10 Best Plays in NBA History: 2023 Edition (Part 2)

G'day tribe! Yesterday I posted the first part about the 10 best plays in NBA history. Let's take a look at the second and final part!

5. Magic Johnson's "Baby Skyhook"

Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals between the biggest NBA rivals, the Lakers and Celtics, is considered one of the greatest and most intense games in history. It was always going to take one of the best plays in NBA history to win it.

With 15 seconds left Larry Bird sunk a 3-point shot to put Boston ahead 106-105. Magic Johnson took the ball into the paint and over the arms of an outreaching Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Johnson hit a sweeping hook shot to put the Lakers ahead 107-106.

The "baby skyhook" was the key moment in the series. The Lakers went ahead 3-1 and took out the series in six games to become NBA champions. The moment is also one of the most iconic game winning baskets of all time.

4. Kobe Bryant's Last Shot

Kobe Bryant's last shot says everything about his "Mamba mentality" and it was the cherry on top of a 20-season career. In his farewell game the Lakers were trailing the Jazz for more than 36 minutes.Bryant entered the fourth quarter with 37 points.

He would go on to score the Lakers final 13 points and he finished with 60 in total. Behind by one, Bryant crossed half-court and Gordon Hayward went out to meet him. Julius Randle quickly set a screen and Hayward ate it.

He then got past Lyles and Hayward who chased him down. But Kobe rose up from just inside the 3-point line and banked the game winner with his trademark jumper and one of the best plays in NBA history.

3. "The Shot" by Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan has an endless list of highlights worthy of being the best plays in NBA History. His first entry on our list is “The Shot”. In Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference first round playoff series, the Bulls were up against a Cavaliers team that went 57-25 in the regular season.In the best-of-five series it was two games all.

The decider was in the balance with the lead changing six times in the last minute. The Cavaliers hit the lead through Craig Ehlo 100-99 with 3 seconds left. After a timeout, Jordan was double teamed by Ehlo and Larry Nance. Jordan still managed to sink a jump shot at the foul line over Ehlo as time expired.

Jordan's reaction of pumping his fist repeatedly became instantly iconic. The Bulls went on to lose the Eastern Conference finals against the Pistons that season but the moment helped to kick-start a run of six NBA titles in eight years for the Bulls.

2. The 0.4 Shot

In the 2004 Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs and Lakers were locked at 2-all. In Game 5, San Antonio superstar Tim Duncan sunk a fadeaway 18-footer over Shaquille O'Neal with only 0.4 seconds left on the clock. The game was as good as over, so everybody thought.The game resumed after three consecutive timeouts.

The Lakers' Gary Payton inbounded the ball to Fisher on the final play and he scored on one of the best plays in NBA history. Fisher caught, turned, and shot the ball within the space of 0.4 seconds. The buzzer beater was good to the astonishment of everybody.

The 0.4 Shot won the Lakers Game 5 and they closed out the series the next game. After beating the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals they were shocked by the Detroit Pistons, losing the 2004 NBA Finals in five games.

1. Michael Jordan's Last Shot

In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals Michael Jordan delivered the best play in NBA history. His 17-foot shot with 5.2 seconds left was his last shot for the Chicago Bulls, the game winner sealing the 1998 NBA Finals over the Utah Jazz and clinching his second three-peat.Jordan had got the Bulls to within a point with 18.9 seconds left following a layup.

With the Jazz in possession, Jordan stole the ball from Malone and with that moment ended Malone's best chance of ever winning an NBA title. With the Jazz still up by one point, Jordan dribbled down the court and as the clock was winding down, drove toward the 3-point line and delivered a quick crossover on Bryon Russell.

Russell took the bait on Jordan's crossover - although arguably with a helping hand - and Jordan hit a trademark 20-foot jumper with 5.2 seconds left on the clock. "The Last Shot" was Jordan's 25th game winning shot for Chicago and a sixth championship from six NBA Finals appearances, further proof why Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all time.

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