Chauncey Billups And The Top 10 NBA Mr. Big Shots
Getty Images
Chauncey Billups recently announced his retirement from the NBA after a 17-year career. Billups earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" during his first stint with the Detroit Pistons, and as the moniker suggests, he was prone to hitting the important shots in games. The NBA has produced many players with a knack for late-game heroics. Here are the top 10 players who join Billups in the 'Big Shot' department.
10. Derek Fisher
Getty Images
10. Derek Fisher
Getty Images
Fisher was never an NBA superstar, but such is hardly necessary when it comes to being remembered as a big shot. He hit many clutch shots during his career; his most memorable moment came against the Spurs in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals when he scored a contested jumper with only 0.4 seconds on the clock. He also hit two big clutch threes vs. the Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, one to send the game into overtime and the other to win it.
9. Dirk Nowitzki
Getty Images
9. Dirk Nowitzki
Getty Images
Dirk Nowitzki's jumper is impossible to defend; the German has hit so many game-winners. He is as consistent as he is talented, able to shoot over -- and sometimes under -- any defender. Nowitzki won his first NBA Championship in 2011. The Miami Heat, his finals opponents, could not find an answer; they tried everything but came up short against him. He punished them over and over, most notably with a game-winning drive against Chris Bosh.
8. Steve Kerr
Getty Images
8. Steve Kerr
Getty Images
Kerr is one of the best three-point specialists ever to grace the hardwood. He played a key role in the Bulls' final three titles of the Jordan era, but he hit the shot of his life in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. The Bulls were leading the series 3-2 and the score was tied at 86-86. Coming off a timeout, Michael Jordan dished to Kerr with six seconds on the clock. Kerr's shot broke the tie and clinched the title.
7. Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
7. Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
The Black Mamba has hit 28 game-winners during his illustrious career. A cold and fearless marksman, he embraces the pressure of taking the last shot. Although only five of these game-winning shots came in the playoffs, it is still an impressive feat. His greatest clutch shot was a three-pointer on the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals which sent the game into overtime. The Lakers would go on to win the game but would lose the series.
6. Ray Allen
Getty Images
6. Ray Allen
Getty Images
Ray Allen is the greatest three-point shooter the NBA has ever seen. The two-time champion certainly knows how to let it fly. His game-tying three pretty much makes him solely responsible for the Miami Heat's third title and will probably go down in history as their biggest shot ever hit. LeBron James' legacy owes much to Allen; with one shot, he ensured that James' glaring errors were forgotten and saved the face of a franchise.
5. Larry Bird
Getty Images
5. Larry Bird
Getty Images
Larry Bird is one of the biggest game-winners of all time. This talented specimen of a player could score from anywhere on the court. He came alive during crunch time, hitting vital shots during regular season, playoff and finals games. Bird is the second greatest Celtic ever -- only losing out to the great Bill Russel. As an opposing player, Bird was the last person you would want to see holding the ball with the clock winding down.
4. Jerry West
Getty Images
4. Jerry West
Getty Images
Jerry West, known as "Mr. Clutch" in his time, saved the Lakers' blushes several times during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a magician on the floor, thriving under pressure, and always rising to the occasion. The man on the NBA logo is one of the best go-to guys ever to play the game; in his era, there was no one else you would want to take the last shot in a game.
3. Reggie Miller
Getty Images
3. Reggie Miller
Getty Images
Reggie Miller was one of the greatest shooters ever. Miller had a knack for hitting clutch baskets, and he was a thorn in the side of the New York Knicks organization, as several of his top plays were manufactured whilst facing the Knicks. The only stain on his career is the fact that he never won a ring, but in his day Miller would be any coach's pick to take the last shot.
2. Robert Horry
Getty Images
2. Robert Horry
Getty Images
During his 16-year NBA career, Robert Horry only averaged seven points a game, but he scored when it counted. "Big Shot Rob", as he was known, specialized in hitting the clutch shot. He probably won't be remembered for much else, but when it comes to clutch, only one other surpasses. Horry saw to it that the Lakers and the Spurs won titles by hitting a buzzer-beating three for each team; absent his two threes, those teams would be one ring short.
1. Michael Jordan
Getty Images
1. Michael Jordan
Getty Images
When it comes to scoring and the NBA, the name Michael Jordan probably ranks at No. 1 in most categories. Where he really stood out, though, was clutch shooting. No one was as deadly as "His Airness" in the final minute of a game. Jordan hit 30 game-winners for the Chicago Bulls, and he never even allowed a finals series to go beyond six games. Jordan is definitely the biggest shot the world has ever seen and probably will ever see.
Lou Flavius is a basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @LouFlavius , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Share