GP, Go to hoopscorner.com. I use their database for all my stat research. Its free and it has a ton of diff stats for every player and every team in the history of the NBA (I believe ABA too). I haven't found anything comparalbe. Highly recommend.
Chris Mullin And at his peak, no doubt Jordan would have to be in there. Here's a guy who could shoot from any angle, any defense, and at any moment. Just because he shot while slashing thru three guys shouldn't eliminate him. The purest shooters can do that too.
I'm not saying he's the best...Bird is, IMO...but I am flabbergasted that no one has mentioned Dell Curry. For pure shooters he's right there. He was not the player Bird was, but he might be the best pure shooter, in terms of a guy who has consistent perfect form, even waking up on Christmas morning and going out in the backyard to shoot, and he was the Dan Marino of the NBA, in terms of quick release. Others: Dale Ellis, Dennis Scott, Glen Rice, Drazen Petrovich, Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller, Jeff Hornacek, Jeff Malone, Ray Allen, and too many others to mention. Still freaked out about the Curry omission, though. If I had to teach the jumpshot, and I wanted one that had little variation, was quick, pure, and energy efficient, he might be the guy I'd use as an example.
For my money, Reggie Miller is the best shooter I've ever seen. Larry "Basketball Jesus" Bird is my all-time favorite player, but he's *just* behind Reggie in shooting. I also loved watching Dale Ellis, Craig Hodges, Glen Rice (pre-Rox), Dennis Scott, Dell Curry, Steve Kerr and Matt Bullard (!).
www.basketballreference.com ...basketball stats that you DON'T have to download! http://www.basketballreference.com/leaders/leaderscareer.htm?stat=fgpct&lg=n Top 100 all time FG percentage... Artis Gilmore (the A-TRAIN, of course) is #1 all time at .599 ...and BO OUTLAW is 5th all time...of course, I don't think I've ever seen him take a shot outside of five feet before. http://www.basketballreference.com/leaders/leaderscareer.htm?stat=tppct&lg=n All time 3 point percentage leaders. Steve Kerr #1, Drazen #4, and our old buddy Eldridge Recasner at #13!
I totally agree with your comments on Jordan's shooting ability. Very underrated mid range jumper, but he was never a good three point shooter, only when it counted of course. Of the players I saw, I'd have to go with Miller, if I need 9 points in one minute, then Bird, then Drazen.
Looking through A-Train's links, one important omission so far is Kiki Vandeweghe. He's not great in 3pt shooting. But he's one of the best midrange scorers. Also, y'all forgot about John Stockton. He's one heck of a shooter too, if you leave him open.
Gail Goodrich Bill Bradley Rick Barry Dale Ellis Larry Bird Bob McAdoo Jerry West John Havlicek Jamaal Wilkes John Stockton I can't remember any of these guys missing an open jumper.
He also threw circular saw blades through people's skulls, chopped a dude's arm off, dropped someone off a cliff, and threw a pipe through someone's chest, and threw someone onto a table leg.
Bird's not undisputed. Jordan and West were at least as clutch as he was, if not more. Magic Johnson was the best clutch shooter that wasn't considered a clutch shooter. Reggie Miller is far and away the best clucth shooter of his heyday. Kobe is the best of the youngins.
Jerry West, Bob Macadoo, Rick Barry, Dale Ellis, Bird, & Dell Curry. Reggie Miller doesn't shot from EVERY spot on the floor the way those guys did. Yeah Kiki was lights out. You could not leave that guy.
Not in order: Reggie Miller Larry Bird Chris Mullin Dan Majerle Drazen Petrovic Steve Kerr Michael Jordan Dell Curry Glen Rice Ricky Pierce Peja Stojakovich Dirk Nowitzki Dale Ellis Vinnie Johnson Joe Dumars Kobe Bryant Mark Price John Stockton Jeff Hornacek Sean Elliott John Paxson Hubert Davis Chuck Person Wesley Person Dennis Scott Danny Ainge Ray Allen Isiah Thomas Mitch Richmond Byron Scott Kelly Tripucka
Not one of these guys is/was a pure shooter. Majerle sank quite a few, but that was more the result of taking a lot, like Maxwell or Michael Adams. Johnson was more scorer than shooter, and although Joe D is among my all time favorite players, no way was he a pure shooter. Kobe? Please. Sean Elliot had a smooth looking shot, but just pretty good results. The Rifleman was a prolific shooter, no doubt, and probably the closest among these to deserving mention, but still more a quantity over quality guy. Isiah? Come on...he was an amazing scorer, but just a pretty good shooter, and I have seen him say that Damon Stoudamire, for one, has a way better shot than he had...Richmond; again more scorer than shooter. Tripucka? Pretty good shooter for a big man in his day, but well behind many not mentioned. Are you from Michigan, or a Pistons fan by any chance?
Ok, since we've come to a consensus (Bird, West, Petrovic, among others) as to the very top guys, let's take another tack on a more difficult question. 1.Who has the prettiest, most eye poppingly gorgeous, beautiful, picture perfect jump shot form of all time? The type of thing where you put it in slow motion and say wow. 2.Who has the best, most fundamental, basketball 101 jump shot of all time? The kind you would teach your kids to do. And are the answers the same?
sam perkins for a big man could frickin shoot! I wish he could have gotten himself a ring! BTW Tmac is the best shooter.
