Rank their "killer instinct" (mental toughness) in last possesion: prime Butler, MJ, Kobe?

Gregoire · Post #1 » by **Gregoire** » Sun May 5, 2024 5:16 pm

3 or the most tough mentally players in late-game situations, who you got to safe your life with one shot in last possesion?

prime Michael Jordan, prime Kobe Bryant or prime Jimmy Butler?

PierceFan4ever · Post #2 » by **PierceFan4ever** » Sun May 5, 2024 5:22 pm

MJ

Kobe

Butler

The Servant · Post #3 » by **The Servant** » Sun May 5, 2024 5:45 pm

I've probably only watched about 10 to 15 MJ games in my life watching some old series, and I only watched Kobe from 2005 onwards when he wasn't at his athletic peak like during the 3 peat.

From what I've seen id go MJ, Kobe, Buckets.

MJ had an intensity on the defensive end that was just menacing and the best motor. Kobe to me is just like a 94%-92% MJ. Jordan's athleticism and energy level was just at that 99% level where you're a freak of nature.

pipfan · Post #4 » by **pipfan** » Sun May 5, 2024 5:50 pm

I think MJ has to be #1 all time for this, above Bird, Russell, West and other clutch players.

Kobe was great at taking last shots, just not that great at making them

dygaction · Post #5 » by **dygaction** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:07 pm

Butler #1 only if you are calculating the ratio of (Killer instinct/actual ability to execute).

Stan · Post #6 » by **Stan** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:07 pm

Kobe has the most overstated "killer instinct" in sports history. He often had his worst series in the Finals, was terrible in elimination games where his team was often obliterated, and it was his teammates that hit all the big shots, while he bricked the vast majority of his playoff game winners.

I'm not here claiming the guy was unclutch or wasn't capable of coming through in big moments, but his clutch reputation FAR exceeds what he actually did on the court.

Post #7 » by **bisme37** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:15 pm

Jimmy Butler has an incredible publicist.

kg01 · Post #8 » by **kg01** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:26 pm

bisme37 wrote:Jimmy Butler has an incredible publicist.

Yeah, this pole has 'one of these things is not like the others' written all over it.

BarbaGrizz · Post #9 » by **BarbaGrizz** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:29 pm

Butler does not belong to this discussion

Nate505 · Post #10 » by **Nate505** » Sun May 5, 2024 6:31 pm

Jordan is so far #1 on this list that the gap between him and the next guy is like the gap between Kobe and a Brian Scalabrine.

It's really what makes him the GOAT to me. It also made him not a particularly great person.