Kobe Bryant and the Most Clutch Player from Each NBA Team
The concept of “clutch” can take many different definitions. Some consider “clutch” the ability to make game-winning shots, while some broaden the concept to game-winning plays. I tend to agree with the latter.
Statistics can't be considered exclusively if we're trying to evaluate how "clutch" a player is, but they do tell a good story. This article aims to evaluate the most “clutch” player from each NBA team by taking into account 2010-2011 season statistics and game impact, as well as a small dose of personal opinion.
All 30 NBA teams are listed alphabetically. All clutch statistics presented are based on the last five minutes of a basketball game with either team not winning by more than a margin of five points. Also, the statistics are on a per-48 minute of clutch time. These statistics are courtesy of 82games.com.
Enjoy.
Atlanta Hawks
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While it is hard to point to the best player on the Hawks' team, it is definitely easy to point towards the highest-paid. Unfortunately, these players are not the same.
Joe Johnson is the team’s captain and highest-paid player. He has been the best player on the team’s roster in several stretches and his production during the season, although it has taken a dip from last year, is solid. His production during clutch situations is not as good. While he is plus-10 in score differential in clutch situations, he only makes 35.1 percent of his shots and has a player efficiency of 17.78.
On the other hand, his teammate, Josh Smith, is plus-17 in such situations while scoring at a 49-percent clip and posting a player efficiency of 32.9 percent.
Conclusion
Josh Smith
Boston Celtics
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Statistics are not even necessary to describe who the most clutch player on the Celtics' team is. Paul Pierce demonstrates his ability to take over games in the clutch on a nightly basis. Whether it is an off-the-dribble jump shot, a last-second defensive stop or a point-blank pass to an open Ray Allen for the win, Paul Pierce gets it done.
Yes, it helps to have players like Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, who are also clutch themselves, playing alongside you, but in the end, Pierce shows that is not a reason to discredit his basketball playmaking skills during clutch time.
Conclusion
Paul Pierce
Charlotte Bobcats
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"Captain Jack" has been the team’s leading shot-taker in the clutch, followed by former teammate Gerald Wallace. He is among the only Bobcats players that is actually positive in the plus-and-minus category in the clutch.
Jackson’s 31.1-percent player efficiency in the clutch is also the team’s best mark. Just to make the argument even stronger, Jackson averages a triple-double per 48 minutes of clutch time.
Conclusion
Stephen Jackson
Chicago Bulls
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Derrick Rose leads the league in total points, rebounds and assists recorded in clutch time at 67.3. He also has an amazing clutch-time efficiency of over 38.9 percent. No other Bull comes even close.
The league’s soon-to-be MVP Award recipient is the league’s most clutch player this season and is certainly the most clutch among his teammates.
Conclusion
Derrick Rose
Cleveland Cavaliers
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This one is an easy one. The answer is nobody. Seriously, on the current Cleveland Cavaliers roster, nobody is clutch. This is much attributed to the fact that the Cavaliers are hardly in clutch-time situations, and when they are, they are badly outplayed.
For the sake of these rankings, one player must be selected. Because of this, I will give some love to veteran guard Ramon Sessions, who might have a minus-11 score in clutch situations, but does have a player efficiency of 30.9 percent.
Conclusion
Ramon Sessions
Dallas Mavericks
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While it was tough to find a clutch player on the Cavaliers roster, it is even tougher to decide who the most clutch player is from the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry take almost exactly the same amount of shots in clutch time and make almost the exact same amount as well, which is close to 50 percent.
Nowitzki does have the edge over Terry in the rebounding department, and he also has the edge in assists. Terry makes up for this by turning the ball over almost 50 percent less frequently than Dirk.
In the end, Dirk wins this contest by a long, golden, curly hair.
Conclusion
Dirk Nowitzki
Denver Nuggets
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This is another easy one. The most clutch player in a Denver Nuggets uniform is Carmelo Anth...wait, that does not work.
Since the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Nuggets have fielded one of the most consistently balanced teams the league has seen in a while. Because of this, no player stands out among the crop.
This is another situation where the nod will go to a player that might not be the first name that comes to any fan’s head. Because of his defense, rebounding, hustle and occasional scoring, Kenyon Martin takes this one home.
Conclusion
Kenyon Martin
Detroit Pistons
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This is a case of yet another team that lacks a definitive go-to player. At times this season, it has been Tayshaun Prince. At others, it has been Rip Hamilton. In the last few weeks, it has been Rodney Stuckey.
Out of these three players, the best of the three has been Richard Hamilton. His statistics are not impressive, but they are at least respectable, with combined points, assists and rebounds of 34.7.
Conclusion
Richard Hamilton
Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors get a lot of productivity from a vast array of players on the offensive end. The most productive of all is Monta Ellis.
Offensive productivity is not only what gets Ellis the nod over teammates David Lee and Stephen Curry. Ellis wins this contest by being consistent throughout the year in these situations.
Conclusion
Monta Ellis
Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets have been a very solid team this season, especially considering the talent on their roster. They are among the league leaders in close games, therefore giving them plenty of clutch-time minutes.
In these minutes, different players have taken the captain's role, including Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola. Out of the three, Luis Scola has been incredibly productive, posting a player efficiency of above 31.75 percent.
Conclusion
Luis Scola
Indiana Pacers
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The Indiana Pacers are a team with one former All-Star player in his prime and a variety of young role players. Therefore, the most clutch player for the Pacers is Danny Granger, right? Wrong.
Danny Granger has been very far from spectacular this season, and in clutch time, he has been even worse. While only making slightly over 30 percent of his shots in the clutch, he only posts a 19.45-percent player efficiency, which is among the lowest ratings on this list.
Conversely, young point guard Darren Collison has been pretty darn good. He can score, assist and rebound in the clutch, posting a combined points, rebounds and assists of over 36.7 per game while doing most of his damage in traffic at the rim.
Conclusion
Darren Collison
Los Angeles Clippers
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The Los Angeles Clippers have not been very good this season. This has been mostly because of their horrid start and the fact that they lost one of their best two players, Eric Gordon, for several games.
This is, in fact, very interesting, because when Gordon was on the floor, they were a solid team. In fact, in close games, Eric Gordon makes more than 55.6 percent of his shots while posting an amazing combined points, rebounds and assists of 52.2. He also gets over 2.7 steals per 48 minutes of clutch play.
Conclusion
Eric Gordon
Los Angeles Lakers
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Any name here other than Kobe Bryant would not make much sense. This is not only because he is known for his performance in the clutch, but because he attempts so many field goals per 48 minutes of clutch time. He leads that category at an eye-opening 38.4 attempts.
Kobe is only shooting 40.9 percent from the field in the clutch, but he also rebounds and assists at a high rate that results in a 37.2-percent player efficiency.
He is the Laker’s undisputed clutch player.
Conclusion
Kobe Bryant
Memphis Grizzlies
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The most clutch player on each team is not always the best player on each team. This has been proved by teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. The Memphis Grizzlies are another team that joins this list.
Rudy Gay has played great for Memphis this year, but in the clutch, it has been Zach Randolph who has been the best player. Rebounding is much tougher in the clutch, and Randolph grabs more than 13.6 boards per 48 minutes of clutch time. He also scores a shade under 30 points.
Conclusion
Zach Randolph
Miami Heat
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Many NBA fans would jump out of their seats and say that no Heat player has been clutch at all this season. That could be true if clutch was defined by game-winning shots. In this article, it is not, and therefore, a clear winner can be identified.
LeBron James edges Dwyane Wade in almost every statistical category in the clutch. Considering that both players are on the court together almost all of the minutes, it is easy to say that LeBron wins this contest by a mile.
LeBron James is leading the entire league in player efficiency in the clutch at over 42.5 percent.
Conclusion
LeBron James
Milwaukee Bucks
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The young Bucks team was supposed to be a playoff-caliber team. It is not. In the clutch, the Bucks have been atrocious. Their leading shot-taker has been Brandon Jennings, and he is shooting under 27 percent from the field.
On a team wherein clutch time is a nightmare and almost all regular rotation players significantly drop their production in the clutch, the only player that deserves this honor is John Salmons. He has not been great either, but he has hit some big shots down the stretch to keep Milwaukee in games several times.
Conclusion
John Salmons
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Why Luke Ridnour and Michael Beasley take more shots in the clutch than Kevin Love is beyond explanation. Beasley does shoot better than Love from the field in these situations, but even then, productivity is not large.
As a team, the Minnesota Timberwolves are about minus-40 in clutch-time minutes versus their opponents. It is safe to say that no player deserves this recognition, but we will give it to Love. After all, he did make the All-Star team and was as good rebounding in the clutch as he was during the rest of the game.
Conclusion
Kevin Love
New Jersey Nets
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Again, this is another team that significantly underachieves in comparison to its opponents in the clutch, as well as throughout games. Players have taken turns when it comes to playmaking in the closing moments of games.
Before the arrival of Deron Williams, this pick would have been harder. Williams, though, was excellent at the end of games in Utah, and he proved to be no different in his time in New Jersey.
Conclusion
Deron Williams
New Orleans Hornets
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Forget about statistics for a moment. If you don’t, you might think David West is more clutch than Chris Paul. This is just not true. In the clutch (and possibly all game), West is assisted in scores more than 56 percent of the time, with most of these assists coming from Paul.
Chris Paul is also among the league leaders in coming up with steals and defensive stops at the end of games. He is the sole reason his team is positive in the plus-and-minus differential at the end of games.
Conclusion
Chris Paul
New York Knicks
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The New York Knicks struggled at the end of games throughout the first half of the season. When Carmelo Anthony came to town, that significantly changed.
Wearing a Knicks jersey, Carmelo has been solid in the clutch. Although Anthony has been good, he has not been as good as teammate Amar'e Stoudemire. Amar'e edges him in productivity, posting a higher player efficiency rating of 32.7 percent versus 26.0 percent for Carmelo Anthony.
If clutch was based on game-winning shots, 'Melo would headline the list, but since it is based on total productivity in more than just the very last second, Amar'e gets the nod.
Conclusion
Amar'e Stoudemire
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have both been amazing this year, including in clutch-time situations. Neither player shoots particularly well from the field, but the overall production is outstanding.
Both Durant and Westbrook average near a triple-double per 48 minutes of clutch play. Durant gets the nod for being slightly more efficient than Westbrook.
Conclusion
Kevin Durant
Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic have been criticized for not dumping the ball down to Dwight Howard enough, especially at the end of games. The MVP candidate is nowhere near the top of the list as far as clutch-time productivity goes.
On the other hand, there has been a consistent Magic player that has excelled in clutch-time situations. Jameer Nelson has shot relatively well from the field, including three-point range, in the clutch. He has also made several game-winning or game-tying shots this season. No other player has been as good.
Conclusion
Jameer Nelson
Philadelphia 76ers
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The 76ers are truly a squad that focuses on team basketball. This means that a specific player will not necessarily have the ball in his hands all the time at the end of games. It means that the best play possible will be made depending on the situation.
Louis Williams, Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday have all been about the same in clutch time as far as productivity and efficiency go. Elton Brand has been just slightly better.
Conclusion
Elton Brand
Phoenix Suns
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Steve Nash, Steve Nash, Steve Nash.
Without Nash, Phoenix’s engine does not run. It barely starts. At the end of games, this is no different. If anybody was given the task of counting how many times the Phoenix Suns have lost control of a game without Nash in the clutch, almost every regular-season game would be analyzed.
Enough said.
Conclusion
Steve Nash
Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers have played a lot of close games this season, coming out victorious in many. This has been because of the play of LaMarcus Aldridge.
Credit needs to be given to all Blazers players since most of their late-game execution is a pure showing of team basketball, but it is Aldridge’s dominance that has netted them most of their success.
Aldridge leads the team in player efficiency in the clutch at over 27.3 percent.
Conclusion
LaMarcus Aldridge
Sacramento Kings
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This team is a young team with talented pieces to build a bright future with. Right now, the Kings are struggling, and they find themselves close to the bottom of the league in clutch-time productivity.
The team’s best young players, Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, struggle mightily in clutch situations. But recently acquired Marcus Thornton makes up for it by scoring over 33.4 points per 48 minutes of clutch time.
Conclusion
Marcus Thornton
San Antonio Spurs
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The San Antonio Spurs have won over 60 games this season, but shockingly, they have played a significant amount of close games. Although the entire team is responsible for their success in the clutch, most of the credit should go to Manu Ginobili.
Ginobili is among the league leaders in plus-and-minus during clutch time at 27. He only trails the Dallas duo of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry.
In his productive minutes, Ginobili leads his team in player efficiency at over 37.2 percent, while only shooting about 41 percent from the field. This speaks volumes about how Ginobili impacts the game from every angle.
Conclusion
Manu Ginobili
Toronto Raptors
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The Toronto Raptors are an interesting and exciting team. No, wait, they are not. Their lack of effort on the defensive end often leads to games that are over before the third quarter.
Among the players that have actually played most of the minutes in close games and have been at least decent are Demar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani. Among these two players, DeRozan has actually led the Raptors to a few wins in the clutch. Because of this, he gets the nod.
Conclusion
Demar DeRozan
Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz lost their best clutch player when they traded Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets. That does not mean they were left without a clutch player like other teams on this list.
The Jazz have the services of one of the best players in the clutch, statistically speaking. Al Jefferson has a mind-boggling 40.1-percent player efficiency in the clutch. This is mind boggling because this number is only under that of superstars Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James, and is over that of Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose.
Conclusion
Al Jefferson
Washington Wizards
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The Wizards have been terrible in the clutch this year. They have not played many close games, since they lose many games early. There have been bright spots in their many losses, especially when John Wall threatens to take over games.
Even though Wall has not been productive himself, he has been less terrible than his teammates by posting a combined points, rebounds and assists of 42.6.
Conclusion
John Wall
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