5 Most Clutch Players in the NBA

Being "clutch" is a trait that gets you in the Hall of Fame.

Let's be honest, some of the greatest players are considered great because they did their best work in the last five minutes of each game, as they tried to secure championships for their respective teams.

Don't get me wrong, playing well in the first 40-plus minutes is important, but all of that work can be erased by a horrendous last five.

Some of the best falter in those big situations, but the truly legendary ones rise up.

Here are the five most clutch players in the NBA as of now.

No. 5: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Kevin Durant is the league's best scorer, having won the scoring title in consecutive seasons. This is with Russell Westbrook and James Harden both on his team.

Regardless, Durant plays biggest in his team's biggest games. In last year's Western Conference Semifinals, he scored 39 points in Game 7 as Oklahoma City advanced past Memphis.

Last night, he hit a buzzer-beater to lead the Thunder past the Mavericks, keeping them at a perfect 3-0.

While Durant has not been in as many big moments as the four players above him, his stock as a clutch player will likely rise as the Thunder improve and look to win the Western Conference this year.

Durant is continuing to become a more well-rounded player and might overtake LeBron James as the best small forward in the league if he continues to play big in crunch time.

No. 4: Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

After Dirk Nowitzki faltered in the 2006 NBA Finals, everyone proclaimed that he was not clutch and that he shied away in the biggest moments.

Even at that point, I disagreed. However, after single-handedly leading the Mavericks past the Heat in the Finals last season, Nowitzki silenced his many critics.

In Game 2, he hit a game-winning layup which capped a shocking 15-point comeback in Miami and shifted the momentum back to Dallas.

In addition, Nowitzki played through the flu in Game 4, while he also had a major role in Games 5 and 6 as Mavericks won three straight games over the Heat.

If he can lead Dallas back to the Finals even after a 0-3 start, he might find himself among the top 15 to 20 players of all time, while finally getting the much deserved acclaim.

No. 3: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)

Carmelo Anthony might not play stellar defense, rebound the ball well for his size or dish out the rock to his teammates effectively, but he is a really clutch scorer.

Looking back at this year's playoffs, Anthony literally put the Knicks on his back in Game 2, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups both on the bench with injuries.

He might have had his greatest playoff performance ever, scoring 42 points, grabbing 17 rebounds and getting 7 assists in a losing cause.

Anthony did everything right in the game, but Jared Jeffries inexplicably missed a layup under the basket as the Knicks lost a close one in Boston.

Even in this year's Christmas Day game against Boston, Melo was the Knicks' go-to scorer in the fourth quarter, getting 37 points after hitting several clutch threes late in the game, as New York exacted revenge on their Eastern Conference rivals.

No. 2: Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)

Dwyane Wade is possibly the best shooting guard in the league, as he consistently puts up over 20 points a game, along with playing stellar defense.

What puts Wade in the conversation for best player in the league is the fact that he is one of the most clutch players ever.

He had one of the greatest Finals performances in 2006, when he averaged 34.7 points per game, while putting the team on his back as the Heat won four straight over the Mavericks and ultimately the NBA title.

Wade has even been clutch of late, playing big for Miami in a losing cause in this year's NBA Finals, where he averaged 26.5 points, along with hitting more than a few huge buckets late in those games.

In fact, he just hit a game-winner against Charlotte two nights ago, on an off-balanced bank shot. If Wade is able to take over games in the playoffs, look for the Heat to cruise to an NBA title.

No. 1: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

If I were to choose one player over the past 10 years who most resembles Michael Jordan's immense "clutch gene," I would have to take Kobe Bryant.

"The Black Mamba" never shies away from biggest of stages, often putting up his greatest work in those games instead of folding.

Bryant averaged 28.6 points in the 2010 NBA Finals, guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to their second straight title and his fifth overall.

In addition, Bryant has the knack for hitting shots as the shot clock expires, something that drains the opponent, while pumping up his teammates.

While Kobe is not the best all-around player in the league anymore, but he still is the most clutch player out there hands down.