Who is the real ruthless man in the playoffs? These 5 key gentlemen have unshakable historical status

In the NBA, there are more people who can play in the regular season, and few people can play in the playoffs well. In the playoffs, the intensity has increased sharply, the defense has been upgraded, and the pressure has been high, and every ball can determine success or failure. At this time, those players who can stand up at critical moments become real ruthless people.

Fifth place: Jimmy Butler

Career data (playoffs): Average of 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.6 steals

Career honors: 6 All-Stars, 5 Best Defensive Team, leading the team to the Finals in 2020 and 2023, 2023 Eastern Conference Finals MVP

Butler is not the most exciting player in the league, but he is definitely the most ruthless one. Every time he arrives in the playoffs, he becomes like a different person, directly upgrading from an ordinary All-Star to a superstar level. In 2020, he played 40+ triple-double against James' Lakers; in 2023, he led the Eighth East to the Eighth All the way to the Finals, and even scored 56 points against the Bucks in G1. This guy is like a clockwork when he arrives at a critical moment. He can attack and defend and has a full temperament. He is the representative of the contemporary "key gentleman".

4th place: Klay Thompson

Career data (playoffs): Average of 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 45.0% from the field

Career honors: 4 championships, 5 All-Stars, 1 All-Defensive Team, 1 Three-Point Championship

Clay doesn't talk much, but at the critical moment, he only speaks: shoot the ball in. The most typical example is the G6 vs. Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. The Warriors fought against the back-to-earth. Clay made 11 three-pointers in a crazy way, making 41 points in the game, knocking the Thunder directly. In the 2019 finals, he scored 30 points in the first half of G6, but unfortunately left the game with injuries. Otherwise, it would be possible that he would win the game. Clay is the kind of player who doesn't have to hold too much but can explode instantly when he is needed the most. His stable output at critical moments is a miracle.

Third place: Robert Horry

Career data (playoffs): Average of 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, shooting percentage of 39.2%

Career honors: 7 championships (second only to Bill Russell), known as "Mr. Big Heart"

Although Horry's data is not amazing, when it comes to key goals, he may be the most underrated ruthless person in history. In 1995, the Rockets made consecutive key three-pointers in the series against the Suns. From 1999 to 2002 in the Lakers, he was the invisible killer behind the OK combination. The most classic one was the G4 in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, and after grabbing the rebound, he scored a three-pointer to defeat the Kings. When he arrived at the Spurs, he also hit a fatal three-pointer in the 2005 Finals G5 to help the team win the championship. Horry may not be a star, but his cold-blooded three-pointer at a critical moment affected the title of the entire era.

Second place: Larry Bird

Career data (playoffs): Average of 23.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.8 steals

Career honors: 3 championships, 2 FMVPs, 3 consecutive MVPs (1984-1986), 12 All-Stars, 9 Best Team

Bird not only has comprehensive skills and broad vision, but also the key is his aura of never giving up. In the 1981 Finals, he averaged 15.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, crushing the Rockets with all-round strength; in the fifth game of the 1984 Finals, in Boston Garden, where the temperature exceeded 38 degrees, he held on to the whole game for 42 minutes and scored 34 points, which directly caused the Lakers to collapse. Bird is proficient in passing, shooting, and rebounding, but more importantly, his cold-blooded and domineering attitude of "I'll come at critical moments". You can question his speed, but you can't question his desire to win.

No. 1: Michael Jordan

Career Statistics (playoffs): Average of 33.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 steals

Career Honors: 6 championships, 6 FMVPs, 5 MVPs, 10 scoring champions, 10 best teams, 9 best teams, and 9 best teams when it comes to key goals, Jordan is the undisputed "ultimate devil." In the "Flu Battle" in 1997, he still scored 38 points with a fever; in the G6 of the 1998 Finals, the last goal that was frozen - shaking away Russell, hitting the ball, and becoming the gods directly. His average of 33.4 points per game in the playoffs has not surpassed him so far, and his shooting percentage is ridiculously high. Not to mention hit rate, Jordan's strongest at critical moments is his confidence in "I can definitely enter", and he really entered. He is not only the key goal king, but also the winner of his temperament. He will feel at ease when he handed the last shot to him.