In NBA games, every team needs a superstar who can step up in clutch moments to secure victory. Throughout history, there have been countless unforgettable game-winners. Below are the top 10 players with the most game-winning shots. Let’s take a look.
10th: Kevin Durant & Allen Iverson
Both Durant and Iverson recorded 13 game-winners. As two of the greatest scorers in NBA history, they showcased elite finishing and isolation skills. Durant is renowned for his clutch-time performances, one of the main reasons so many teams have chased after him. Iverson, despite his limited height, often sealed games with his exceptional skill set and deadly mid-range shooting.
9th: Damian Lillard
Lillard has 14 game-winners to his name. His signature celebration — “Dame Time” — has become iconic. In the 2019 playoffs against Paul George and the Thunder, his long-range dagger not only won the game but also eliminated OKC.
8th: Ray Allen
Allen tallied 15 game-winners in his career. While he later became known primarily as an elite sharpshooter, during his Celtics days, Allen was more trusted in clutch moments than Garnett or Pierce. His most iconic moment came in the 2013 Finals when he hit the game-tying three that changed the course of multiple careers.
7th: Dwyane Wade
Wade, supported early on by Shaq and later sharing the spotlight with LeBron in Miami’s “Big Three” era, still displayed immense individual ability. He notched 15 game-winners, including his famous “This is my house!” moment. Even in his twilight years, Wade hit a one-legged buzzer-beater to seal victory.
6th: Vince Carter
Carter, one of the most versatile scorers in history, delivered 16 game-winners. His repertoire included dunks, mid-range shots, and even alley-oop finishes. One of his most memorable came in 2014, when he hit a tough three-pointer at the buzzer for the Mavericks against the Spurs.
5th: Larry Bird
Before LeBron, Bird was widely regarded as the greatest small forward ever. With 18 game-winners, his shooting touch was legendary. Bird was so confident that he sometimes told defenders exactly where he would shoot from — and still scored.
4th: Dirk Nowitzki
Nowitzki, the ultimate “one-club man,” produced 19 game-winners in his 19-season career. A European basketball icon, he elevated the reputation of international players by winning a championship as the undisputed leader. His layup in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals remains an iconic clutch moment.
3rd: Michael Jordan
Widely considered the greatest player of all time, Jordan delivered 25 game-winners, including 9 buzzer-beaters — the most in NBA history. In just 15 seasons, he repeatedly rose to the occasion in the Finals, leading the Bulls to a dynasty.
2nd: Kobe Bryant
Kobe ranks second with 26 game-winners. In 2010, he was at his peak, recording six game-winners in a single season. Known as one of the most fearless and skilled scorers ever, Kobe never hesitated in crunch time, including his unforgettable double game-winners against the Suns in 2006.
1st: LeBron James
LeBron sits atop the list with 28 game-winners, 8 of them in the playoffs. He has showcased every possible clutch move — jumpers, layups, floaters, and threes. In the Eastern Conference especially, teams were constantly haunted by LeBron’s late-game heroics.
