Ranking 10 NBA best shots in history: Michael Jordan’s undisputed No. 1

Unlike football, scoring in basketball happens frequently, and it is normal for a team to score more than 100 points in a game. However, a single shot that changes the outcome of a match, or even a championship series, carries special significance. Below, basketscores.com looks back at 10 of the NBA best shots in history.

10 NBA best shots in history

10. Reggie Miller (1995)

The first moment on the list belongs to Reggie Miller during the game between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks in May 1995. The Pacers were trailing by six points with only 18.7 seconds remaining. Reggie Miller then produced one of the most famous sequences in NBA history by scoring eight points in just nine seconds. With the game approaching the final seconds, Miller calmly converted two free throws to secure a 107-105 victory for the Pacers. Indiana eventually won the Eastern Conference Semifinal series 4-3.

9. Derek Fisher (2004)

This moment occurred in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were leading 73-72 with only 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Gary Payton passed the ball to Derek Fisher, who caught it with his back to the basket. Fisher immediately turned and released a quick shot. The buzzer sounded while the ball was in the air, but it went straight into the basket, giving the Lakers a dramatic 74-73 victory. The win gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead, and they later won Game 6 to close the series 4-2.

8. Damian Lillard (2019)

This famous shot came in the first round of the 2019 Western Conference Playoffs between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 5, the Blazers were leading the series 3-1 and had the chance to finish it. With only seconds remaining, Damian Lillard calmly dribbled near the half-court line before stepping back and launching a deep three-pointer. The ball followed a perfect arc and went through the basket as the buzzer sounded, giving Portland the win and eliminating Oklahoma City from the playoffs.

7. Jerry West (1970)

This historic shot happened in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks. The Knicks were leading 102-100 with only two seconds left. Wilt Chamberlain passed the ball to Jerry West, who took a few dribbles and launched a long shot from more than 60 feet away. The ball went into the basket to tie the game at 102-102. At that time, the three-point line did not exist, so the shot only counted for two points. Although the Lakers eventually lost the series, the shot became one of the most iconic moments in NBA history.

6. Magic Johnson (1987)

In Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, Magic Johnson received the ball on the left side while being defended by Kevin McHale. He drove into the paint and finished with a famous skyhook shot over the Boston Celtics defense. The basket gave the Lakers a 107-106 lead. Boston had a final chance, but Larry Bird missed the last shot. The victory played a crucial role in helping the Lakers win the 1987 NBA championship.

5. LeBron James (2023)

This shot marked a historic milestone for LeBron James. It occurred during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in February 2023. LeBron received the ball in the post against Kenrich Williams, took two dribbles, and then executed a fadeaway jump shot from about 14 feet. The ball went through the net, allowing LeBron to reach 38,388 career points and break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing NBA scoring record. The game was paused for several minutes as the crowd celebrated the historic moment.

4. Kawhi Leonard (2019)

In Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers, the score was tied 90-90 with only 4.2 seconds remaining. Marc Gasol passed the ball to Kawhi Leonard near the sideline. Leonard dribbled toward the corner and took a difficult shot over Joel Embiid. The ball bounced four times on the rim before finally dropping through the basket, giving the Raptors a dramatic 92-90 victory. The moment instantly became one of the most memorable shots in NBA playoff history.

3. Kyrie Irving (2016)

Kyrie Irving's shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals is considered one of the most important baskets in league history. With less than a minute remaining and the score tied, Irving faced Stephen Curry on the right wing. After several dribbles, he stepped back and hit a three-point shot that gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a 92-89 lead. The Golden State Warriors could not respond, and Cleveland won the championship. The victory also completed the first comeback from a 3-1 deficit in NBA Finals history.

2. Ray Allen (2013)

This shot occurred in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. With less than 30 seconds left, the Spurs were close to winning the championship. After LeBron James missed a three-point attempt, Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound and passed the ball to Ray Allen, who quickly stepped back behind the three-point line. Allen made the shot to tie the game at 95-95 with only seconds remaining.Miami went on to win the game in overtime and later won Game 7 to secure the championship.

1. Michael Jordan (1998)

The greatest shot in NBA history is widely known as "The Last Shot" by Michael Jordan. In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, the Jazz were leading 86-85 with under 30 seconds remaining.

Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone, dribbled up the court, and faced Bryon Russell. After a quick crossover, Russell lost his balance, and Jordan created space before hitting a jump shot with about five seconds left. The basket gave the Bulls an 87-86 lead, and they held on to win the game. The victory secured Chicago's sixth championship and completed their second three-peat.

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