Ranking: The players with the most buzzer beaters in NBA history
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BUZZZZZZ.
If you grew up a basketball fan, chances are that at some point, you have been in your driveway, local park or in the gym shooting around, dreaming about having the ball late in a close game and hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater.
Today, we put together a list ranking the players with the most buzzer-beaters in NBA history, a list featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade and more all-time, memorable players.
Some players surprisingly not on the list include Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Check out the full list below. (For the record, the average stats are for games where the player hit buzzer-beater game-winning shots).
1. Michael Jordan: 9
Average distance of shots: 18.56 feet
Average stats: 34.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 52.2 FG%
Unassisted shots: 66.7 percent
Go-ahead shots: 44.4 percent
First buzzer-beater: May 7, 1989 vs. Cleveland
Last buzzer-beater: January 31, 2002 vs. Cleveland
2. Joe Johnson: 8
Average distance of shots: 16.38 feet
Average stats: 18.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.4 spg, 44.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 87.5 percent
Go-ahead shots: 37.5 percent
First buzzer-beater: December 6 2007 vs. Minnesota
Last buzzer-beater: April 15 2017 vs. LA Clippers
2. Kobe Bryant: 8
Average distance of shots: 21.25 feet
Average stats: 28.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.8 FG%
Unassisted shots: 62.5 percent
Go-ahead shots: 75.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: February 22 2002 vs. Charlotte
Last buzzer-beater: January 1 2010 vs. Sacramento
4. Paul Pierce: 7
Average distance of shots: 17.3 feet
Average stats: 24.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 43.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 85.7 percent
Go-ahead shots: 28.6 percent
First buzzer-beater: December 10 2000 vs. Denver
Last buzzer-beater: May 9 2015 vs. Atlanta
4. LeBron James: 7
Average distance of shots: 16.57 feet
Average stats: 34.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 8.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.4 bpg, 50.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 42.9 percent
Go-ahead shots: 42.9 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 23 2009 vs. Golden State
Last buzzer-beater: May 5 2018 vs. Toronto
6. Andre Iguodala: 5
Average distance of shots: 19.40 feet
Average stats: 16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 50.0 FG%
Unassisted shots: 60.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 60.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 22 2006 vs. Minnesota
Last buzzer-beater: January 3 2014 vs. Atlanta
6. Vince Carter: 5
Average distance of shots: 28.80 feet
Average stats: 22.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 45.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 60.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 100.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: Mar 1 2000 vs. Boston
Last buzzer-beater: April 26 2014 vs. San Antonio
6. Kevin Garnett: 5
Average distance of shots: 16.40 feet
Average stats: 21.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg, 44.3 FG%
Unassisted shots: 20.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 20.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 10 2000 vs. Detroit
Last buzzer-beater: November 22 2009 vs. New York
6. John Stockton: 5
Average distance of shots: 14.2 feet
Average stats: 22.6 ppg, 12.6 apg, 2.8 spg, 0.40 bpg, 56.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 60.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 40.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: November 15 1989 vs. Chicago
Last buzzer-beater: May 29 1997 vs. Houston
6. Gilbert Arenas: 5
Average distance of shots: 24.50 feet
Average stats: 32.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.0 spg, 45.9 FG%
Unassisted shots: 100.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 0.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 9 2004 vs. Philadelphia
Last buzzer-beater: Mar 21 2007 vs. Seattle
6. Dwyane Wade: 5
Average distance of shots: 21.40 feet
Average stats: 31.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.8 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.8 bpg, 57.3 FG%
Unassisted shots: 100.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 20.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: November 19 2004 vs. Utah
Last buzzer-beater: February 27 2019 vs. Golden State
12. Jerry Stackhouse: 4
Average distance of shots: 17.75 feet
Average stats: 21.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 40.3 FG%
Unassisted shots: 0.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 50.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 29 1997 vs. Toronto
Last buzzer-beater: January 12 2008 vs. LA Clippers
12. Jerry West: 4
Average distance of shots: 14.0 feet
Average stats: 23.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.0 spg, 41.0 FG%
Unassisted shots: 50.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 10 1962 vs. Boston
Last buzzer-beater: January 18 1974 vs. Kansas City-Omaha
12. Greg Ballard: 4
Average distance of shots: 22.75 feet
Average stats: 18.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.5 spg, 50.0 FG%
Unassisted shots: 0.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 5 1980 vs. Utah
Last buzzer-beater: January 16 1985 vs. Utah
12. Bill Laimbeer: 4
Average distance of shots: 12.75 feet
Average stats: 14.8 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg, 45.8 FG%
Unassisted shots: 50.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 0.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 10 1984 vs. Indiana
Last buzzer-beater: January 25 1991 vs. Dallas
12. Larry Bird: 4
Average distance of shots: 18.50 feet
Average stats: 41.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 58.1 FG%
Unassisted shots: 50.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 100.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: February 26 1983 vs. Phoenix
Last buzzer-beater: November 7 1987 vs. Washington
12. Damian Lillard: 4
Average distance of shots: 29.75 feet
Average stats: 37.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 51.0 FG%
Unassisted shots: 75.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 75.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: May 2 2014 vs. Houston
Last buzzer-beater: January 14 2024 vs. Sacramento
12. Cliff Hagan: 4
Average stats: 22.5 ppg
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 11 1957 vs. Boston
Last buzzer-beater: Mar 6 1965 vs. LA Lakers
12. Maurice Williams: 4
Average distance of shots: 24.50 feet
Average stats: 21.8 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 rpg, 0.5 spg, 57.1 FG%
Unassisted shots: 75.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: November 12 2005 vs. Indiana
Last buzzer-beater: December 12 2012 vs. San Antonio
12. Monta Ellis: 4
Average distance of shots: 20.75 feet
Average stats: 22.5 ppg, 7.5 apg, 3.0 spg, 2.8 rpg, 44.4 FG%
Unassisted shots: 25.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 24 2007 vs. New Jersey
Last buzzer-beater: December 3 2014 vs. Milwaukee
12. Chuck Person: 4
Average distance of shots: 25.50 feet
Average stats: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 46.3 FG%
Unassisted shots: 25.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: November 15 1986 vs. Milwaukee
Last buzzer-beater: January 26 2000 vs. New Jersey
12. Rudy Gay: 4
Average distance of shots: 19.75 feet
Average stats: 20.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 bpg, 42.3 FG%
Unassisted shots: 75.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 0.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: December 19 2007 vs. San Antonio
Last buzzer-beater: January 29 2019 vs. Phoenix
12. Carl Braun: 4
Average stats: 14.2 ppg
Go-ahead shots: 0.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: January 14 1950 vs. Boston
Last buzzer-beater: January 22 1954 vs. Philadelphia
12. World B. Free: 4
Average distance of shots: 19.00 feet
Average stats: 23.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 0.7 spg 47.4 FG%
Unassisted shots: 100.0 percent
Go-ahead shots: 25.0 percent
First buzzer-beater: April 2 1976 vs. Washington
Last buzzer-beater: February 25 1982 vs. Dallas
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ranking: The players with the most buzzer beaters in NBA history
