My Top 5 Players with Killer Instinct All-Time

Solid list.  I’d put Kobe ahead of Reggie, and I never saw Jerry West play, so I don’t know what kind of killer instinct he had.  But definitely can’t disagree with the top 4.

When I read the thread title, I must admit from the current players Kobe sprang to mind as he is always the popular choice of the player you’d want to take the final shot of a key game. I’d think that Bill Russell and the Celtics multiple championship team has to be in it and maybe Tim Duncan given his success with the Spurs over a sustained period.

I think Allen Iverson could be on the list. He never won a ring, but you knew he was out for the kill day in and day out. And had more heart than most of his competitors.

Where does Jayson Williams rank on the list of players with a killer instinct?

I’m a firm believer that you either have real killer instinct or you don’t… You can’t be taught it. There are a lot of players who pretend to have it and try to learn it, but it’s not natural.

1. Michael Jordan – He had some strange inborn ability that gave him an aggressive tenacious urge for domination… Even if it mean killing whoever was in his path. And he did it without sympathy. I think this is what makes him the best ever.

2. Larry Bird – Similar to MJ, he just had that inborn ability. He wasn’t a nice guy. He lived, breathed, ate and sh*t basketball. He was pretty ruthless.

3. Jerry West – When he first saw MJ, he said MJ was just like him. West was that competitive off guard before MJ arrived. There’s a reason they call him Mr. Clutch. He had a tough childhood with an abusive father and I really think that played a role with him being so ruthless as a basketball player.

4. Magic Johnson – He’d do whatever it took to win and behind the smile was somebody who’d try to kill you on the court if you were in the way of what he wanted.

5. Isiah Thomas – Talk about a nasty and ruthless basketball player. He had that strange mindset as well where he’d step on both friends and foes if it meant accomplishing his goals. He was so nasty as a basketball player, that his opponents still don’t like him today.

6. Kobe Bryant – There aren’t a lot of players in today’s game with that inborn killer instinct. Kobe’s one of the last players left to have it. He’s got an old school mentality where he’ll do whatever it takes to WIN. He has no friends on the court… His drive to be the greatest and reach his goals is obsessive.

^too soon

Probably didn’t do it long enough to merit being on this list but Brandon Roy anyone?

 Chauncey Billups

 I would put Kobe behind MJ,i think that he is a really only player close to MJ in basketball,when he got his night he’s gonna shit on you…

I’m just going to go with the players I have gotten to watch during my time as an avid NBA fan (not gonna act like I remember watching years of MJ at ages 0-8) 

1. Allen Iverson….every Sixers fan better put him number one 

2. Kobe Bryant….body of work speaks for itself

3. Shaq….when he really cared, the guy had a scary killer instinct; just dunking on everyone

4. Ray Allen….I think his demeanor would make some people balk at this but the dude has a very underrated killer instinct; once again every Sixers fan can attest to this

5. LeBron James….yea I do not like LeBron at all but credit must be given where due; he might not ever be the most clutch player but he has developed a killer instinct the past 12-15 months that must have the rest of the league sh***ing themselves.

chris paul

wade

jason terry

kevin durant

are all killers

I’m still unsure if Kevin Durant has that inborn killer instinct. I see it more in Russell Westbrook, who seems to have the attitude that he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way. 

Jordan,Bird and Kobe seemed like they would be upset if they lost a game of 21 to their mamma.

Magic Johnson acted like it broke his heart if he lost a game….

Duncan & Derrick Rose are quiet,but you can see that killer determination in their eyes….

Paul Pierce-As much as i dislike him,he has that killer instinct at times..

Wade has it….Teams fear him more in final moments of games then Lebron…

Good to see Jerry West recognised so much on this thread even though his Lakers played 2nd foil to the great Celtic Team for so much of his career.

With killer instinct are we talking about the people who stepped up when it really mattered or those that would take the final shot?

 oj simpson

Julius Erving is extremely underrated in this department, he was cold-blooded…

Gilbert Arenas used to be