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In the NBA, who is clutch? What does clutch mean? Why isn't every athlete able to take advantage of crucial moments in a game, in a season, in a career? Clutch is when a player grasps the moment and executes his spirited talent in the game. His mind is loose with control over a sense of urgency. He looks in his teammates' eyes and notices they are not ready to take the shot, so what is he to do? It all becomes a game of hot potato until the one who is ready for the moment is strong enough to show and prove. The game slows down, the soul becomes fire, everything is right there for the winning, and as the pass finally comes his way, it all becomes the culmination of the adage, chance favors the prepared mind.
Since 2017, many clutch players have exacted their will into the spirit of the NBA, so with that being said, who has the most 4th quarter field goals during that time?
#5 Bradley Beal - 741 field goals
When known as a shooter, and accostomed to having the ball in hand when the clock matters most, every eye is on you. Bradley Beal, in being one of the NBA's best shooters, somehow is not mentioned as a clutch player. Does this point-per-minute stat dispel that notion? It must be said that since 2017, to be in the top five in the fourth quarter, field goals in a league that has Steph Curry in it? Bradley Beal is doing something right, and despite all the trade proposals that his name is mentioned in? Just keep shooting BB. Washington Wizards fans will benefit.
#4 Lou Williams - 766 field goals
Lou Williams entered the NBA out of high school. He was a gifted athlete with bunnies out of the gym that came into the league as a known scorer. As you can see now, Lou is of advanced NBA experience, he still gets the rock late in games. That he's 4th on this list may be a surprise, yet he really shouldn't be shocked. Watch the games he's playing in. Look at who gets the ball at the top of the key at the end of the quarter or late in the 24 second clock. Often it doesn't matter who is the leading scorer on his squad. When speaking to Allen Iverson in his first game after the trade to Denver, I compared Lou Williams to AI. You should have seen the look on Iverson's face to the laughter of the media present. He misunderstood what I meant, and it wasn't their individual games I was comparing, it was wanting the ball when the NBA heat is hottest. Even as a NBA rookie, that's where Lou Williams' head was at, and it manifested favorably over time to the numbers in the 4th he's on this list for. AI told me then that Lou Williams had a shot to be great.
“Lil Lou. Lou is nice. I think he can flourish. He has fast feet. If they let him go? Man he’s gonna cause problems. He’s young so he has the legs to do it every night.”
That was from 2008, and 13 years later, with the Atlanta Hawks, Lou Williams is still NBA shining.
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#3 LeBron James - 793 field goals
Look, when it's all done and said, LeBron James might be on every NBA all-time list. We could see him play with his son Bronny James in a few years. He's like LL Cool J with the longevity, and like his Lakers predecessor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, we might never see the end of LeBron James in the NBA. He's that great. Everyone in the world knows he's getting the ball as fans grace the edge of their seats, and though LeBron is a major facilitator often to the disappointment of NBA fans and media, the numbers do not lie. His conditioning, and obviously his skills, are a major factor in LeBron being on this list. Will those numbers go down because of recent roster changes? We'll get into that later.
#2 Giannis Antetokoumpo - 812 field goals
If you're ever teaching kids how to brush off adversity, simply show them tapes of Giannis Antetokounmpo on the road to Milwaukee's 2021 championship. At 7 foot, and the embodiment of an Ernie Barnes painting with all his length, it's smart to give him the rock in the 4th. He could be the greatest athlete the NBA has ever produced, so why wouldn't he get the ball despite his lackluster foul shooting? That was the adversity he smashed through this postseason. Giannis did not let a penchant for shooting air balls at the stripe hinder his goal of winning an NBA championship, and that mentality is why he wants the ball late, and will probably score at the rim with ferocious athleticism and will to the dismay of every NBA defense the rest of his career.
#1 Russell Westbrook - 859 field goals
At 32.51, Russell Westbrook's usage rate is 2nd all-time behind Michael Jordan's 33.26. That defines his ability to lead to a basket, and why he's number one on this unique list. The triple-double surefire Hall of Fame combo guard has a rare motor of excellent late-game production because he's so in shape. Others shy away from the moment because they are spent physically, and that's where Russell Westbrook is ready to attack. NBA fans can't wait to see him run with Anthony Davis and LeBron James. They'll both be able to rest, because Russell Westbrook will just be getting started. Don't criticize LeBron James when he defers to Westbrook in the clutch, because that's trust.
