
<p>Few sporting events can match the adrenaline rush of a game-winning buzzer-beater in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-all-time-top-4-sixth-man-in-history-20230720-SPD-3817.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>. It requires impeccable timing, intense pressure, and, sometimes, a little luck.</p>



<p>The anticipation as time runs out, the fear as the ball is released, the collective gasp as it arcs through the air, and the relief (or despair) as the shot is made or missed present an emotional roller coaster.</p>



<p>They are the stuff of which legends are made, of which careers are made, of which the very nature of the sport is defined. In this article, we will discuss the top three game-winning buzzer-beaters in NBA history.</p>



<h2>3. Derek Fisher: 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 5</h2>



<p>The incredible jumper that <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-free-agent-kyrie-irving-20230630-SPD-3770.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Derek Fisher</a> made with 0.4 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals will live forever in the record books of the National Basketball Association. Los Angeles Lakers seemed to be out of time as they trailed the San Antonio Spurs 73-72.</p>



<p>Fisher, in a split second that defied belief, caught the incoming pass, swiveled, and fired. After a spectacular flight through the air, the ball swished into the goal as the horn sounded. The accuracy necessary to make Fisher’s jumper, plus the sheer improbability at the moment, have made it legendary in NBA history, helping the Lakers to a 74-73 victory.</p>



<p>These game-winning shots at the buzzer are among the most iconic in NBA history. These plays will live on in the memories of basketball fans throughout the world because of the special combination of tension, talent, and luck they represent. There will always be exhilarating new moments in basketball’s lengthy and storied past thanks to buzzer beaters.</p>



<h2>2. Kawhi Leonard: 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 7</h2>



<p>The game-winning buzzer-beater by Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals is one of the most exciting shots in recent NBA history. The Toronto Raptors held possession of the ball with 4.2 seconds remaining and the score knotted at 90.</p>



<p>While dribbling to the right corner of the floor, Leonard was pursued by Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Leonard, feeling the heat of the moment, let go with a long jumper that clanged against the hoop four times before finally falling in. </p>



<p>His basket helped the Raptors advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Because of the enormous pressure of the situation and the subsequent relief felt after the ball fell, this is undoubtedly one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in history.</p>



<h2>1. Michael Jordan: 1989 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 5</h2>



<p>Without Michael Jordan, who has become associated with game-winning baskets, this list would be without a key component. Jordan’s “The Shot” is a legendary play that heralded his debut as an NBA legend. It was Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference First Round, and the Chicago Bulls were behind the Cleveland Cavaliers by two points with three seconds remaining.</p>



<p>Jordan took the inbound ball, drove to the free throw line, and swished a jumper over Craig Ehlo’s extended arm. As time expired, the ball went in, giving the Bulls a 101-100 win. This wasn’t simply the game-winning shot; it was a watershed moment in Jordan’s legendary career, emblematic of his ability to perform under pressure.</p>


NBA: Top 3 best game-winning buzzer-beaters in history

NBA: Top 3 best game-winning buzzer-beaters in history - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas


<p id="block-8d73f2ab-5802-4967-bd27-053352e7cfb0">As a result of their stature and ability to exert complete control over the game in many situations, small forwards have become one of the most important positions in the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong>. It’s no surprise that some of the previous NBA champions have included stars like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant.</p>



<p id="block-62768198-cdd3-4495-841a-fe23fdfe871d">Modern NBA teams rely heavily on small forwards because of their ability to shoot, distribute the ball, and defend several positions. Every NBA club is on the lookout for a dominant small forward because that guy is the one who ultimately decides whether or not the team becomes champions.</p>



<p id="block-73b7482e-08e6-4344-89d9-ef3c3ac3d730">The small forward position has produced some of the game’s greatest players. Larry Bird was the first really legendary small forward in the NBA, long before LeBron James’s arrival. These are the three best small forwards in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;<em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2 id="block-a387b47d-c83c-4d9a-8dab-231434abb440">3. Kawhi Leonard</h2>



<p id="block-c447b9ac-1d45-47c7-9b52-f237f9a92307">The last time anybody saw <strong>Leonard</strong> play well was in 2021, so it’s natural that they have forgotten how excellent he really is. He was among the league’s elite until sustaining an ACL injury that season. Even at the age of 31, he has plenty of time remaining to have a few more great seasons.</p>



<h2 id="block-da6feb82-2c0f-4195-8223-631b6740babb">2. Kevin Durant</h2>



<p id="block-3aee8aea-ac5a-44e6-8b9b-1f5364f6084e"><strong>Durant</strong>‘s apparent trade request became the biggest news item of the summer until he finally backed out of it. KD is the greatest pure scorer in the game right now, and there’s no reason to think that won’t continue this season, provided he stays healthy.</p>



<h2 id="block-170abb92-7350-44d7-bebc-5589ccbd3766">1. LeBron James</h2>



<p id="block-d5233376-658c-4f8d-a12a-1a3b215a6c69"><strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-shooting-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221127-SPD-3197.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James,</a></strong> being 37 years old, no longer has the same explosiveness around the basket that he once had. But he more than makes up for it with the gaming knowledge that will go down in history books.</p>



<p id="block-c5b0b657-aafa-4ddf-a692-21de8d50b68d">He will have another amazing year and is still an All-NBA caliber player. About halfway through the year, he will most likely become the all-time leading scorer. James is no longer a true small forward. He spent more time at the center than ever before last season, and he excelled there.</p>


Top 3 small forwards in 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 small forwards in 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>As a result of their stature and ability to exert complete control over the game in many situations, small forwards have become one of the most important positions in the <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong>. It’s no surprise that some of the previous NBA champions have included stars like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant.</p>



<p>Modern NBA teams rely heavily on small forwards because of their ability to shoot, distribute the ball, and defend several positions. Every NBA club is on the lookout for a dominant small forward because that guy is the one who ultimately decides whether or not the team becomes champions.</p>



<p>The small forward position has produced some of the game’s greatest players. Larry Bird was the first really legendary small forward in the NBA, long before LeBron James’s arrival. These are the three best small forwards in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;<em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2>3. Kawhi Leonard</h2>



<p>The last time anybody saw <strong>Leonard</strong> play well was in 2021, so it’s natural that they have forgotten how excellent he really is. He was among the league’s elite until sustaining an ACL injury that season. Even at the age of 31, he has plenty of time remaining to have a few more great seasons.</p>



<h2>2. Kevin Durant</h2>



<p><strong>Durant</strong>‘s apparent trade request became the biggest news item of the summer until he finally backed out of it. KD is the greatest pure scorer in the game right now, and there’s no reason to think that won’t continue this season, provided he stays healthy.</p>



<h2>1. LeBron James</h2>



<p><strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-shooting-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221127-SPD-3197.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James,</a></strong> being 37 years old, no longer has the same explosiveness around the basket that he once had. But he more than makes up for it with the gaming knowledge that will go down in history books. </p>



<p>He will have another amazing year and is still an All-NBA caliber player. About halfway through the year, he will most likely become the all-time leading scorer. James is no longer a true small forward. He spent more time at the center than ever before last season, and he excelled there.</p>


Top 3 small forwards for 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

Top 3 small forwards for 2022-23 NBA season

destacadas


<p>On schedule to play in Monday night’s pre-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers for the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/warriors-guard-klay-thompson-to-skip-pre-season-games-in-japan-20221002-SPD-2879.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Clippers</a></strong> is forward <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lonzo-ball-of-bulls-projected-to-make-injury-comeback-this-season-20220930-SPD-2869.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kawhi Leonard</a>.</strong> Head coach Ty Lue said to the media, “Kawhi will play Monday,” as the Clippers prepared for their first preseason game on Friday in Seattle against the Israeli club Maccabi Ra’anana.</p>



<p>Leonard, who was sidelined along with a number of other players, has not played since Game 4 of the second round of the 2021 Playoffs when he tore his ACL against the Utah Jazz. A ruptured ACL was the latest in a string of problems for Leonard, who has not played in more than 60 games in a season since 2017.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“He [Leonard] looked really good. Went through everything, both practices, so it was good to see. We’ve got to be smart about the situation, about the process. We know he feels great, which is great news and great to hear. But we’ve got to listen to Kawhi’s body, be able to listen to the medical staff and make sure we’re doing the right thing for Kawhi,” Tyron Lue told the reporters.</p></blockquote>



<h2>Kawhi Leonard feeling stronger than before</h2>



<p>The big issue now is whether or not he can return to his peak form after missing so much time. There is no doubt that he has taken advantage of the break by going to the gym. Leonard, who has been seen flaunting his ripped legs in social media posts, claims to be in better physical shape than ever before.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“I feel stronger, yeah. I feel stronger for sure. It’s been, what, 14-15 months of no basketball. That whole 13-14 months process is just lifting, lifting weights, and getting stronger. But I definitely got a lot stronger,” said Leonard.</p></blockquote>


Kawhi Leonard

NBA: Top 3 best game-winning buzzer-beaters in history

Top 3 small forwards in 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 small forwards for 2022-23 NBA season

Kawhi Leonard to make injury comeback to Clippers' lineup in pre-season game against Trail Blazers

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