Greatest NBA Plays of All Time: 15 Moments That Defined Basketball
Some plays transcend the game. They become cultural moments — replayed millions of times, referenced in conversations decades later, and burned into the memory of everyone who watched them live. Here are the 15 greatest plays in NBA history.
1. Michael Jordan's last shot (1998 NBA Finals)
Game 6. Bulls down 1. Jordan steals the ball from Karl Malone, dribbles up the court, crosses over Bryon Russell, and hits the jumper to win his 6th championship. He holds the follow-through. The most iconic image in basketball history. The perfect ending to the greatest career ever.
2. LeBron's chase-down block (2016 NBA Finals)
Game 7. Cavaliers and Warriors tied with 2 minutes left. Andre Iguodala goes up for a layup, and LeBron comes from behind to pin the ball against the backboard. The block preserved the tie, and the Cavaliers went on to win Cleveland's first championship in 52 years. The greatest block in NBA history.
3. Magic Johnson's baby hook (1987 NBA Finals)
Game 4. Lakers vs. Celtics. Magic drives the lane and hits a running hook shot over Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to win the game. A 6-foot-9 point guard hitting a hook shot over two Hall of Fame big men. Magic called it his "junior, junior skyhook." It sealed the series for the Lakers.
4. Ray Allen's three (2013 NBA Finals)
Game 6. Heat down 3 with 5 seconds left. LeBron misses a three. Chris Bosh grabs the rebound and kicks it to Ray Allen in the corner. Allen backpedals to the three-point line and hits the shot to tie the game. The Heat won in overtime and went on to win the championship. The greatest clutch shot in Finals history.
5. Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater (2019 playoffs)
Game 7. Raptors vs. 76ers. Kawhi catches the ball on the right baseline, dribbles twice, and launches a fadeaway over Joel Embiid. The ball hits the rim four times — bouncing, bouncing, bouncing — before falling through. The longest buzzer-beater bounce in NBA history. The Raptors went on to win the championship.
More iconic moments
Kobe's 81-point game. Wilt's 100-point game. Larry Bird stealing the inbound pass. Reggie Miller's 8 points in 9 seconds. Derek Fisher's 0.4-second shot. Dame Lillard's series-ending three over Paul George. Each of these plays defined an era and reminded us why we watch basketball.
The beauty of the NBA is that the next iconic moment could happen tonight. Every game has the potential to produce a play that we'll be talking about for decades. That's what makes basketball the greatest sport in the world.