There’s something magical about a buzzer-beater in basketball. It’s the ultimate mix of drama, skill, and adrenaline — a single moment that can define a season, a series, or even a career. With the clock ticking down, the defense closing in, and millions watching, the best players rise to the occasion. They don’t just take the shot — they make it.
Here are some of the best buzzer-beating buckets in NBA history — the kind of moments that make fans jump out of their seats and players immortal.
1. Michael Jordan’s “The Shot” (1989 vs. Cavaliers)
You can’t talk buzzer-beaters without starting with The Shot. Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference First Round. Bulls vs. Cavaliers. With three seconds left, Chicago down by one, Jordan catches the inbounds pass from Brad Sellers, takes a couple of dribbles to the foul line, elevates over Craig Ehlo — and drains it as the horn sounds.
That moment wasn’t just a game-winner. It was the beginning of MJ’s legend as the most clutch player of all time. His jump in the air, fist held high, and Ehlo collapsing in defeat — it’s etched in basketball history forever.
2. Damian Lillard “Bye Bye” to OKC (2019 Playoffs)
Dame Time has produced more than a few cold-blooded finishes, but none more iconic than this. Game 5 of the first round, tied at 2–2. With the score knotted at 115, Damian Lillard calmly dribbled down the clock, pulled up from 40 feet over Paul George — splash. Game over. Series over.
He waved goodbye to the Thunder bench as the crowd erupted. That shot wasn’t just a winner; it was a statement. Lillard sent a whole franchise into rebuild mode with one legendary buzzer-beater.
3. Kawhi Leonard’s Bounce Heard Around the World (2019 vs. 76ers)
Game 7. Series tied 3–3. The only Game 7 buzzer-beater in NBA history that decided a series.
With four seconds left, Kawhi Leonard takes the ball into the corner, fades away over Joel Embiid, and lets it fly. The ball bounces — once, twice, three times — four — and finally drops. The arena freezes, then explodes. Embiid walks off in tears. Kawhi crouches, staring it down like he knew it was going in.
It’s one of the most dramatic, cinematic moments the NBA has ever delivered. That shot pushed Toronto to the Finals — and ultimately to a championship.
4. Ray Allen’s Miracle in Miami (2013 Finals, Game 6)
Okay, technically not a buzzer-beater, but it was so close and so important, it deserves to be here.
With the Spurs seconds from winning the title, Miami trailed by three. LeBron James missed a three, Chris Bosh grabbed the rebound, and with the presence of mind only a champion has, found Ray Allen backpedaling into the corner.
Allen’s shot was pure poetry — one of the most clutch three-pointers in NBA history. The Heat forced overtime and won the game, then sealed the championship in Game 7. That shot saved a dynasty.
5. Luka Doncic’s Step-Back Magic (2020 Bubble vs. Clippers)
In the middle of the NBA Bubble, Luka Doncic delivered a jaw-dropping moment. Tied 2–2 in the first round against the heavily favored Clippers, Luka dropped a 43-point triple-double and capped it off with a step-back three over Reggie Jackson as time expired in overtime.
That shot not only won the game — it officially put Luka on the superstar map. It was a reminder that age doesn’t matter when the lights are brightest.
6. Derek Fisher: 0.4 Seconds of Greatness (2004 vs. Spurs)
With just 0.4 seconds on the clock in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, it looked like the Spurs had it in the bag. But then came the impossible.
Gary Payton inbounded to Derek Fisher, who caught, turned, and fired in one motion — and nailed it. The Lakers stole the win, and Fisher sprinted straight to the locker room, arms raised in disbelief.
It’s still one of the most incredible timing feats in basketball. Blink and you miss it. But no one missed that shot.
7. Devin Booker’s Double-Team Dagger (2020 Bubble vs. Clippers)
In another Bubble classic, Devin Booker went full superstar mode. Down by two with seconds remaining, Booker shook off Kawhi Leonard and Paul George — two of the league’s best defenders — turned, faded, and hit the jumper as the buzzer sounded.
It was the Phoenix Suns’ announcement that they were coming. It was a signature moment for Booker and a turning point for the franchise that would soon reach the Finals.
8. LeBron James, Buzzer-Beater Against Raptors (2018)
LeBron has had his share of buzzer-beaters, but his game-winner against the Raptors in 2018 was something special. Game 3 of the Eastern Semis. Series already leaning toward Cleveland. Tie game. LeBron races down the left sideline, glides off the glass with one hand — buzzer sounds. Game.
It was vintage LeBron: calm, calculated, unguardable. And it crushed Toronto’s hopes completely.
The Buzzer Beater: More Than Just a Shot
What makes buzzer-beaters so unforgettable isn’t just the final score — it’s the emotion. The raw chaos. The player mobbed by teammates. The stunned silence from the opposing crowd. The knowledge that everything came down to one shot — and that someone had the guts and greatness to take it.
As the 2025 NBA Finals tip off this Thursday on ABC, fans everywhere are hoping for another unforgettable moment. Maybe it’ll be Tatum. Maybe Luka. Or someone unexpected. Because in basketball, it’s not over until the final buzzer — and sometimes, that’s when the magic happens.
