Jason Burgos
There are different levels among the top players in the NBA. There aren’t many All-Stars in the league, and even fewer can be considered legitimate centerpiece superstars. However, there is another elite group, and those are the men who excel in the most pressurized moments, AKA in the clutch.
The reason why legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant are so revered is because of their ability to consistently close out games in ways their contemporaries couldn’t match. So who are the most clutch players in the NBA right now?
We look to answer that question with our ranking of the current top 10.
Kawhi Leonard
Has seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard been an injury waiting to happen for much of the last seven years? Yup. But NBA fans know that if he is on the court, he knows how to close out games. The 2025-26 season reestablished that, as he had a big bounce-back year, playing in 65 games.
Leonard had the Los Angeles Clippers in playoff contention at the end of the season when they had no business being there. A major reason why was being among the top 10 in the NBA in scoring in the final two minutes of games because of Leonard’s deadly midrange game.
Tyrese Maxey
The last three seasons have proven that Tyrese Maxey should no longer be in Joel Embiid’s shadow. The talented guard is fast yet silky smooth. He is great at finishing around the rim, but can knock down threes in big moments, even with good defense on him. The Philadelphia 76ers All-Star was one of the top scorers in the NBA in the fourth quarter this season. Especially in the final two minutes.
Victor Wembanyama
This year’s postseason has been one giant emerging superstar tour for Victor Wembanyama. Sure, he was an MVP candidate this season, but dominating in the playoffs is what separates the good players from the great. The 7-foot-5 All-Star isn’t a finished product offensively, but he is still a serious problem in the paint and can pull up and hit a shot from anywhere on the court.
However, what makes the San Antonio Spurs phenom different than the rest of the top 10 is that he can also come up big in the clutch on the defensive side of the ball with game-ending blocks and stops.
Kevin Durant
The Houston Rockets had one glaring weakness after last season. A go-to late-game scorer. That’s why last summer they turned to one of the best of his generation, Kevin Durant. Even at 37 years old, the 16-time All-Star remains one of the best late-game closers in the NBA.
While he may not be the athlete he was when he was an MVP in 2013, the 6-foot-11 big man’s silky smooth shot continues to be one of the most unstoppable in the game, and it’s still deadly in the final minutes of a game.
Nikola Jokic
Sometimes being clutch means drawing a bunch of attention and making the right pass. Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has unlimited range and is a beast on the offensive boards. However, he is the greatest passing big man of all time and has set up his teammates to be heroes countless times during his dominant run in the NBA.
The three-time NBA MVP is a multi-layered offensive threat in the clutch that is extremely difficult for defenses to deal with.
Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has quietly been one of the game’s elite scorers over the last three seasons. He has great burst, is strong against contact, and has an outstanding touch around the basket that helps him make tough shots. However, he is also a dangerous shooter who can knock down a three with a hand in his face. Those skills are why he was top five in the league in fourth quarter scoring in 2025-26, and among the elites in the final two minutes.
Anthony Edwards
A key element of being a great closer is confidence. That is something Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards may have more than any other player in the game. It is a key reason why he is one of the most feared players in the game with the ball in his hands late in a close game.
Edwards can drop a big three on his opponents or take it to the rim and throw down a power jam. Edwards being highly skilled offensively and extremely confident is why he is one of the best closers in the NBA right now.
Luka Doncic
There is very little that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic can’t do offensively. We all know about his brilliant passing that can set teammates up to be heroes, but he has a great handle that can break down a defense, is a strong finisher around the rim, and also has a limitless range. Furthermore, he has the size to also back down foes in the paint and get high percentage shots. Those skills are why he led the league in two-minute scoring this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
There is a reason why Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now a two-time MVP. He is, arguably, the game’s best scorer, and he has shown it off many times late in games. It is why he was top three in the NBA in both fourth quarter and two-minute scoring in 2025-26.
His midrange game is unstoppable at times, he is skilled around the basket, and can hit you from deep. SGA is also fantastic at getting to the foul line, and that has played a huge role in why the Thunder are in contention for a second straight championship.
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson continues to show why he is viewed as the scariest player in the NBA with the ball in his hands late in a game. Yet, what makes the New York Knicks superstar so unique is that he isn’t a special athlete like some of the other players on this list. But for what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in elite basketball IQ and savvy.
There is no player more crafty around the basket than Brunson. He has an elite midrange game and is a knock-down three-point shooter late. His ability to get separation and make stunning shots inthe most stressful situations consistently is why he is the most clutch player in the NBA right now.
