"When life and death, who should I give the ball?" Only five active players in the NBA deserve the title of "Mr. Key Ball"

In the NBA, it is often not the whole fierce battle, but the "moment of life and death" in the last few dozen seconds or even seconds. The pressure is like a mountain of fall, and time is like quicksand. Whoever handed the ball to perform the final blow is the coach's sweetest trouble and the fans' most worrying expectation. Looking at the league's active players, it is rare to see those who can continue to deliver reliable answers under such a high-pressure environment.

Fifth place: Jimmy Butler

In the last three playoffs, Butler ranked among the top five in the league in scoring averages at critical moments. In the first round of the 2023 playoffs, G5 played against the Bucks, he took charge of all 14 points in the team's final moments, including regular time buzzer-beating layups and overtime winning goals.

Butler's key ball does not rely on gorgeous skills, but on the confrontation of hard bridges and hard horses, precise fouls and stable mid-range jump shots. His spiritual attributes are infinitely amplified at critical moments, and the more he reaches the moment of life and death, the more tough he becomes. He is good at using his strong body to squeeze out space, and he can still maintain shooting stability after fighting imbalances. The coldness on the free throw line is even more of an opponent's nightmare. In the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, G6 played against the Celtics. He scored 47 points in the game and scored 17 points in the final quarter, almost dragging the series into tiebreak by himself.

4th place: Jason Tatum

The top three in the league in total scoring at key moments of the regular season, with a shooting percentage of more than 48%. G6 in the 2023 Eastern Conference semi-finals played against the 76ers, and made two difficult three-pointers in a row at the last moment, including a winning three-pointer in 1.3 seconds before the final game, saving the team from the brink of elimination.

Tatum has the figure of an active top scorer and comprehensive offensive means, which makes him a difficult point to defend at critical moments. His three-pointer was extremely threatening at critical moments, with a range covering the entire half. At the same time, he used his height and arm span to break through and turn back to jump shot, which was also a powerful tool to tear open the defense line. His key ball handling is becoming more mature, no longer blindly working alone, and he can choose the most reasonable ending method based on defensive reading. In the first round of the 2022 playoffs, G1 played against the Nets. He completed a buzzer-beating and turned to a final victory, which is a classic work of his key ball ability.

Third place: Kevin Durant's key career shooting percentage has remained above 45% for a long time, higher than the league average. The 2021 Eastern Conference semi-finals G7 faced the Bucks. The last 1 second of regular time hit the high difficulty and crossed the line for two points, dragging the game into overtime.

Durant's key ball ability is based on his historically-level shooting talent. The height of 2.10 meters and the silky feel of the defender make his jump shot almost impossible to block at critical moments. No matter what kind of defense he faces, he can make a move with absolute height and accuracy. His mid-range jumper is one of the most stable and deadliest weapons at a critical moment. In the 2018 Finals G3, his decisive three-pointer shot from James was the ultimate reflection of his ability to ignore defensive scoring.

Second place: Nikola Jokic As the center, Jokic has ranked among the top in the league in scoring and assists at critical moments in the past two seasons, with extremely high efficiency. In the 2023 Finals, G5 played against the Heat, and made consecutive key throws and assisted teammates in the last moment to secure the championship.

Jokic's key ball ability is unique. He is not only the end point, but also the starting point of the offensive. At critical moments, he can attract double teams at high or low positions and find open teammates with his top pass vision. At the same time, his signature "slow three-step" throw and soft little hook remain efficient after the battle at the basket. His huge body and excellent position make him extremely threatening when competing for key rebounds. His key ball handling is full of wisdom and always makes the most reasonable judgment.

Top: LeBron James

NBA playoffs with the first buzzer-beating win (5 times). The first place in total score in the critical moments of his career playoffs. In the first round of the 2023 playoffs, G4 played against the Grizzlies, and broke through and laid out in the last 0.8 seconds of overtime to complete the final score, taking charge of all the team's scores at the last moment.

James' status as "Key Ball" has been forged by countless tough battles in the past 20 years. He has the best physical control ability and basketball IQ. At the critical moment, he could not only crush the basket with a tank-like breakthrough, but also make a three-pointer with his opponent's strict defense. His ability to read defense has reached its peak, and he can accurately judge whether he should finish the ball or pass the ball to a better teammate. His key ball choice may sometimes spark discussion, but his output, efficiency and big heart in a time of life and death are no match for him. In the 2020 Finals G5 against the Heat, he made consecutive key shots in the last moment to secure the victory, which is a reflection of his dominance.