Jimmy Buckets – not Butler, but Clark – is fast becoming one of the Euroleague's most exciting scorers.
While one version of “Jimmy Buckets” stars in the NBA, the other is making his mark in Israel and across Europe, delivering big shots with growing regularity. None, however, was bigger than the buzzer-beater Jimmy Clark buried to lift Maccabi Tel Aviv to a dramatic 95–93 victory over Partizan Belgrade – a game the yellow-and-blue had little business winning.
Game-winning shot
Clark’s game-winning jumper marked Maccabi’s first home buzzer-beater in roughly 30 years, a remarkable statistic for a club with such a storied history. The last time the Yad Eliyahu crowd witnessed such a moment was in December 1995, when Doron Jamchee heaved a desperation shot from three-quarters of the court to defeat Cibona Zagreb.
“I was very confident,” Clark said after the game. “Once the coach drew up the play and they decided the ball was going to be in my hands, I didn’t think twice. I was ready to take that shot. I just give credit to God.”
“When it left my hand, I knew it was going in,” he added. “That’s why I just stood there. I wanted to see it drop.”
Clark’s rise has been anything but overnight. The 24-year-old guard arrived in Israel at the start of last season as a rookie with Bnei Herzliya, armed mainly with potential after finishing his college career at Duquesne. Under head coach Yehu Orland, his raw talent became evident, but so did the need for refinement.
In 17 games with Herzliya, Clark averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and two steals, performances strong enough to convince Maccabi Tel Aviv to buy out his contract midway through the season.
For head coach Oded Katash, Clark arrived as a high-upside player still learning the demands of Euroleague basketball.
“I’m very happy for Jimmy for the way it ended,” Katash said. “It feels like he’s been with us for a long time because of the intensity and number of games, but that’s not really the case. He’s still gaining experience, still learning. He wants to improve, and he’s a special kid. The reaction of the players after the basket shows his character.”
The coach's take
Katash also explained the final play.
“I’m not taking credit,” he said. “With four seconds left, the first thing was getting the ball in safely. Jimmy was having a great game, and with no time for a pick-and-roll, he was the right player. I made sure there were passing options, and from there it was all him.”
For Clark, the trust meant everything.
“Knowing the work we’ve put in, knowing that the coach trusts me with the last shot in an atmosphere like this – it’s amazing,” he said. “Credit to coach for that.”
One key factor in Clark’s recent leap has been the arrival of veteran guard Iffe Lundberg. The Danish international has provided stability, leadership, and Euroleague experience, helping Maccabi steady itself and remain in the Play-In conversation.
“His influence impacts the whole team,” Clark said. “He’s been playing at this level for years. Talking to him every day, learning from him – it’s helped me a lot.”
Lundberg, however, deflected praise.
“Jimmy stepped up big in the fourth quarter,” he said. “This was his moment. I’m proud of him and of the team. Sometimes you need a little luck, and I’m just happy we won.”
Maccabi needed contributions throughout just to reach a game-winning opportunity. One crucial moment came with 29 seconds left, when Marcio Santos drew an unsportsmanlike foul at midcourt after being tripped. The play swung momentum and gave Maccabi the lead for good.
“I don’t overthink those moments,” Santos said. “I was just trying to make plays. Jimmy and I played good defense; he poked the ball, and I was going to grab it. Jimmy has confidence – we all trust him.”
Clark's progress
Clark continues to grow into the Euroleague game, something he attributes to time and experience.
“Time tells,” he said. “The more experience I get, the more comfortable I feel. My teammates and coaches help me every day.”
Clark also believes a Play-In spot remains within reach, though he stressed the importance of focusing on one game at a time, beginning with Friday’s matchup at Red Star Belgrade – a familiar city for Maccabi, which played several home games there following the October 7th attacks.
“The Play-In is definitely possible,” Clark said. “We can’t focus on the big picture. Just the next game, the present moment. If we keep winning, anything can happen.”
He also pointed to the significance of finally playing at home again.
“That’s what home-court advantage does,” Clark said. “We played the first half of the season in empty gyms. To play here, for these fans, in this atmosphere – it shows what this club is about. Credit to everyone who made it possible.”
For now, Jimmy Buckets has given Maccabi Tel Aviv something it hadn’t felt at home in decades – a moment frozen in time, sealed by confidence, composure, and a perfectly timed shot.