I ran across a website that ranked the best 50 pure shooters of all time in the NBA and was surprised to see some familiar Rocket names on the list (at least 4 that I can recognize). Of the six top tier shooters that this guy has listed, 3 are former Rockets. Not sure I agree with Robert Horry being ranked this high, but definently agree with Purvis Short. Ya'll remember that guy? He played a couple of years after his prime in Golden State and was as automatic a jump shooter as I've ever seen. I remember Gene Peterson's voice on the radio describing his rainbow jumpers in peoples faces. Kinda surprised that Eddie Johnson didn't make this list. Here's the list and the link: http://home.att.net/~a.bergey/nbashooters.htm 50 GREATEST NBA PURE SHOOTERS Andrew Bergey & contributions from many (like Jim and Dave F.)! (2003) PUT IT UP! Coming up with a list of the 50 best pure shooters in NBA history is easy once you write down Joe Hassett and then open it up to far more qualified experts roaming the internet begging to be a part of this massive undertaking. My last -- and now lost -- list of the 50 Worst Players in NBA history netted me less threats of lawsuits than I hoped for (where's the fun in that?) and more suggestions that didn't make sense. So, are there any great pure shooters playing in the NBA today? Really? Do 7-footers who sink three-pointers on a regular basis but can't sink ten-footers qualify? Am I eligible because I led the Rec B-League in 3-point shooting for three straight years but never played a NBA game? OK, on with it! Level One - The Heaters! Need a quick bucket? Need a shot launched from the scorers table? Hire these guns! Lay-ups are not accepted without prior reservations. Vinnie Johnson Joe Hassett Purvis Short Glen Rice Dale Ellis Robert Horry Level Two - Solid Shooters! Inside, outside, wide-open, in-traffic, while mugged . . . Most of these guys were excellent passers too. Yeh -- passing to guys who shot 10 percentage points less than they did! Vinny Del Negro Scott Wedman Craig Hodges Jeff Hornacek John Paxson Don Nelson Pete Maravich Kobe Bryant George Gervin Michael Jordan Bernard King Calvin Murphy Kelly Tripucka Mark Price Sean Elliot John Stockton Jerry West Oscar Robertson Byron Scott Gail Goodrich Jeff Malone Nate Archibald Dick Barnett Ricky Pierce Kevin Johnson Jim Paxson Steve Kerr Hubert Davis Drazen Petrovic Danny Ainge Steve Smith Bill Sharman Lou Hudson James Worthy Paul Westphal Fred Brown Level Three - Lethal! Best Of The Best! Don't get them mad! Back away! If you stand too close you may lose your ring! Ray Allen Walter Davis Larry Bird Chris Mullin Bob McAdoo Alex English Rick Barry Dirk Nowitski Reggie Miller Isiah Thomas I think that's 50. Please note that I didn't say anything negative about Jason Kidd and Kelvin Ransey or put forth my belief that Nick Van Excel is the most underrated shooter in the history of the NBA! Please send suggestions! Please argue with me!
One Rocket I would have put on that list over Robert Horry in terms of pure shooting ability is Hakeem although it seems the author of the list didn't consider any center as a pure shooter. Wasn't Jack Sikma a smooth shooting center for the sonics back in the day?
Ok, I see where the list is oriented, but I think RudyT deserves to be on it, definitely over Horry. Vinny Del Negro? How about JoJo White? Or Earl Monroe? Good list overall though.
The first player I thought of was Eddie Johnson. That guy could shoot. Remember his first game with Houston when they didnt even have his name on the jersey and the wrong number or something? I think we got him and Sedale Threat the day before.
Just remembered some other guys that light it up from the outside, Dell Curry and Peja Stojakovic. No doubt they should be on this guy's list.
MJ needs to be in that Level 3 group. These levels don't seem to be from best to worst or anything. In other words Level 3 seems to be just another type of shooter than Level 1? MJ needs to be in Level 3. He is among the best of the bunch. There are only about 2 people I would consider his equal in terms of "I don't want them getting the ball if the game is on the line and they have the ball" : Bird, MJ, and Reggie Miller. Kobe's slowly rising to that status. Purvis Short having a rainbow shot is an understatement. That dude shot 18 footers that went up 50 ft. Hehe. I still remember the story of how they said he got that form. His father or coach or someone apparently used to hold a broom up in the air and told him to shoot over it.
actually vinny del negro was a DEADLY shooter. haha... so was mark price damn. dirk nowitzki in tier three? i'm not so sure. allen too. the others were all time greats man. chris mullin... wow. what a shooter. isiah thomas seems to belong a notch down too.
Couple of questions? Where is Peja, another one Sarounis Marcelonis (sp) Mad Max should be under the streaky ones. Chuck Person comes to mind, umm im sure there are much more that people like nowitzki. How can he be on there and Peja is not.
My favorite NBA PURE SHOOTERS Reggie Miller Glen Rice Dale Ellis Larry Bird Jerry West Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) Drazen Petrovic Wesley Person Chuck Person Craig Hodges Jeff Hornacek John Paxson Calvin Murphy Mark Price Steve Kerr Ray Allen Chris Mullin Rick Barry Isiah Thomas Dell Curry Peja Stojakovic Steve Nash Michael Redd These are my favorites pure shooters (longrange)...the moment it left their hand it always seemed to go in. With the exception of Murphy and Jackson, these guys were all long range shooters. One guy, Michael Redd, didn't shoot well this year (35%3pt) compared the the previous years (43%3pt/44.4%3pt). But there's just something about the way the guy shoots that I love. He has the greatest form. I feel that he's going to be a great shooter.
I DEFINITELY agree "The Rifleman" Chuck Person should be included. As should freaking Peja. That guy could hit over 30% from half court And where's A. Houston? Yeah, he's a Knick, but man does he have a great looking shot.
Robert Horry had classic form. I'll give him that. But Bullard was a pure shooter. If he missed you got pissed because he wasn't supposed to miss.
Yeah with Horry you knew, if he got set and just took that classic step to the basket and shot he made it. Any other way he missed lol...pure set shooter. Love the way bullard always leaned towards the basket on his shot. Both had different forms but were both deadly when they needed to be =) I still remember the first Rocket i met in person was Matt Bullard when he was a rookie, i met him at the one and very few open gyms they had at the Summit, where they let you walk around and check everything out. he was suiting up and i asked him to have his little nike logo from his shoes he just got and he was like sure, i don't need it i get my shoes free and i have no use for it lol...back when those things were cool, when i was in middle school lol....
Where's World B. Free? But seriously, any list of 'pure shooters' that doesn't have Del Curry in the top 10, let alone top 50 has serious flaws.
Stojakovic, Houston, Tomjanovich, Curry, Wilkins should be there. Horry, Worthy, Ainge, shouldn't be there.