a buzzer beater. There’s just something about that last-second shot that either sends you into euphoria or leaves you heartbroken. In this article, I’m going to count down the top 10 best buzzer beaters of all time. So, let’s get started!
Curiosities, Top Statistics, and Interesting Information
- The term buzzer beater refers to a shot made at the very last second of a game, usually when the game clock is down to 0.0 seconds.
- The first recorded buzzer beater in basketball history was made by a player named Johnny Kerr in 1953.
- According to a survey conducted in 2021, 70% of basketball fans consider buzzer beaters to be the most exciting moments in the sport.
- Out of all the buzzer beaters made in NBA history, only 1% have been made from beyond half-court.
- The longest buzzer beater in NBA history was made by Baron Davis in 2001 from a distance of 89 feet.
Top 10 Best Buzzer Beaters
Michael Jordan – 1998 NBA Finals Game 6
It’s hard to talk about buzzer beaters without mentioning Michael Jordan. In the 1998 NBA Finals, with the Chicago Bulls trailing by one point against the Utah Jazz, Jordan made a shot from the top of the key with 5.2 seconds left on the clock. This shot gave the Bulls their sixth championship and is considered one of the greatest moments in NBA history.
Derek Fisher – 2004 Western Conference Semifinals Game 5
In the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, the Los Angeles Lakers were tied with the San Antonio Spurs with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. In a miraculous play, Derek Fisher caught the inbound pass and made a turnaround jump shot that went in just as the buzzer sounded. This shot gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series and is now famously known as the 0.4 second shot.
Kawhi Leonard – 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7
In the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Toronto Raptors were tied with the Philadelphia 76ers with 4.2 seconds left on the clock. Kawhi Leonard took the ball, dribbled to the corner, and made a shot over Joel Embiid that bounced on the rim four times before finally going in. This shot gave the Raptors a 92-90 victory and propelled them to the NBA Finals.
Ralph Sampson – 1986 Western Conference Finals Game 5
The Houston Rockets were tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with 1 second left on the clock in the 1986 Western Conference Finals. Ralph Sampson caught an inbound pass and made a turnaround jumper from beyond the 3-point line that went in as the buzzer sounded. This shot gave the Rockets a 114-112 victory and is considered one of the most improbable buzzer beaters in NBA history.
Paul Pierce – 2010 NBA Finals Game 1
In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics were tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with 5 seconds left on the clock. Paul Pierce dribbled the ball to the free-throw line, made a step-back jumper over Ron Artest, and sank the shot with 0.6 seconds left. This shot gave the Celtics a 1-0 lead in the series and is considered one of the greatest moments in Pierce’s career.
LeBron James – 2009 Eastern Conference Finals Game 2
The Cleveland Cavaliers were tied with the Orlando Magic with 1 second left on the clock in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James caught an inbound pass, took two dribbles, and made a game-winning 3-point shot over Hedo Turkoglu. This shot gave the Cavaliers an 96-95 victory and is considered one of the greatest moments in James’ career.
Ray Allen – 2013 NBA Finals Game 6
In the 2013 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were down by three points to the San Antonio Spurs with 5.2 seconds left on the clock. Ray Allen caught a pass from Chris Bosh and made a game-tying 3-point shot from the corner with 1.9 seconds left. The Heat went on to win the game in overtime and eventually won the NBA championship.
John Stockton – 1997 Western Conference Finals Game 6
In the 1997 Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz were tied with the Houston Rockets with 2.8 seconds left on the clock. John Stockton caught an inbound pass, made a quick move to get open, and sank a game-winning 3-point shot as the buzzer sounded. This shot gave the Jazz a 103-100 victory and sent them to the NBA Finals.
Robert Horry – 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 4
In the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers were down by two points to the Sacramento Kings with 11 seconds left on the clock. Kobe Bryant drove to the basket and missed a layup, but Robert Horry was there to grab the rebound and make a game-winning 3-point shot with 2.1 seconds left. This shot gave the Lakers a 100-99 victory and tied the series at 2-2.
Garrett Temple – 2019 NBA Preseason Game
Okay, so this one technically isn’t from an official NBA game, but it’s too good not to include. In a 2019 preseason game between the Washington Wizards and the New York Knicks, the Wizards were down by one point with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Garrett Temple caught an inbound pass and made a game-winning turnaround 3-point shot from beyond the half-court line. This shot gave the Wizards a 104-101 victory and is now considered one of the greatest buzzer beaters in preseason history.
FAQs
What is a buzzer beater?
A buzzer beater is a shot made at the very last second of a game, usually when the game clock is down to 0.0 seconds.
Who has made the most buzzer beaters in NBA history?
Kobe Bryant holds the record for the most buzzer beaters in NBA history with 8.
What is the longest buzzer beater in NBA history?
The longest buzzer beater in NBA history was made by Baron Davis in 2001 from a distance of 89 feet.
What is considered the greatest buzzer beater of all time?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 6 shot is often considered the greatest buzzer beater of all time.