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10 Best NBA Finals Shots of All Time

The NBA Finals are the pinnacle of the basketball season, where the best teams in the league battle it out for the championship title. It’s a stage where heroes are born and legends are made, and throughout the years, there have been countless clutch shots that have left fans on the edge of their seats.

Best NBA Finals Shots

These are the moments that live on in highlight reels and in our memories forever. Whether it’s a game-winning three-pointer or a miraculous buzzer-beater, these are the shots that have defined the NBA Finals.

So, without further ado, here are the top 10 best NBA Finals shots of all time, a list that is sure to spark debates and bring back memories for basketball fans everywhere.

10. Jerry West – 1962 NBA Finals

During the 1962 NBA Finals the Lakers faced off against the Celtics. In Game 3, with the game tied and time expiring, the Celtics inbounded the ball looking to run out the clock and secure victory.

Jerry West, known for being a clutch player, managed to steal the ball and raced down the court for a game-winning layup as time ran out.

Despite eventually losing the series in Game 7, West’s legendary layup remains one of the best NBA Finals shots.

9. Vinnie Johnson – 1990 NBA Finals 

Vinnie Johnson’s game-winning jumper in Game 5 of the 1990 NBA Finals is another one of the best NBA Finals shots. Nicknamed “The Microwave” for his ability to heat up in the clutch, Johnson hit a jumper that helped the Detroit Pistons become back-to-back champions in the 1990 NBA Finals.

The shot was all the more impressive considering it came in a series defined by the dominant play of Isiah Thomas.

What makes this moment truly memorable is that Johnson had the opportunity to give the ball back to Thomas, but instead chose to take the shot himself and hit the game-winner.

8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 1974 NBA Finals

In 1974 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson had a chance at a second championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. In Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics the Bucks found themselves in a double-overtime dogfight at Boston Garden.

With seven seconds left, a John Havlicek jumper put the Celtics up by one. As reigning MVP, it was up to Abdul-Jabbar to keep the Bucks’ championship hopes alive.

He responded with his signature skyhook, a 17-foot baseline shot that arced over the outstretched hand of Celtics center Dave Cowens and through the net.

The Bucks went on to lose the series in Game 7, but Abdul-Jabbar’s game-winning skyhook remains one of the best NBA Finals shots ever. 

7. Steve Kerr – 1997 NBA Finals

In the 1997 NBA Finals and up 3 games to 2, the Chicago Bulls were locked in a tight battle against the Utah Jazz in Game 6. With the title on the line, Michael Jordan, the best NBA player of all time, had the ball in his hands.

However, instead of forcing a shot against tight marking, he made the smart play and passed the ball to teammate Steve Kerr who was open on the perimeter. Kerr, known for his shooting ability, made the most of the opportunity.

Kerr sank the 15-foot jumper to give the Bulls the lead, and secured their second straight NBA championship in the process with one of the best NBA Finals shots of all time.

6. Robert Horry – 2005 NBA Finals

Robert Horry, known as “Big Shot Bob” for his ability to come through in the clutch, added another memorable moment to his storied career with his game-winning three-pointer in Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals.

With the San Antonio Spurs down by four points and with under two minutes remaining, Horry drove to the basket and threw down a thunderous dunk to bring the Spurs to within one point.

He followed that up by hitting a cold-blooded three-pointer with just six seconds left on the clock, giving the Spurs the lead and securing the victory.

This clutch performance by Horry, who was playing with an injured shoulder, is remembered as one of the best NBA Finals shots. 

5. John Paxson – 1993 NBA Finals 

The 1993 NBA Finals was a highly anticipated matchup between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, with Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan as the main headliners.

In a dramatic Game 6, Jordan drove to the basket, and with the defense collapsing, dished the ball to Horace Grant. Grant saw an open John Paxson behind the arc and made the pass.

Paxson took the wide-open look and buried the three-pointer, giving the Bulls the lead and securing their first championship three-peat. This clutch play by Paxson ended Barkley’s hopes of dethroning Jordan.

The championship win cemented the Bulls as a dominant force in the league and Paxson’s shot will go down in history as one of the best NBA Finals shots of all time. 

4. Magic Johnson – 1987 NBA Finals 

The biggest NBA rivals of all time faced off in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals. The Lakers faced a crucial moment in their matchup against the Celtics at Boston Garden.

With the game on the line and with only seven seconds left on the clock, Michael Cooper inbounded the ball to Magic Johnson on the wing.

Facing off against Kevin McHale, Johnson drove to the basket and found himself  surrounded by the Celtics’ Big Three of McHale, Robert Parish, and Larry Bird.

Johnson pulled out a move straight out of teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s playbook, hitting a perfect baby skyhook shot. The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead and went on to win the championship.

3. Kyrie Irving – 2016 NBA Finals 

In the crucial final minutes of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving faced off against Stephen Curry and hit a game-winning 3-pointer with just 53 seconds left to secure Cleveland’s first championship in 52 years.

Irving’s clutch shot, which came against one of the best shooters in the league Steph Curry, helped complete the first ever comeback from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals.

Curry to this day is still in awe of the level of play between Irving and LeBron during the series. LeBron himself delivered the best block in NBA of all time along with Irving’s shot, which meant the Warriors all-time great 73-9 season was to no avail.

2. Ray Allen – 2013 NBA Finals

Ray Allen’s three-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals is one of the best NBA Finals shots and is second on our list. With the Heat trailing the Spurs 3-2 in the series, and with just 15 seconds left in the game, things looked bleak for Miami.

LeBron James had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer, but his shot wouldn’t fall. Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it out to Allen, who was waiting in the corner. Allen didn’t hesitate, and his shot went in, tying the game at 95 apiece.

The Heat went on to win in overtime and eventually claim the championship in Game 7. Allen’s clutch 3-pointer was a turning point in the series and will be remembered as one of the best NBA Finals shots ever.

1. Michael Jordan – 1998 NBA Finals

In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls were down by one point with just seconds left on the clock. They needed a stop to have a chance to win the game and the championship.

The Utah Jazz inbounded the ball to their star player, Karl Malone hoping he could score the go-ahead basket. Michael Jordan, the best player in the world, had other plans.

He managed to strip the ball from Malone and without calling a timeout, Jordan quickly brought the ball up the court and sized up his defender Bryon Russell.

Jordan made a move to his right, then crossed over to his left and pulled up for a jump shot. The shot swooshed through the net, giving the Bulls the lead and ultimately the victory.

This iconic moment, known as “The Last Shot,” cemented Jordan’s status as one of the greatest clutch players in NBA history.

It helped him secure his sixth championship with the Bulls, is the best NBA Finals shot of all time, and also kept Malone without an NBA championship.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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