Hoops Habit
Fansided

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

By Josh Cornelissen

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James (Photo by Joe Murphy /NBAE via Getty Images) /

Most clutch player in Cleveland Cavaliers history: LeBron James

LeBron James is one of the greatest offensive players of all time, impossible to stop in the open court and able to get to the rim at will. He has cultivated a 3-point shot that has extended his offensive prime and continues to climb the all-time scoring list. His offensive clutch moments are nearly innumerable.

James has finished off nearly every team in the Eastern Conference with a clutch shot in the playoffs. He has last-second game-winning shots against the Chicago Bulls, the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Against the Detroit Pistons in 2007 James took control of the series in Game 5 by scoring his team’s final 25 points en route to a double overtime victory.

Even with so many clutch moments on offense, James is a terror on defense as well. His athleticism and timing make him an excellent rim protector, and he relishes the chance to blow up a transition opportunity for the other team. The biggest win of his Cleveland career was built on such a clutch defensive play.

Key Moment: In Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers were locked into a close affair with the Golden State Warriors. After going down 3-1 in the series James and point guard Kyrie Irving had keyed a remarkable comeback, but with offense lacking in Game 7 they needed to keep the Warriors from breaking things open offensively, something they did all the time during their 73-win regular season.

With the game tied and the clock ticking down, Warriors guard and reigning MVP Stephen Curry pushed the ball up the court in transition. Andre Iguodala broke free and caught the pass from Curry, elevating for a layup that would give them the lead. James, sprinting down the court at seemingly impossible speeds, elevated behind him and smacked the ball off the backboard.

The Warriors would be unable to score another point the rest of the way, and with Irving hitting a 3-pointer on the other end the Cavaliers won the game and the series. Cleveland-area native LeBron James was able to accomplish his lifelong dream of bringing a title to “The Land” and he clinched the championship with one of the most clutch defensive plays in NBA history.