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Kobe Bryant or LeBron James — Deron Williams on who he would pick to take the last shot
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- Kobe Bryant or LeBron James — Deron Williams on who he would pick to take the last shot
Many NBA players have built legendary reputations as clutch performers — those who rise to the occasion when the clock is winding down and the outcome hangs in the balance. From iconic figures like Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant , these stars defined themselves through unforgettable late-game heroics.
Two other players belong on this list: the late, great Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James . And during the latest episode of "To The Baha" podcast, former NBA All-Star guard Deron Williams was asked who between the two he would pick to take a last-second shot.
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Incredible worth ethic
Williams had a solid NBA career, making the All-Star team three times and the All-NBA team twice. Known for his scoring ability and playmaking — particularly during his tenure with the Utah Jazz — one of the highlights of his career was playing alongside both Bryant and James on Team USA squads that won gold at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
It was there when he saw firsthand how incredible their work ethic was.
"Both of them's work ethic was crazy. Like, they both work hard. They both — um, they're just different, man," Williams said .
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"Just Kobe had — just had that mentality where he's just on his own, locked in, doing his thing," he continued. "LeBron's more silly, you know, keeping things light, which — which I think we needed both things."
A few seasons into his pro career, Williams had done enough to earn a spot on the Redeem Team. There, he got to play with some of the best court generals of all time, such as Jason Kidd and Chris Paul , and more than held his own.
He added that, as stacked as that team was, Bryant and James were vital in keeping everything well-balanced. If the team needed a hint of laughter and fun, LeBron was more than happy to provide some levity. However, when the time came to lock in and focus on the task at hand, they looked to Kobe.
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"We needed — we needed both — both of those versions of them on that team," Williams stated. "Because when we needed to lock in — but LeBron can lock in, too."
Related: Tim Hardaway believes only one NBA player could break Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point record
Deron would pick Kobe to take the last shot
As the gold-medal game in the 2008 Olympics showed, Bryant just brought his game to a whole different level when the stakes were at their highest. And with Spain breathing down Team USA's necks down the stretch, he brought out the Black Mamba and put their opponents to rest.
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Seeing that with his own eyes, it wasn't surprising to hear Williams make his pick.
"Like I said, I've been around both of them. Obviously, I play with both of them," he said. "If I got to get the ball to somebody to get a bucket, I'm going Kobe."
James has had his fair share of spectacular performances in the clutch, but with a deeper offensive bag and a craftiness about him, Bryant is the easy choice when it comes to picking a player who can get a bucket at the last second.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
