Taking a look at who takes the last shot for every NBA team in 2023-24.
Pretty much every player in the NBA can comfortably score the basketball in the first three quarters. There isn’t any pressure in quarters one, two, and three, so players aren’t on edge.
However, in the fourth quarter — particularly in the final two minutes of games — some players get anxious and aren’t able to make shots. Being clutch is a special sđđžđđ only the elite players have. They aren’t afraid to take big shots and have the confidence required to make them with so much on the line.
With the 2023-24 season set to start soon, we decided to predict who takes the last shot for every NBA team.
Atlanta Hawks – Trae Young
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Trae Young has established himself as one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has a career average of 25.5 points with the Atlanta Hawks and has hit several clutch shots in the regular season and playoffs.
The 25-year-old Young averaged 26.2 points last season while shooting 42.9% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc and 88.6% from the free-throw line. The two-time All-Star recorded 40 double-doubles and was ninth in the NBA in total points, 10th in points per game, first in total assists, and second in assists per game.
If the Hawks need a bucket, head coach Quin Snyder would be wise to give the ball to Young and tell everyone else to get out of the way.
Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum
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Jayson Tatum is one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 30.1 points last season in 74 games while shooting 46.6% from the floor, 35.0% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.
The 25-year-old Tatum has a career average of 22.5 points. He has already made multiple game-winners for the Celtics since entering the NBA in 2017.
Tatum averaged 5.9 in the fourth quarter last season. That was good for 17th in the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets – Mikal Bridges
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The Brooklyn Nets acquired Mikal Bridges from the Phoenix Suns last season in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Bridges took his game to another level after getting traded to the Nets, averaging 26.1 points in 27 games.
If the Nets are in a close game, the ball will almost certainly be in Bridges’ hands. Brooklyn doesn’t have Durant or Kyrie Irving anymore. Bridges is the new face of the franchise, so head coach Jacque Vaughn will have to trust the Villanova product to take and make clutch shots for the Nets.
Charlotte Hornets – LaMelo Ball
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LaMelo Ball is unquestionably the best player on the Charlotte Hornets. He will have the ball in his hands late in games despite veterans Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward being on the roster.
Ball averaged 23.3 points last season while shooting 41.1% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He is already one of the best point guards in the NBA at the age of 22.
Ball has a career averages of 19.4 points. His length and 3-point shooting sđđžđđs allow him to shoot and score over anyone in the league. Ball averaged 7.6 points in the fourth quarter last season. That ranked sixth in the NBA.
Chicago Bulls – DeMar DeRozan
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DeMar DeRozan averaged 7.1 points in the fourth quarter last season. He was tied for eighth in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game. The USC product is one of the best scorers in NBA history, and even though the Bulls have Zach LaVine, DeRozan is usually the one who takes the clutch shots.
DeRozan averaged 24.5 points last season. He’s averaging 26.2 points since joining the Bulls and has made multiple game-winners. It will be interesting to see how DeRozan does in the fourth quarter of close games this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Donovan Mitchell
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In his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell averaged 28.3 points. The All-Star shooting guard put up 7.4 points per game in the fourth quarter. He was seventh in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game.
Mitchell scored 71 points versus the Bulls last season. He’s one of the best scorers in the NBA and the Cavaliers will always have the ball in his hands during clutch situations.
Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic
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Predicting who takes the last shot for the Dallas Mavericks is tough since the team has Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic is a better overall player than Irving, but Irving led the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game last season (9.3).
Odds are Doncic will take the final shot for the Mavericks since he’s the franchise player and has already made plenty of game-winners since making his NBA debut in 2018-19.
Will Irving be happy if Doncic always gets the ball in clutch situations? Probably not, since he’s a gifted scorer who has made several game-winning shots in his career. This dynamic will be fascinating to watch as the season moves along.
Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic
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The Denver Nuggets have two of the best players in the NBA in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Both stars are proven closers as well. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is fortunate to have two clutch players on his team.
Since Jokic does most of his damage in the paint, he figures to take the last shot for the Nuggets in clutch situations since he will likely be closer to the basket than Murray is. Jokic averaged 24.5 points last season in the regular season and 30.0 points in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons –Â Cade Cunningham
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Cade Cunningham appeared in 12 games last season due to a left shin injury. The first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has fully recovered from his injury after undergoing surgery and is the No. 1 scoring option for the Detroit Pistons.
Cunningham averaged 19.9 points last season while shooting 41.5% from the field, 27.9% from beyond the arc, and 83.7% from the free-throw line. The Oklahoma State product put up 17.4 points per game during his rookie season.
The Pistons drafted Cunningham to be their franchise cornerstone. The talented guard has the talent to fill that role. He just has to stay healthy moving forward.
Golden State Warriors –Â Stephen Curry
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Stephen Curry averaged 7.9 points in the fourth quarter last season. The two-time MVP and four-time champion was tied for fourth in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring. He is one of the most feared offensive weapons the game has ever seen.
Stephen Curry averaged 7.9 points in the fourth quarter last season. The two-time MVP and four-time champion was tied for fourth in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring. He is one of the most feared offensive weapons the game has ever seen.
Curry averaged 29.4 points last season while shooting 49.3% from the field, 42.7% from beyond the arc and 91.5% from the free-throw line. The ball will always be in his hands when the game is on the line for the Golden State Warriors.
Houston Rockets – Fred VanVleet
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Fred VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets on the first day of free agency this offseason. The All-Star point guard averaged 19.3 points last season for the Toronto Raptors. Houston added VanVleet because the team needed a proven veteran and winner.
Jalen Green may be the face of the Rockets franchise, but odds are new Houston head coach Ime Udoka will trust VanVleet to take and make shots when it matters most.
Indiana Pacers – Tyrese Haliburton
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Tyrese Haliburton made NBA history last season, becoming the first player ever to average at least 20.0 points and 10.0 assists while shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc. The All-Star point guard averaged 20.7 points while shooting 49.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point land.
Haliburton hit a game-winner versus the Bulls last season. After signing a five-year extension worth up to $260 million this offseason, Haliburton is clearly at the top of the Indiana Pacers’ pecking order.
Los Angeles Clippers – Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 points for the Los Angeles Clippers last season in 52 games. The two-time Finals MVP has made so many clutch shots during his NBA career that it would be foolish to take the ball out of his hands in crunch time.
Even though the Clippers have Paul George and Russell Westbrook, Leonard is an NBA champion with loads of experience dealing with clutch possessions. LAC head coach Tyronn Lue will likely have the ball in Leonard’s hands with the game on the line since neither George nor Westbrook has won a title.
Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James
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LeBron James averaged 8.4 points in the fourth quarter last season. He was third in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game. The Los Angeles Lakers trust LeBron to take and make the last shot.
After all, LeBron has made so many game-winners in his legendary career that we have lost count of just how many he has hit. The King averaged 28.9 points last season and 24.5 points in the playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant
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Ja Morant will miss the first 25 games of this season due to a suspension for showing a gun on an IG Live video for a second time. While Morant is out, the Memphis Grizzlies will have to find someone else to take and make clutch shots.
Once Morant’s suspension ends, he will take over the clutch duties. The Murray State product averaged 26.2 points last season and has a career average of 22.4 points.
Miami Heat – Jimmy Butler
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Jimmy Butler averaged 22.9 points last season and 26.9 points in the 2023 playoffs. He has guided the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals since coming to South Beach in 2019. Even though the Heat are 0-2 in the Finals, Butler has established himself as one of the top clutch players in the NBA.
Miami wasn’t able to land Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday this offseason, so Butler will still be the Heat’s No. 1 option on offense.
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This was a difficult one to pick since the Milwaukee Bucks have Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard averaged 7.9 points in the fourth quarter last season, and Antetokounmpo averaged 8.6. Antetokounmpo was second in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game, while Lillard was tied for fourth.
The main reason we are picking Lillard to take the last shot for the Bucks is because he’s a better shooter. Antetokounmpo does all of his damage at the rim. He doesn’t have the shooting sđđžđđs Lillard has. Lillard can also create his own shot off the dribble better than Antetokounmpo can.
Lillard made numerous game-winners with the Portland Trail Blazers. It will be interesting to see how many final shots he takes and makes with the Bucks this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, two All-Stars who can score the ball effortlessly. Since Edwards is more explosive and can create his shot off the dribble at a high rate. The Timberwolves would be wise to put the ball in Edwards’ hands over Towns when the game is on the line.
Edwards put up a career-high 24.6 points per game last season. He’s averaging 21.8 points in the NBA.
New Orleans Pelicans – Brandon Ingram
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Brandon Ingram averaged 24.7 points last season for the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s a three-level scorer who can get to any spot on the floor and shoot over anyone, given his height and long wingspan.
Zion Williamson is the best player on the Pelicans, but since Ingram is the better shooter, he will have the ball in his hands in crunch-time moments for New Orleans.
New York Knicks – Jalen Brunson
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Jalen Brunson was sensational for the New York Knicks last season. He averaged 24.0 points and shot 49.1% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc, and 82.9% from the free-throw line.
Brunson put up 27.8 points per game in the 2023 playoffs. Since the lefty is a talented and efficient scorer, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau should give him the ball instead of Julius Randle in clutch situations. After all, Randle can be very erratic with the ball in his hands.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 31.4 points last season while shooting 51.0% from the field, 34.5% from beyond the arc, and 90.5% from the free-throw line. The 25-year-old made his first All-Star team and was voted to the All-NBA First Team.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a terrific three-level scorer who never seems to be bothered by any defender. The ball will always be in SGA’s hands when the Thunder need a basket.
Orlando Magic – Paolo Banchero
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Paolo Banchero had a fine rookie season for the Orlando Magic. He averaged 20.0 points while shooting 42.7% from the floor, 29.8% from beyond the arc, and 73.8% from the free-throw line. The Duke product won the Rookie of the Year Award.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley believes Banchero is a combination of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Jayson Tatum. Mosley will undoubtedly give the ball to Banchero in late-game situations.
Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid
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Joel Embiid averaged 6.6 points in the fourth quarter last season for the Philadelphia 76ers. The MVP was 10th in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game.
Embiid averaged 33.1 points in 2022-23. In 394 regular-season games with the Sixers, Embiid is averaging 27.2 points. The center will always be the go-to option for Philly when it matters most.
Phoenix Suns – Kevin Durant
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The Phoenix Suns have three of the best scorers in the NBA in Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. New head coach Frank Vogel, though, would be smart to give the ball to Durant in last-shot scenarios.
After all, Durant is unguardable. He’s a 7-footer with guard sđđžđđs who can shoot from anywhere on the court. Durant averaged 29.1 points with the Nets and Suns last season. He has a career average of 27.3 points, which ranks fourth in NBA history.
Portland Trail Blazers – Jerami Grant
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Damian Lillard is gone, so Jerami Grant is now the No. 1 scoring option for the Portland Trail Blazers. The swingman averaged 20.5 points last season and shot 47.5% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc, and 81.3% from the free-throw line.
The Blazers signed Grant to a $160 million contract this offseason. They have to give him the ball late in games to earn that money and validate their decision to offer that contract since many people around the NBA questioned the deal.
Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox averaged 7.8 points in the fourth quarter last season for the Sacramento Kings. He was fifth in the NBA. Fox hit several clutch shots and game-winners to help the Kings make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Fox averaged 25.0 points in 2022-23 while shooting shooting 51.2% from the field, 32.4% from beyond the arc, and 78.0% from the free-throw line. He is a proven closer now.
San Antonio Spurs – Victor Wembanyama
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Victor Wembanyama wasn’t the first overall pick in the 2023 draft because he’s supposed to be a regular player. The San Antonio Spurs drafted him because he has superstar potential.
Wembanyama played two games against the Hornets and Blazers in the Summer League. He put up nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and five blocks while shooting 2-for-13 from the field versus the Hornets but bounced back in a big way against the Blazers, finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks on 9-of-14 shooting overall.
Look for Spurs head coach Greg Popovich to test Wembanyama many times this season by giving him the ball with the game on the line.
Toronto Raptors – Pascal Siakam
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Pascal Siakam averaged 24.2 points for the Toronto Raptors last season. The NBA champion shot 48.0% from the floor, 32.4% from 3, and 77.4% from the free-throw line. Heâs one of the best players in the NBA.
Siakam has a career averages of 17.0 points. He’s the top player and closer for the Raptors now that Fred VanVleet is gone.
Utah Jazz – Lauri Markkanen
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Lauri Markkanen averaged 5.8 points in the fourth quarter for the Utah Jazz last season. He was tied for 15th in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game.
Markkanen is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 25.6 points last season for the Jazz while shooting 49.9% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The 26-year-old made his first All-Star team and won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
Markkanen should take the last shot for the Jazz since he’s a three-level scorer with great shooting sđđžđđs from the perimeter.
Washington Wizards – Kyle Kuzma
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Kyle Kuzma averaged 5.8 points in the fourth quarter last season. The Washington Wizards forward was 15th in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game.
Kuzma averaged 21.2 points in 2022-23Â while shooting 44.8% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. He’s the No. 1 option on offense since Bradley Beal is gone, so Kuzma should take the last shot.
