The Top 5 Basketball Calls of All Time
From “The Shot” to “The Block,” these are the most memorable moments in the history of the sport.
“The Shot”
The Shot is widely regarded as the most iconic basketball call of all time. It was made by legendary broadcaster Al Michaels during the deciding game of the 1992 NBA Finals when Michael Jordan hit a game-winning shot to give the Chicago Bulls a narrow victory over the Portland Trail Blazers The call immortalized Jordan’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time, and it has been replayed countless times in the decades since.
“The Block”
In basketball, a blocked shot occurs when a Defensive Player deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent it from going in the basket. A defender who successfully blocks a shot attempts to alter the shot by making contact with the ball before it reaches the shooter.
There have been many iconic blocked shots in Basketball History but some stand out more than others. Here are the top five blocked shots of all time:
1. Clyde Drexler Denies Michael Jordan
In 1992, Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers faced off against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals With Portland leading by two points in the closing seconds of Game 1, Jordan attempted a jump shot that was Blake Griffin And DeAndre Jor[More]
“The Steal”
There have been many great calls during basketball games but “the steal” is one of the most iconic. This particular call was made by legendary broadcasters Marv Albert and Steve Kerr during a game between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks in 1996. The call has been replayed countless times and is still considered one of the best of all time.
“The Assist”
In basketball, an assist is a pass of the ball that directly leads to a field goal The player passing the ball is credited with the assist. An assist can be awarded for a pass that leads to a shooting foul, but no points are awarded on foul shots unless the foul shots are made after an offensive rebound.
Assists were first officially recorded in The NCAA Basketball Guide in 1952. Prior to that time, they were recorded by statisticians working for individual schools or conferences. The NCAA started recording assists as a way to recognize outstanding playmaking ability, and also as a means of measuring team offensive efficiency.
The NCAA record for assists in a career is held by Ed Cota of North Carolina who had 1,040 assists from 1996 to 2000. The single-season record is held by Sherman Douglas of Syracuse, who had 274 assists during the 1987-88 season.
In the NBA, John Stockton holds the record for most career assists with 15,806. He also holds the record for most assists in a season with 1,164, which he accomplished during the 1989-90 season.
“The Buzzer Beater”
In basketball, a “buzzer beater” is a shot made as the clock expires to end the game or half. The term is most often used in reference to a shot that wins the game for the shooting team, but it can also refer to any other close shot that either results in overtime or could have otherwise changed the outcome of the game.
The following are five of the most famous and iconic buzzer beaters in Basketball History
1. Michael Jordan’s jumper to win Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals
2. Kyrie Irving’s three-pointer to win Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals
3. LeBron James’ block on Andre Iguodala to seal a Game 7 victory in the 2016 NBA Finals
4. Luther Head’s three-pointer to beat Arizona in the 2006 Sweet 16
5. Bryce Drew’s game-winning three-pointer against Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament
