Kobe Bryant and the NBA's Top 5 Closers
Ultimately what separates the good teams from the not-so-good teams is the closer; having that player who has the ability to put a game on ice or that guy who just keeps getting meaningful buckets in a close game.
The guy who always has the ball in his hands with the outcome of the game on the line—that's a closer.
It's not just about putting the ball in the basket—plenty of guys in the league can score.
But it's when you score that makes you a great closer.
So with apologies to fans of LeBron James and Paul Pierce, who narrowly missed the cut, here are the NBA's top five closers.
5. Dwyane Wade
1 of 5There is really no separating these guys. Anyone on this list could be ranked anywhere between No. 1 and No. 5, but we will start with Wade.
Wade is a former NBA Finals MVP who has the knack for knocking down the big shot with the game on the line. He wants the ball in tight situations, and what makes him so tough late in games is his ability to live at the free-throw line.
With only time for one shot in a close game, Wade is getting the ball, and more often than not he's going to knock it down.
He's already hit one game-winner for the Heat so far this year.
4. Carmelo Anthony
2 of 5Need a reason why Anthony is on this list?
Rewind a bit back to Christmas Day when Anthony owned the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics.
He took over the fourth quarter plenty of times as a Denver Nugget, and now Knicks fans are getting a glimpse of what a real closer is all about.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
3 of 5He's impossible to guard at times, which makes Dirk Nowitzki so dangerous closing out games.
Nowitzki knocks down pressure 15-20-foot jumpers as if he were in the gym all by himself. He demonstrated his late-game abilities in last season's playoffs and finally got himself a ring.
He's been knocking down clutch shots for the Mavericks for more than a decade now and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
2. Kevin Durant
4 of 5Durant can score at will and is so smooth doing it.
He can just absolutely dominate an opposing defense (he devastated the Dallas Mavericks just last night), and he's definitely not afraid of taking the big shot in the big moment.
The scary part is that Durant is still getting better.
1. Kobe Bryant
5 of 5Bryant is still the game's top closer.
His resume is filled with clutch fourth-quarter shots in both the regular season and postseason, and he has all the jewelry to prove it.
No one in the game steps things up in clutch moments the way Bryant does. He still commands respect, and with the game on the line and needing one shot, Bryant is still the one guy in the NBA who's getting the ball.
