Buzzer beater
A shot made as the game clock expires, often deciding the outcome.
A buzzer beater is a successful shot that goes in just as the game clock hits zero at the end of a quarter, half, or overtime. The name comes from the buzzer that sounds when time expires. In basketball, the shot only counts if the ball leaves the shooter's hand before the shot clock runs out. If it's still in the player's hand when time expires, it violates the Trent Tucker Rule and is no good. The term is usually used for shots that win or tie the game at the buzzer.
Officials in the NCAA, NBA, WNBA, Italy's Serie A, and the EuroLeague Final Four (since 2006) must use instant replay to check if a shot at the end of a period was released before the clock expired. Since 2002, the NBA has also required LED light strips along the edges of the backboard and scorer's table to signal the end of a period.
Notable examples include Lorenzo Charles catching an airball and dunking it as time expired to give NC State a 54–52 win over Houston in the 1983 NCAA Championship. In the 1992 NCAA Tournament, Georgia Tech's James Forrest hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against USC. That same year, Duke's Christian Laettner turned a full-court pass from Grant Hill into a 17-foot buzzer-beater to beat Kentucky 104–103 in overtime. In 2004, Texas's P.J. Tucker made a buzzer beater against Providence that counted after review, because the ball left his hand before the red backboard light came on. In 2005, Guilford College's Jordan Snipes grabbed a rebound after a missed free throw and threw the ball the length of the court for a winning buzzer beater against Randolph-Macon. In the 2006 NCAA Tournament, Northwestern State's Jermaine Wallace hit a last-second three-pointer to upset Iowa 64–63. In 2010, Maryland's Cliff Tucker made a buzzer-beating three-pointer after a timeout, winning 76–74 over Georgia Tech. In 2013, Illinois's Tyler Griffey scored an uncontested buzzer-beating layup to upset top-ranked Indiana 74–72. In 2016, Northern Iowa's Paul Jesperson hit a half-court buzzer beater to beat Texas, and Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig made a three-pointer at the buzzer to upset Xavier. That same year, Villanova's Kris Jenkins hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to win the NCAA championship over North Carolina 77–74. In 2017, Florida's Chris Chiozza made a running three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Wisconsin in overtime.
- Governing bodies using instant replay
- NCAA, NBA, WNBA, Serie A (Italy), EuroLeague Final Four series (effective 2006)
- Nba mandated equipment since 2002
- LED light strips along the edges of the backboard and the edge of the scorer's table to identify the end of a period
- Notable ncaa example 1983
- NC State forward Lorenzo Charles caught Dereck Whittenburg's airball and dunked as time expired to defeat Houston 54–52 in the championship finals
- Notable nba example 2009
- Kobe Bryant's game-winning three-pointer over Dwyane Wade gave the Lakers a 108–107 victory against the Miami Heat on December 4, 2009
- Notable nba example 2010
- Sundiata Gaines hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Utah Jazz a 97-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 14, 2010
- Notable ncaa example 2016
- Kris Jenkins hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to defeat North Carolina 77–74 in the 2016 NCAA tournament championship
- Notable ncaa example 2023
- SDSU's Lamont Butler hit a jumper at the buzzer to defeat FAU 72-71 in the NCAA Tournament Final Four on April 1, 2023
Lore & Background
The concept of the buzzer beater is most prominent in basketball, where it applies to baskets made at the end of a quarter, the second half, or overtime. Officials in the NCAA, NBA, WNBA, Serie A (Italy), and the EuroLeague Final Four series (effective 2006) are required to use instant replay to verify whether a shot made at the end of a period was released before the game clock expired. Since 2002, the NBA has mandated the use of LED light strips along the edges of the backboard and the edge of the scorer's table to identify the end of a period.
Notable buzzer beaters have occurred in both NCAA and NBA contexts. In the 1983 NCAA Championship Finals, NC State forward Lorenzo Charles caught an airball and dunked it as time expired to defeat Houston 54–52. In the 1992 NCAA Tournament, James Forrest hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer for Georgia Tech against USC. In the 1992 East Regional Final, Duke's Christian Laettner hit a 17-foot shot at the buzzer to defeat Kentucky 104–103 in overtime. In the NBA, examples include Kobe Bryant's game-winning three-pointer over Dwyane Wade on December 4, 2009, and Sundiata Gaines' three-pointer at the buzzer on January 14, 2010.
Reader's Guide
The buzzer beater holds significant importance in basketball as a dramatic, game-deciding event. Its legacy is built on the rule that a shot only counts if it leaves the player's fingers before the shot clock expires, with the Trent Tucker Rule disallowing shots where the ball remains in the player's hands. The use of instant replay by major leagues and the NBA's LED light strips since 2002 underscore the precision required to determine whether a shot qualifies. Notable examples from the NCAA include Lorenzo Charles' dunk in the 1983 championship, Christian Laettner's shot in the 1992 East Regional Final, and Kris Jenkins' three-pointer to win the 2016 tournament. In the NBA, Kobe Bryant's 2009 game-winner and Sundiata Gaines' 2010 buzzer beater are among many instances that highlight the term's association with high-stakes moments. The term is most commonly applied to shots that win or tie the game as the game clock expires, and its frequency in both regular season and tournament play has cemented its place in basketball culture.
Did You Know?
- A buzzer beater only counts if the ball leaves the player's fingers before the shot clock runs out; if it remains in the hand, it violates the Trent Tucker Rule.
- On December 4, 2009, Kobe Bryant hit a game-winning three-pointer over Dwyane Wade to give the Lakers a 108–107 victory against the Miami Heat.
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