Greatest shooters of all time

There’s a distinction between being an important scorer and being an important shooter. LeBron James is without doubt one of the greatest scorers within the recreation, however he isn’t an important shooter. The most effective shooters in NBA historical past have been environment friendly from the midrange, freethrow line, and past the arc whereas having sufficient quantity.

Greatest shooters in NBA historical past

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, two of the best NBA shooters ever, modified the best way basketball is performed. Extra gamers shoot the ball past the arc and extra groups cater to three-point offensive schemes these days. Why? As a result of it’s merely price three factors on the scoreboard. Slightly than taking a contested midrange shot, why not shoot it from past the arc?

Listed here are the very best shooters in NBA historical past…

10. Kyle Korver

The one function participant on this record, Kyle Korver is without doubt one of the purest shooters the league has ever seen. He performed for 20 seasons as his elite three-point capturing was wanted by numerous groups.

Korver is at present ranked fifth all-time in complete three-pointers made within the common season with 2,450. He was a profession 42% shooter from past the arc. His greatest season as a shooter was in the course of the 2014-15 season with the Hawks when he had a 70% true capturing proportion and 49% three-point proportion. However this isn’t even his highest profession three-point proportion. He shot even higher within the 2009-10 season with the Jazz when he related 54% of his threes.

9. Mark Worth

Mark Price is without doubt one of the greatest shooters in NBA historical past for his unimaginable effectivity. He is without doubt one of the few gamers within the 50-40-90 membership and even ranked third all-time in free throw proportion (90.4%).

His three-point capturing was forward of his time as he hit 40% of his threes on simply 3.4 makes an attempt per recreation. Moreover, Worth showcased his elite three-point capturing capability by successful back-to-back 3-point contests in 1993 and 1994.

8. Kevin Durant

There’s no denying that Kevin Durant is without doubt one of the biggest scorers ever, if not the best. At his measurement, there’s no stopping him from scoring wherever on the courtroom. His ballhandling and capturing capability have been elite which makes him much more unstoppable. The query is: Is he an important shooter?

The reply is sure. Durant is taken into account one of many biggest NBA shooters ever. What number of instances have we witnessed him pull up and make it? When he shoots the ball, it’s near computerized. He’s a profession 39% shooter from deep and 89% shooter from the free throw line which is elite contemplating the quantity.

7. Dirk Nowitzki

Arguably the best capturing huge man in NBA historical past. Dirk Nowitzki was an elite shooter for his measurement. How would you guard a 7-footer who can pull it up wherever on the courtroom and make robust fadeaways within the submit?

You may reply: “Okay, let’s simply foul him and let him earn it within the freethrow line.” However even should you foul him, Nowitzki will make his freethrows. He was a profession 88% shooter from the charity stripe, which is elite for an enormous man. Nowitzki even had a 50-40-90 season within the 2006-07 common season.

6. Larry Fowl

Larry Bird performed in an older period when three-pointers weren’t a norm. He had 1.9 three-point makes an attempt per recreation, the bottom of any participant included on this record. Regardless of the low quantity, he displayed his three-point capturing sufficient to make him the most effective shooters in NBA historical past. The effectivity was there, as he had six seasons of capturing at the least 40% from past the arc.

His capturing brilliance was evident in anecdotes from totally different gamers within the NBA. Essentially the most notable one was in the course of the 1988 three-point contest. Earlier than the occasion, he walked into the locker room and requested the opposite individuals requested: “Who’s coming in second?”. He proceeded to win the three-point contest whereas carrying his warm-up jacket.

5. Steve Nash

Broadly thought to be of the greatest point guards of all time, Steve Nash was a high-efficiency participant throughout his time. Many followers disagree about his two MVPs however you possibly can’t deny his capability capturing the ball. He had 4 straight 50-40-90 seasons within the late 2000s which confirmed his elite capturing capability from wherever on the courtroom. Nash additionally ranks second all-time in free throw proportion behind Steph Curry.

Relating to three-point capturing, Nash’s quantity wasn’t enormous in comparison with some gamers on this record (3.2 three-point makes an attempt per recreation). And that’s comprehensible since he was primarily a playmaker quite than a shooter. It’s nonetheless an important feat since there have been only some gamers in NBA historical past who show a better accuracy fee. Simply think about if he shot extra.

4. Klay Thompson

Whenever you seek for Steph Curry records, Klay Thomspon will all the time be within the dialog. Why? As a result of these two always break the three-point information.

Thomspon owns the document for many three-pointers in a single recreation (14 threes in opposition to the Bulls in 2018), breaking Steph Curry’s document of 13. What’s nice about this efficiency is that he did this in 29 minutes. Simply think about if Chicago wasn’t blown out that recreation. Aside from this efficiency, Thompson additionally holds two video games with at the least 12 three-pointers within the common season.

His scorching capturing has additionally been evident within the postseason. One among his most notable performances is when he drained 11 threes in Recreation 6 of the 2016 Western Convention Finals in opposition to the Thunder, the second-most ever in a postseason recreation. He was known as “Recreation 6 Klay” after this recreation.

3. Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller was forward of his time within the 90s. He performed in an period the place capturing threes with nice quantity was not a norm but. He solely had 4.7 three-point makes an attempt per recreation. If he was taking part in in right this moment’s recreation, there’s little question that he could be greater on this record.

Even with a low quantity, Miller confirmed his elite three-point capturing. He was fourth all-time in complete three-pointers made within the common season with 2,560 threes. He additionally shot the three-ball properly, connecting on 40% from past the arc in 18 seasons.

What followers will all the time bear in mind about him is the truth that he was a fierce competitor and trashtalker. He wasn’t afraid of going through Michael Jordan or listening to boos from the group. Slightly, he fed from their power.

2. Ray Allen

Ray Allen is without doubt one of the greatest shooters in NBA historical past. In actual fact, he was broadly thought to be the best shooter earlier than Stephen Curry occurred. All through his 19-year profession, he made 2,973 three-pointers, which is second all-time in complete three-pointers made within the common season. He related on 40% of his 5.7 three-point makes an attempt per recreation in his profession.

What’s nice about Allen’s numbers was the truth that he wasn’t the principle man on the Celtics and the Warmth. Later in his profession, he simply turned a three-point specialist for each of those groups. The quantity is there, however not the liberty that Curry has right this moment. Think about the injury he might need performed if he was given extra freedom in dealing with and capturing the ball.

Nonetheless, he was an elite scorer with the flexibility to shoot from wherever on the courtroom. He had one of many wettest jumpers within the league and he was computerized from wherever on the courtroom. Along with his ultra-quick launch, it didn’t matter if there was somebody closing out.

1. Stephen Curry

There’s no denying that Stephen Curry is the best shooter of all time. Curry earned this title when he surpassed Ray Allen’s earlier document of two,873 in 2021 to turn out to be the all-time chief in complete three-pointers made within the common season. Curry additionally holds the document for most three-pointers made in a single season with 402 (he additionally gained unanimous MVP that season).

As much as this date, he nonetheless continues to interrupt his personal document each recreation he steps on the courtroom. On the finish of the 2022-23 common season, Curry has a complete of three,390 threes made.

Curry was additionally environment friendly at capturing the ball from past the arc, making 43% of his 9 three-point makes an attempt in his profession. Whether or not off the dribble or off the catch, it doesn’t matter, he’s nonetheless going to make it. It’s loopy to see that he makes among the most inconceivable and ridiculous threes. That simply exhibits how his three-point capturing is a tier above anybody else in NBA historical past.

Aside from threes, Curry can also be the very best shooter from the charity stripe. He’s at present ranked first all-time in free throw proportion, capturing almost 91% from the free throw line.