His defenders are assuredly still having nightmares about the hot streak and as the Suns look to defend their roles as conference champions, look for Paul to continue giving Phoenix an advantage every time he steps on the floor. DeMar DeRozan (29) is the closest to him, followed by Paul George (28),Trae Young (26) and Dejounte Murray (26). More: 1988 Over the last 25 seasons, 1700 different times that a player has taken at least 250 mid-range jumpers in a season theres been three times that a player has shot over 55 percent, Redick said on The Old Man and the Three podcast. Playing a ton of minutes in the playoffs is nothing new for Durant. Copyright 2020 www.TheComeback.com - All Rights Reserved - Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners. In his first season in Chicago, mid-range shots have accounted for 29.8% of his points his highest mark since he last led the league in mid-range buckets during the 2016-17 season (4.2 per game). Kevin Durant's Recent Stats In his past 10 games, Durant is averaging 25.2 points, which is lower than his mark for the year (29.1). The entire playing career for Kevin Durant is displayed below. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. While still impressive, his free throw percentage would continue to decline after his first year being traded to the Utah Jazz. Durant has averaged eight PPG from the mid-range this season, accounting for nearly one-third of his total scoring numbers. His steadily climbing percentage shows that he can get even better, which is quite scary. Career FT%: 89.4% (3,863 FTM / 4,321 FTA). If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. This was the same season he had the lowest usage percentage in his career. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. A hated figure in Dallas, he would eventually be granted his wish and traded to the Nuggets; that was the first of several stops during his career. KD leads the pack with 57%. "Heartbroken for Shaq Barrett and his family, dont know what else to say.". James Harden is second in the NBA averaging 37.1 minutes per game. A lot of (opposing) teams will live with it. Not even centers like Myles Turnerstand much of a chance of disrupting his shot. Allan was a solid if unspectacular shooter from the line during his early playing days. When factoring that in, he may be the one who wears the crown as the true king of the in-between game. In Durant's 14-year career, the lowest percentage of points from the mid-range was 15.8 percent in the 2016-17 NBA season. Peaking at 91.5% last season and still in his prime, there's no reason to think that he can't break into the top 10 when his career is all said and done. This gave NBA teams the option to release a player without his contract counting toward the luxury tax. At age 34, Durant is averaging 30.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on a per 75 possession basis (the best way to adjust for minutes and pace across the board). Outside of perhaps Robin Lopez, nobody in the NBA has been more effective or productive from the short mid-range over the past few seasons. In Durant's 14-year career, the lowest percentage of points from the mid-range was 15.8 percent in the 2016-17 NBA season. Taking away his seven PPG from free throws, mid-range jumpers account for 35 percent of Durant's scoring. At one point during his career he joined fellow free throw shooting great, Hersey Hawkins, on the Philadelphia 76ers. Aside from the ice running through his veins at the line, he is considered one of the all time great shooters. It's crazy DeMar DeRozan just keeps getting better in the midrange. Career Projections . Despite his size, Brandon was regarded as a top flight point guard in the mid-90's. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. A closer look at the top 10 mid-range. His numbers helped him earn entry into the All NBA second team . Pauls pull-up jumper from the right elbow has been the most fundamental staple in his shot selection over the entirety of his career, which has included eleven appearances in the All-Star game. . During his 2008-09 campaign, Ray broke Larry Bird's franchise streak of consecutive free throws made coming in at 72; that same season he peaked at a career high 95.2%. Advanced Game Log Mullin's free throw shooting remained fairly steady over the course of his career. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Terrell would play backup point guard for the early part of his career. Or as he explained: if my middy workin then thats where Im goin for dinner.. He gets the honor of being considered the greatest free throw shooter in the history in the NBA. Kevin Durant averages 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Playing alongside Stockton and Malone, he had a key role on the team and contributed largely to their run to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. Bill is the first player in the NBA to hit 50 consecutive free throws. Career FT%: 87.5% (3,389 FTM / 3,871 FTA). While he doesnt qualify for the official leaders, Durants scoring average of 27.6 points per game would rank sixth. He's also doing it. Aside from his smooth jumper, he was always known to be a great free throw shooter. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. In todays game, most defenses try to force opponents to shoot from the mid-range they dont want to give up 3-pointers and shots at the rim. The whole conversation was simply a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the worlds great shooters. 10 of Bill's 11 years in the NBA were played with the Boston Celtics. Though he no longer qualifies among the league leaders after missing Brooklyns last 13 games, Hardens 10.9 assists per game would be second in the league. Active players are listed in bold At his current pace of 3.1 3-pointers per game, Harris would make 25 more 3-pointers this season, which would give him 815 as a Net and put him atop the franchise list. They were a devastating combo during their prime known mostly for scoring and little defense. They're minus-17.2 points per 100 possessions in those Durant-free minutes. So far, this season has been a throwback with 39% of his points coming from mid-range and 9.5% from three. But his best attack has been his self-created Sombor Shuffle. Hes making 57.1 % of midrange shots with the second-best percentage of the 54 who have taken at least 100 shots from midrange. After three seasons with the Pistons, he would then go on to join the New York Knicks where he is most often associated; he would spend 12 years as a Knick. Dirk's free throw routine was at one point singing David Hasselhoff songs while at the free throw line. Hes the greatest midrange shooter ever, Redick added. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Kevin Wayne Durant You can see just how much the shot frustrated even a former Defensive Player of the Year in Draymond Green. Oft-injured, Pierce's free throw shooting percentage would fluctuate from season to season. And if you can master what opposing defenses will give away, then you can thrive. Hes also doing it with tight coverage in most scenarios which will add a thorn in the side of defenses. After spending the first chunk of his career on the Toronto Raptors, DeRozan was the centerpiece of a deal that sent him to the Western Conference to play for the San Antonio Spurs. SOUND ON to hear Booker mention KD's gravity. Aside from his 5 all-star appearances, he will best be known for his adept touch from the line and two Olympic gold medals; one with the 1984 amateur team and the other on the "Dream Team". According to Durant, there is no reason to ever forgo something that isnt guarded to force something that is less guaranteed at the rim or at the three-point line. Durant probably isn't going to shootthiswell from midrange for the entire season, but again, it's not like this is new territory for him. Active players are listed in bold * Indicates member of the Hall of Fame. 52.6 FG%2. Follow @BryanKalbrosky While the player in the league who is most often compared to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant most often is LeBron James, the Los Angeles Laker superstar doesnt exactly resemble either player. Even so, one individual has single-handedly kept the mid-range alive. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland, News: 2 days agoDurant ended with 29 points (12-19 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal in 36 minutes during Saturday's 125-107 loss to the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Topping the list in both mid-range field goals made (4.0 per game) and attempted (8.3 per game) is Chicagos DeMar DeRozan, who has been one of the most prolific mid-range shooters in the league for years. It's not ideal, but Williams has figured out a way to lessen the strain on Durant a bit. Overall, Jokic is among the leagues most lethal threats to drop step after a post-up or take a hook shot from the elbow. Career FT%: 90.4% (2,135 FTM / 2,362 FTA). Similar to DeRozan, the mid-range game has been a staple for Aldridge for years and for years he resisted trying to become the latest big man to move his game beyond the arc. So not only has Durant been the league's most prolific midrange scorer so far this season, but he's been one of the most efficient. Seattle SuperSonics, 1st round (2nd pick, 2nd overall), 2007 NBA Draft, More Kevin Durant pages at Sports Reference. You probably won't be surprised to hear that he ranks in the 69th percentile or better in scoring efficiency on those plays right now. Man is Different. Luckily it wasn't a name that was too widely used around the league. This was the same season he had the lowest usage percentage. He also dropped an insane stat about KD. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Harris also holds the fourth (183, 2018-19) and fifth (172, 2019-20) places on that list. Initially drafted by the Clippers in the 1988 NBA draft, Hersey would then go on to be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. While teams know what to take away with DeRozan, there is no spot on the floor to try to force Durant to score he can simply do it from everywhere. Harden has the third-highest career scoring average among active players (25.2). With his game still going strong, he may continue to add notches to his belt. Durant is averaging just .9 fewer makes per game on 2.7 fewer attempts per game. You can look at a shot chart fromKevin Durantfor half a second and see that he is absolutely brilliant from everywhere on the floor. Dominique Wilkins said the Clippers helped David Robinson score 71 points to win the 1994 NBA scoring title. When these comparisons are drawn, its not unfair. Durant has grabbed 6.5 rebounds per game in his past 10, which is 0.2 less than his average for the season. DeMar DeRozan has ranked in the top five in mid-range field goals made in eight of the past 10 seasons. James Donaldson.6177: 12. Harris is second in franchise history in 3-pointers made (790) behind Jason Kidd (813). Through 26 games this season, Durant has been lethal from the mid-range. On the rare occasions when Durant has rested, they've gotten completely destroyed. One of the most well rounded players the NBA has ever seen, he ranks fifth all-time in triple doubles recorded. Malone peaked at the line about midway through his career shooting 91.7%. Honorable Mention: Kevin Durant 1 of 21 Elsa/Getty Images Career FT%: 88.2% (1599 FTM / 1812 FTA) Besides being one of the most promising young talents the NBA has seen in years, Durant is. . The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Do you have a sports website? Nicknamed "Hawk", he was a true iron man throughout most of his career. His efficiency profile is. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Dirk Nowitzki 13-14 50.43. Durant hasn't looked too fatigued in those minutes either. Millerlike many others on this listis one of the best shooters the league has ever seen. Shooting Influences such as Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving have displayed the skills that new-age players aspire to have. He would mark a career high while with the Indiana Pacers playing under Larry Bird; he hit 93.9% from the line that season. A diminutive guard, Terrell was considered a short player by NBA standards measuring at 5'11". Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. The Comeback: Todays Top Sports Stories & Reactions. What will happen when the players on this list eventually exit the league? Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, Draft: ", "Kirk doesn't need to show anything to me.". His career will always be tied to the franchise; he was at one point general manager for the team following his retirement from playing. Like several others ranked here, they could be considered one of the great free throw shooting duos. Joe Harris leads the NBA in 3-point percentage, shooting 48.3 percent for the season. The only thing keeping him from moving too far up or down this list is the lack of trips he'll be making to the line over the course of his remaining career. home/away, monthly, etc More Kevin Durant Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Suns This was the same season he had the lowest usage percentage in his career. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. When the Phoenix Suns traded for Kevin Durant, they had the big picture in mind. It's possible that trend continues with Deandre Ayton logging a team-worst minus-21 during his time on the floor. Series preview: What to expect in Warriors-Lakers, 5 takeaways from Warriors' Game 7 victory, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win over Knicks, Curry sets Game 7 record with 50 points vs. Kings. pic.twitter.com/grNC2nRgG5. Kevin Durant is capable of playing big minutes and still producing . "Mike was simply a much-loved son, brother, grandson, and uncle who loved his dogs. NBA Twitter reacts to Jayson Tatum's 55-point All-Star Game: 'Steph doesn't show up one time and Tatum breaks the record', Jimmy Butler's injured ankle looking visibly swollen following Game 1. Efficiency-wise, he has been outstanding, shooting 57 percent from the mid-range. It was a fairly small sample size but he was shooting 67.7 percent on his looks fired off between the free-throw line and the three-point line, per Cleaning the Glass. DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant lead top 10 mid-range scorers | NBA.com A closer look at the top 10 mid-range scorers in the league this season. It's possible that trend continues with Deandre Ayton logging a team-worst minus-21 during his time on the floor. Heres what happens when hes doing the Sombor Shuffle: After facing up his opponent on the block, the big man fakes a drive with his left foot then swiftly takes a one-dribble fadeaway jumper off his right foot. Durant's usage percentage is at 23.8 percent, way down from his career playoff average of 30.8 percent. It certainly worked in the postseason as he hit eight consecutive mid-range jumpers in less than ten minutes against the Denver Nuggets. Defenders wont be able to ignore second-year forward Patrick Williams, who fared well when he was handed the keys to Chicagos offense during summer league. And if you can do both like Durant then youre unstoppable. Mark has spent the majority of his 12 years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He would stroke the side of his face three times in acknowledgement of his children. Latest on Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. August 26, 2021 Great gem @jj_redick pic.twitter.com/RR2oO8DbmR, andrew leezus (@AndrewLeezus) February 13, 2023. While he is one of the best at the line, he may perhaps be best remembered for his misses at two crucial junctions during the 2006 NBA Finals. Lue is exactly right considering when postseason play came around, Leonard was unstoppable from mid-range. Lineups . But yet since 2013-14, Durant is still the most efficient player in the league from this zone. But as noted by Jonathan Tjarks, the evolution to eventually step beyond the arc more often even if he wasnt hitting them was inevitable for DeRozan so he could serve as a better floor spacer (via The Ringer): There was never any mechanical reason that DeRozan couldnt take 3s before. The analytics behind this evolution make sense; if youre going to shoot a 2-point shot, you want the highest percentage shot possible (dunks, layups and shots near the basket). His three NBA MVP awards and three NBA Championships is proof of that. While Reggie fights Jeff Van Gundy for top honors as the most annoying broadcaster to join a NBA booth, he has had a storied career in the NBA. Small Forward, Power Forward, and Shooting Guard. That lack of wear and tear could theoretically allow him to go harder in the playoffs. Just shy of the 2,000 free throw attempt criteria, he will most assuredly reach that plateau during the upcoming season. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Trae, Luka headline 12 dominant pull-up shooters, 12 players thriving as catch-and-shoot scorers, Curry officially claims NBA's 3-point crown, Will LeBron pass Kareem? He averaged 28.4 points per game in the first round, shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from 3-point range. Twitter: However, his bread and butter would always come down to his free throws. Durant's usage percentage is at 23.8 percent . While rather comical to watch, it was obviously a very effective approach. With his second 3 on Tuesday, the Warriors' star guard eclipses the all-time record after tying it in the opening minutes. You already knew that a list about modern mid-range shooters is going to start with DeMar DeRozan. Shoots: That same season Ricky got into the record books by recording the second longest consecutive free throw shooting streak at 75 made. His stint as coach for the beleaguered Nets will probably be the aspect of his career in the NBA that defines him; they had a historically bad season and came close to having the worst record in NBA history. This future Hall of Fame talent is the greatest German National to play in the NBAwhich technically isn't saying much because of the competition, but an impressive accolade nevertheless. If you were amazed by Stephen Curry's record-setting performance on Sunday, you weren't the only one. And their ninth man, Damion Lee, barely played for the Warriors during their multiple years in the playoffs. Kevin Durant rookie season stats Which team had the best regular season record in a season? He relented a few seasons ago and expanded his range, with 3-point shots accounting for 26.4% of his points last season between San Antonio and Brooklyn. Why, he wondered, would you pass up on the easy look for something contested? Injuries hindered his career and forced him to miss significant time during his final years as a player. Allen is closing in on the remaining players on this list with his steadily increasing free throw percentage. Considering the prowess that both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have in the pick and roll, defenders are going to have to lock in on their two-man game. Aside from the rather unsanitary practice of licking his finger tips before shooting, he could always be counted on to make his free throws. pic.twitter.com/7gtvVnVxJR, Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) April 4, 2021. Butler said that he thinks Mournings comments were spur of the moment and that he didnt really mean them, claiming he isnt anyones hero, Smith declared that the Warriors outing in Game 6 was one of the worst he has ever seen from them, and he doesnt know if they will be able to bounce back in Game 7. Part of the 3-point revolution is that young players entering the league are more focused on the three than they are the mid-range shot. Monty Williams has not trusted his bench, and so all of the big four starters Durant, Booker, Ayton and Chris Paul have had to play a lot. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. Larry Brown never got confused about whos who on the 2004 Detroit Pistons roster. Golden State's star sharpshooter enjoys another historic moment, which also set his playoff career high. Dirk is the first member of the 50-40-90 club on this list. Just missing the cut on several occasions to make the 50-40-90 club, it was only his sub 50% field goal shooting that kept him from joining the list. In addition, Denver is in the middle of the pack at eighth for opponent 3-point percentage allowed (34.2%). Everyone who ever discusses it ends up comparing it to the iconic mid-range stepback from Dirk Nowitzki. While it helps that many defences are geared towards giving up the midrange nowadays, most players with the size to contest his jumper don't have the speed to keep up with him off the dribble and most players who have the speed to keep up with him off the dribble don't have the size to contest his shot. While Durant has long been a midrange assassin, he's kicked his efficiency from that distance to a terrifying level to start the 2021-22 season. Players like DeRozan, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Paul have found value in the mid-range shot over the past decade while the rest of the league moved away from the mid-range. Chauncey Billups, Mr. Big Shot himself, earned that nickname through his clutch shooting in late game situations. With Jimmy Butler hobbled late by an ankle injury, Miami gets big performances from Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love to take the series opener in New York. He also holds a playoff record of 56 consecutive free throws made. His best season will most likely be as a member of the Seattle Supersonics where he managed to shoot 91.6% from the line. Ray Allencurrent member of the Boston Celticswill always be remembered for his silky smooth jumper, deadly accuracy from the line, and role as Jesus Shuttlesworth. Chris Paul midrange is absolutely Insane , Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) June 14, 2021.
What Does The Name Antoinette Mean In The Bible,
Raccoons For Sale In South Carolina,
Lee Bell Kendrick,
Iowa Cold Cases By County,
Articles K
