Michael Jordan Named 2 Players as Most Clutch in NBA History

During an interview with Marvin R Shanken, legendary basketball player Michael Jordan named the two most clutch players in NBA history in his opinion.  

Jordan himself is one of, if not the greatest basketballer in the history of the sport, in particular when it comes to clutch moments, winning many accolades and awards during his incredible career.

Michael Jordan’s Remarkable NBA Career

If anyone can talk about clutch players, it’s MJ

During his 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan inspired the Chicago Bulls to become six-time National Basketball Association champions. The American was active between 1984-2003 and became an integral figure in the worldwide popularisation of basketball in the 1980s and 1990s.

His individual accolades include five NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and the all-time records of six NBA Finals MVP awards, and 10 NBA scoring titles. He also holds the NBA record for a regular-season scoring average of 30.1 points per game and made the all-league defensive team in nine seasons. He is also one of only eight players to achieve the basketball Triple Crown.

These achievements are just to name a few, and since his retirement, Jordan has established himself as a global icon, while keeping a hold of his basketball legacy.

Michael Jordan’s Opinion on Most Clutch Players in NBA History

He couldn’t give just one name, so had to mention two

Back in 2005, the legend had an exclusive interview with Marvin R. Shanken, who was the Editor and Publisher of Cigar Aficionado at the time. It was in this interview that Jordan provided insight into who he believes to be the best clutch players in history.

Jordan told Shanken: “Yeah, I watched him [Oscar Robertson} play. He was an all-around player, but I wouldn’t say he was one of the best shooters. But he was one of the best all-around players, in the same category as Magic Johnson, who could rebound, assist and score.”

Magic Johnson is known to most, even people who aren’t a fan of the NBA. He is considered to be the best point guard of all time, and, similar to Jordan, holds the record for average assists per game in both the regular season (11.19 assists) and the play-offs (12.35).

Oscar Robertson, however, may be slightly more unfamiliar to casuals. Nicknamed ‘The Big O’, Robertson played point guard in his 14-season career, and was a key player in the 1970-71 season as the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title. Individually, he was a one-time MVP, and in 1962 became the first player in history to average a triple-double in a season. Robertson was also a 12-time All-Star, and an 11-time member of the All-NBA Team.