Max Strus earned himself a place in the history books with Tuesday's half-court game-winner for the Cavaliers.
The Cleveland guard's 59-foot game-winner ranks second all-time among game-winning shots in NBA history. Here's the full top five.
2021 – Devonte' Graham (61 feet)
Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham hit a 61-foot game-winning buzzer-beater in a December 2021 contest against the Thunder.
If you're wondering whether or not the shot looks as wild as it sounds, it doesn't. Somehow, it's even wilder.
Appropriate for the NBA's landmark 75th season, Graham rewrote history with his shot, sinking what stands the longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history, a record previously held by Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
2024 – Max Strus (59 feet)
From well behind the half-court line, Strus sent the ball toward the hoop — and he finished a red-hot stretch of five 3-pointers in four minutes with the best shot of them all.
The game-winner propelled the Cavaliers past the Mavericks and put Strus' name in the history books.
HALFCOURT. GAME WINNER. MAX STRUS. #LETEMKNOW pic.twitter.com/HtfZ9RRNGL
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 28, 2024
MORE: Cavaliers' Max Strus sinks half-court buzzer-beater
1992 – Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (55 feet)
Abdul-Rauf's game-winner had a 29-year run at the top.
With the score tied at 106, Abdul-Rauf grabbed the rebound off a Dikembe Mutombo block and, per the broadcast, delivered the Nuggets their first road win of the season from well beyond half court against the Clippers.
1986 – Julius Erving (53 feet)
Come for Dr. J's awkward-looking one-dribble half-court heave to send the 76ers to victory against the Mavericks, stay for Bill Russell's disbelief as the color analyst.
There's also a young Charles Barkley involved in the celebration. This is peak 1980s NBA.
2010 – Tyreke Evans (50 feet)
Similar to Graham's heave, Evans' game-winner for the Kings is an example of one good shot deserving another.
After a tough jumper from OJ Mayo to put the Grizzlies ahead, Evans takes the inbound pass with 1.5 seconds, dribbles, double clutches and sends it home. The most impressive part? Donté Greene looked like he knew it was going in while the ball was still mid-air.
