Each NBA team’s most clutch player of all-time

Most clutch player in Washington Wizards history: Gilbert Arenas

The Washington Wizards have a long history in the league, dating back to the Bullets that played in both Baltimore and the nation’s capital. Wes Unseld helped to lead the Bullets to the NBA title in 1978. Yet it is a more recent Washington player who built a reputation on clutch success.

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Gilbert Arenas was fearless in big moments, demanding the ball and taking the responsibility, make or miss, of taking that last shot. He hit a number of game winners, including big shots against Chicago and Cleveland. His best clutch shot came in 2007 against the Utah Jazz.

Key Moment: In 2007 the Wizards were in the midst of four straight playoff appearances, but were locked into a tight race for playoff seeding. By March every game counted, and the Wizards went into Salt Lake City needing a win. The end of the game saw both teams tied 111-111.

Arenas dribbled the ball up the court and watched the clock, letting it tick all the way down. He didn’t want to give Utah a chance to score themselves, of course, but he also knew the weight of the moment. He wanted his shot to go at the buzzer.

And go it did, as Arenas pulled up over Deron Williams for a 3-pointer at the very top of the arc. The shot splashed through as the buzzer sounded, giving Washington the win and Arenas the signature moment he wanted.

While the Wizards may not have gone far under Arenas, they were always equipped to make shots when it counted.