Persistence is defined as "firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." Antoine Walker exemplified the very essence of persistent chucking throughout his career. 1,386 made 3 pointers in 4,264 attempts for a 32.5% clip. The Antoine Walker Persistence Award goes to the leader in 3 point attempts while have a 3 point percentage equal or less than 32.5% (Walker's career average). The current leaderboard for the award are as follows: 1. James Anderson 248 3PAs, 31.9% 2. Jordan Crawford 216 3PAs, 31.0% 3. Gordon Hayward 216 3PAs, 30.1% 4. Josh Smith 203 3PAs, 23.2% Keep on chucking my friends! Note: Jones 34th, Motiejunas 42nd Idea for this award comes from Spacemoth. Stats from basketball reference. Edited John to Josh.
Ha, very interesting. J-Smoove even changed his name to John out of shame at his percentages. Poll: If Gordon Hayward was on your team, would you be okay with Hayward chucking up such a vast amount of threes at such a brutally bad percentage given that opening night, he was a three-year vet with a 40% career three point average?
I followed the Hawks closely for many, many years and I can assure you that this award should be named after Josh Smith. If you could have heard the chorus of "ugh's", "no's" and groans anytime Smith chucked up a three pointer or long two. Truly comical.
regardless of being a chucker...who didn't enjoy walking walker/pierce boston era? they were a fun team.
He is on a bad team and isn't getting good looks most likely. That said, he probably needs to be more selective.
I like this award so much I checked out the past winners. It's interesting how the nature of 3-point shooting shifted in a way that it went from bit players winning the award to superstars who aren't great jump shooters stumbling into it because it's 'expected' for a perimeter scorer to fire away when open. Also, White Chocolate really had a chokehold on this category in his prime. The '80s Spoiler 1980: Mike Newlin 1981: Michael Ray Richardson 1982: Michael Ray Richardson 1983: Allen Leavell 1984: Michael Cooper 1985: Gus Williams 1986: Mike Evans 1987: Leon Wood 1988: Derek Harper 1989: Chuck Person The '90s Spoiler 1990: Chris Morris 1991: Michael Adams 1992: Michael Adams 1993: John Starks 1994: Vernon Maxwell 1995: Vernon Maxwell 1996: Vernon Maxwell 1997: Gary Payton 1998: Isaiah Rider 1999: Jason Williams The 21st century 2000: Jason Williams 2001: Jason Williams 2002: Jason Williams 2003: Antoine Walker 2004: Baron Davis 2005: Antoine Walker 2006: Donyell Marshall 2007: Jamal Crawford 2008: Lebron James 2009: Nate Robinson 2010: Andre Iguodala 2011: Rudy Fernandez 2012: Kobe Bryant 2013: Kobe Bryant
1) People need to understand that a 32.5% in 3 pointers is the same as having a 49% 2 point FG%, which while not optimal, is not that bad. 2) If you have a PF that can shoot 3s, it opens up the floor for the other 4 players. 3) If Josh Smith is shooting 32.5% from 3, you absolutely tell him to shoot at least one 3 per game to make it easier on offense for his teammates.
Unless the 49% shooter is being fouled at a normal rate for two point shots and the 32.5% shooter is being fouled at a normal rate for 3 point shots. 32.5% is not optimal and if it encompasses a large percentage of your shots (which for Antoine Walker Award winners..it does), it hurts your team.
Josh is just not that good of a three-point shooter. He actually gets a lot of open looks because of the inside tandem of Drummond and Monroe.
If you're taking 9 3s a game to only make 3 of them, that's pretty bad considering a few of those shots could have went to higher % shots. But if you're jacking up 3s at a ridiculous rate (like the guy who's name is emblazoned on this award), you're not opening up the floor for anyone. A shooter like Dirk and Kevin Love keeps defenses honest and opens it up because they shoot at a respectable rate. Guys like Josh Smith and Walker has their defender sagging off of them, waiting to get a rebound. How is Josh Smith shooting 3s making it easier for his team? The only thing his teammates can expect is to get ready to grab the offensive rebound 77% of the time (considering he's shooting at 23%). If your teammates know that for every 4 shots you take that you're going to miss 3 of them, that makes it easier for said teammates to NOT want to pass you the ball.
