There may be higher numbers but to start... Artis Gilmore has a career shooting percentage of 0.599 which ranks as #1 in the NBA all time. Wilt Chamberlain once shot 0.683 for the 76ers (1967) in a season. Shaq's highest annual shooting percentage was 0.599. So if Yao remains a 70% or better shooter throughout the season, will he set a record?
Looks like that's correct. http://www.hoophall.com/exhibits/chamberlain_stats.htm He shot 72% his last year in the league, while attempting only 1/4th the shots he was attempting early on in his career. But, omigod, I really think that record is within Yao's reach.
Chamberlain also holds the NBA record for most points in a game as a rookie at 58. This might be a stretch... but I'd love to see Yao make a run at that some point this season too. If he gets 25 shots one of these games, I think he could do it.
I got this quote about Artis Gilmore from the nba.com history section: So the three best field goal percentages (season) are: 1972 Wilt Chamberlain 0.727 1966-1967 Wilt Chamberlain 0.683 1980-1981 Artis Gilmore 0.670 And yes, I agree heech, I think these are records within Yao Ming's reach. David.
