Good mention on Kiki. For fun, 1982 Nuggets team league ranking FGs attempted: #1 FGs made: #1 FG %: #1 FT %: #1 Points per game #1 That team could FILL IT!
Jeff Malone and Rudy T! Great mentions, and eddie too. For those saying Dirk, he is disqualified because he is not technically a shooter. Statistically, his launch of the ball more closely resembles a step ladder falling apart than a "shot."
The 70's and 80's consisted of players that grew up during a time where there was not a 3 point line, so shooters really began to key in on the mid range shot. The rules and style of play did not necessarily reward freakish athletes, as much as guys that could hit an uncontested jump shot in a very narrow window of time. I am not saying the overall skill level was better or worse, just that the necessity of the mid range jumper was paramount. It was stressed at the lower levels, college levels and pro levels. The 3 point line, after a generation or two changed the game and teams began to rely on the 3 and penetration.
Teams also had much more possessions back then, it was more of a transition-oriented game. Mid-range jumpers are high % shots when you get a clean look, which become available in a broken field. Against set defenses though, they're usually contested, which makes shooting a 3-ball with space a better option in most cases. Also, because this generation of players has grown up with the arc, the transition 3 has replaced the transition midrange jumper, which relates to your first point.
That's a great call, even though I used to cheer against him all the time, and he dunked on Hakeem. 49% for his career and very little 3-pt shooting at all. Hit a ton of mid-range and floaty type things. And then became Mayor of Excremento.
If KJ was playing now, how could you guard that guy without hand checking? Ro Blackmon, dale ellis were great inside the arc. Allen Houston, Karl Malone and Shawn Kemp.
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leeb, great calls. Blackman was a great catch and shooter off the screen. And Ellis and Houston are all great midrange shooters.
Kobe's midrange is definitely automatic... He can get to 10-15 feet whenever he wants and he knocks it down all day...
Allen Iverson is a volume shooter but Kobe is not. It is pretty amazing that he has averaged 45% with some of the shots he takes. I'd take him against anybody in NBA history taking the same quality of mid range shot. I'm not saying he is the best but he definitely should be considered an elite mid range player. [/QUOTE] 45% includes a lot of attacking the rim too.[/QUOTE] It really doesn't. Kobe stopped attacking the basket a long time ago to extend his career. The guy has basically lived off of jump shots for a while now.
When watching older games, can see there were a lot of trips up the court that consisted of 2 passes and the first guy with a clean open jumper he's popping it from right there. Dominique Wilkins was "Human Highlight Film" but really he was less Vince Carter, more the kind of high octane score-first swingman of that time. Mike D'Antoni, though he gets deserving criticism on his coaching now, his Phoenix Suns tenure was more classic uptempo basketball and less gimmicky than it looks.
