There were just two players the entire season to shoot over 50 percent on three or more mid-range attempts per game CJ McCollum at 50.2 percent on 4.7 attempts and Kevin Durant at a. He also dropped an insane stat about KD. Durants midrange jumper game got a shoutout from former NBA player JJ Redick. And if you can master what opposing defenses will give away, then you can thrive. He also accounted for 36.8 percent of the Suns' total rebounds. His inclusion in the 50-40-90 club frequently mentioned on this list is proof of that. Reggie Miller* .6139: 15. He was joined on the Rockets by a player much higher on this list. The only thing keeping him from moving too far up or down this list is the lack of trips he'll be making to the line over the course of his remaining career. This is why you'll see players perform, at times, bizarre routines before attempting free throws. Kevin Durant was sensational for OKC that season, as he averaged 28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 5.0 APG, while shooting 50.5% from the field. Players like DeRozan, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Paul have found value in the mid-range shot over the past decade while the rest of the league moved away from the mid-range. However, Nash tops that club having reached it a record five straight seasons. Kevin Durant averages 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Kevin Durant.6187: 11. He ranks No. Kevin Durant and the Top 20 Free Throw Shooters in NBA History Durant is averaging 5.0 assists per game, which is pretty standard for him in recent years. Initially drafted by the Clippers in the 1988 NBA draft, Hersey would then go on to be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The three-time All-Star followed that up with 45 points on a cool 62.1 . He has shot 184 shots from the mid-range this season, hitting a ridiculous 104 of them. That same season Ricky got into the record books by recording the second longest consecutive free throw shooting streak at 75 made. Kevin Durant's Recent Stats In his past 10 games, Durant is averaging 25.2 points, which is lower than his mark for the year (29.1). To make this number even more impressive, Durant has over 100 more attempts than any other player hitting over 50 percent. DeMar DeRozan (29) is the closest to him, followed by Paul George (28),Trae Young (26) and Dejounte Murray (26). While it helps that many defences are geared towards giving up the midrange nowadays, most players with the size to contest his jumper don't have the speed to keep up with him off the dribble and most players who have the speed to keep up with him off the dribble don't have the size to contest his shot. KD leads the pack with 57%. This was the same season he had the lowest usage percentage in his career. If youre going to move away outside the paint and from the basket which generally leads to lower shooting percentages its better to shoot a 3-point shot for the reward of the extra point for each make rather than a long 2-point shot. To determine value added from downtown, you perform two. Kevin Wayne Durant Twitter : KDTrey5 Instagram: easymoneysniper (Durantula, KD, Slim Reaper, Easy Money Sniper, The Servant, Green Room) Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, and Shooting Guard Shoots: Right 6-10 , 240lb (208cm, 108kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 13x All Star 4x Scoring Champ 2x NBA Champ 10x All-NBA While he has had one of the best mid-range games of all time, it has gotten even better over recent years. He gets the honor of being considered the greatest free throw shooter in the history in the NBA. Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. Last year, he led all players at 44.0 minutes per game. Great gem @jj_redick pic.twitter.com/RR2oO8DbmR, andrew leezus (@AndrewLeezus) February 13, 2023. Kevin Durant is third in the NBA in shooting a career-high 47.2 percent from 3-point range. Irving has made 79 of his last 80 free throws over his last 19 games. His career will always be tied to the franchise; he was at one point general manager for the team following his retirement from playing. He said he actually started using it while he was recovering from an injury because he didnt want to put pressure on his sore left foot. They're minus-17.2 points per 100 possessions in those Durant-free minutes. Per NBA Stats, he's isolating on 17.1 percent of his possessions. In one his books, Larry Bird opened up how frustrating it was as a coach to see his former team Indiana Pacers get dominated by Michael Jordan., Rudy Tomjanovich sounds off on his former team and the rumors surrounding them. When the Phoenix Suns traded for Kevin Durant, they had the big picture in mind. Golden State's star sharpshooter enjoys another historic moment, which also set his playoff career high. Active players are listed in bold * Indicates member of the Hall of Fame. That being said, there are still plenty of areas in the sport that can lead to substantial success. Taking away his seven PPG from free throws, mid-range jumpers account for 35 percent of Durant's scoring. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Durant has been absolutely incredible this season from the mid-range showcasing he might be the best to do it from that position. 10 of Bill's 11 years in the NBA were played with the Boston Celtics. Its one of his go-to moves for late-game heroics and game-winners. LaMarcus Aldridge,Tony Parkerand Shaun Livingston) would have likely made this list if they were active and had not yet retired. To determine which players are fighting the hardest to keep the mid-range game alive in the NBA, we looked at three factors and then compared how each individual performed relative to the league average in the same span (dating back to 2018-19): It is worth mentioning that longtime NBA fixtures who recently stepped away from the game (e.g. His most memorable streak clocked in at 43 consecutive free throws made. Last season, he made the 19th most field goals from midrangedespite playing in only 35 games, doing so at a50.6 percent clip. . Small Forward, Power Forward, and Shooting Guard Butler said that he thinks Mournings comments were spur of the moment and that he didnt really mean them, claiming he isnt anyones hero, Smith declared that the Warriors outing in Game 6 was one of the worst he has ever seen from them, and he doesnt know if they will be able to bounce back in Game 7. Career Projections . Twitter: by Bryan Kalbrosky Career FT%: 89.2% (3,972 FTM / 4,455 FTA). Kevin Durant is on Instagram at easymoneysniper. Kevin Durant 17-18 . With his comfort pulling up, playing drop coverage against Durant is usually a losing game. It's almost like if all else fails, Durant knows he can just rise up. Over his last eight games. Though he no longer qualifies among the league leaders after missing Brooklyns last 13 games, Hardens 10.9 assists per game would be second in the league. Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. So, what has Durant been doing when he's not using offensive possessions? Durants move to the Suns was completed on Thursday which sent Mikal Bridges,Cam Johnson,Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and additional draft compensation to the Nets. Topping the list in both mid-range field goals made (4.0 per game) and attempted (8.3 per game) is Chicagos DeMar DeRozan, who has been one of the most prolific mid-range shooters in the league for years. He also accounted for 36.8 percent of the Suns' total rebounds. Kevin Durant is right: Anthony Davis is the next Kevin Durant But his playmaking has improved, too, as no one has assisted on more long mid-range jumpers since 2018-19, per PBP Stats. Over his last eight games since returning after missing 23 games, Durant is shooting 65.4 percent overall and 61.3 percent from 3-point range while averaging 24.4 points in 25.2 minutes per game. Do you have a blog? Harden has the third-highest career scoring average among active players (25.2). Join our linker program. While still impressive, his free throw percentage would continue to decline after his first year being traded to the Utah Jazz. Kevin Durant Stats, News, Bio | ESPN With Stephen Curry recently breaking the NBA's 3-point record, it's time to examine other key milestones. Thanks for signing up. Drafted by Dallas in the 1980 draft, Kiki is infamous for demanding to be traded following the pick. Curry is the only player in the league that is shooting at least 40% from 3-point range and 50% from mid-range. However, it could also easily be attributed to his free throw shooting. He has published with HoopsHype, FOX Sports, Bleacher Report, and various other publications. On-Off. 2022-23 Kevin Durant NBA Player Stats - Lineups Kevin Durant is shooting 71% on mid range jumpers so far (16-23ft It certainly worked in the postseason as he hit eight consecutive mid-range jumpers in less than ten minutes against the Denver Nuggets. While Durant has long been a midrange assassin, he's kicked his efficiency from that distance to a terrifying level to start the 2021-22 season. That lack of wear and tear could theoretically allow him to go harder in the playoffs. But due to defenders now focusing more on guarding the rim and the perimeter, there is more space to operate off ball screens from the mid-range. There isn't any player in the league that even comes close to touching Durant's mid-range success. Durant's usage percentage is at 23.8 percent . One of Allen's legacies will always be the infamous "Allan Houston Rule". 50.35. But whats crazy is that, per ESPNs Kirk Goldsberry, an astonishingly high 95 percent of his mid-range looks have been contested over the course of the past eight seasons. With Jimmy Butler hobbled late by an ankle injury, Miami gets big performances from Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love to take the series opener in New York. . When the Phoenix Suns traded for Kevin Durant, they took a gamble. DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant lead top 10 mid-range scorers Today, well take a closer look at the top 10 mid-range shooters in the league and see which players have excelled in mastering the lost art of the mid-range jumper. In addition, Denver is in the middle of the pack at eighth for opponent 3-point percentage allowed (34.2%). Charles Barkley* .6120: 16. 1988 Harden is 11th in the league with 31 double-doubles and is third with 12 triple-doubles. Jonas Valaninas.6155: 14. Durant hasn't looked too fatigued in those minutes either. When these comparisons are drawn, its not unfair. The mid-range jumper is a primary example of taking what the defense gives you. During Game Five, Nowtizki once again had the opportunity to send the game into overtime with late free throw attempts. The kicker is not a single one of them has made nearly as manyfrom that distance as Durant. Price will also go down as the one Cavalier to leave Cleveland and make his way down to Florida without being hated. The 13-time NBA All-Star left the Brooklyn Nets as one of the best midrange shooters in the league arguably ever. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. That experiment did not end well as the 76ers attempted to take him out of his natural position and make him a point guard; the 76ers would eventually trade him to the Jazz. From Stephen Curry's 50-point wizardry to Kevon Looney's elite rebounding, these 5 things mattered most in Game 7. . Kevin Durant has solidified his case for being the best mid-range - MSN During his tenure in the NBA he made a name for himself at the charity stripe. Lineups Join our linker program. His ability to create off the dribble alleviated some of the pressure that both Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton both faced before his arrival in Phoenix, which is one of the reasons the two young stars took such giant leaps forward in 2020-21. Possessing the most unique shot used in the NBA, Rick chose to sacrifice his personal dignity to shoot grandma styleunderhanded. Ricky Barry will always be remembered for his free throws. Kevin Durant has solidified his case for being the best mid-range As the chart above indicates, the percentage of all field goal attempts from the mid-range has dropped from 30.3% to just 13.1% over the past decade as more and more players try to extend. Now that hes in Phoenix, the game plan wont change. However, he has played the game long enough to know when it feels like his shot is sinking particularly well on any given night. An 11-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion, two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and one-time MVP, Durant has, of course, been lighting up opponents from midrange for over a decade at this point. Its been the driving force to what has allowed him to average at least 20.0 points per game for seven seasons in a row. This past season, he actually averaged more pull-up two-pointers than any other player in the league. Finds his spot and rises up. Some of the best players will tell you that repetition is the key to having success at the line. Monday, May 1st vs Nash's form is impeccable and his demeanor unwavering. According to NBA.com, he has made wait for it 59.7 percent of his shot attempts from midrange to start this season. Data Provided By (As a frame of reference, 23.8 percent is in line with role players like Malcolm Brogdon and Tyrese Maxey.). Click to login It includes: Shot chart Shooting stats by location Foul drawing stats Defense and rebounding stats Try Insider stats free for one week, While there is plenty of hand-wringing going on, there are a few reasons why his minutes might not be a huge issue. Similar to DeRozan, the mid-range game has been a staple for Aldridge for years and for years he resisted trying to become the latest big man to move his game beyond the arc. Playing a ton of minutes in the playoffs is nothing new for Durant. After spending the first chunk of his career on the Toronto Raptors, DeRozan was the centerpiece of a deal that sent him to the Western Conference to play for the San Antonio Spurs. What will happen when the players on this list eventually exit the league? You can look no further than his 90% success from the line. He even hasDirk Nowitzki's famous one-legged fadeaway in his bag. Originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1982 draft, Pierce would go on to play 16 seasons in the NBA. He averaged 28.4 points per game in the first round, shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from 3-point range. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Calvin Murphy spent 13 successful seasons in the NBA with the Rockets; good enough to get him into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Kevin Durant is capable of playing big minutes and still producing . Chris Paul 14-15 .. 50.44. As a shooting guard, he excelled at driving the lane and eventually developed a strong shooting touch from long range. Kevin Durant was drafted by Seattle SuperSonics, 1st round (2nd pick, 2nd overall), 2007 NBA Draft. Jeff was always known for his strong shooting touch and head-to-head match-ups with Michael Jordan. Having split time between the NBA and ABA, Rick has accrued a lot of time at the line. Even so, one individual has single-handedly kept the mid-range alive. Kevin Durant's insane midrange stat revealed by JJ Redick His steadily climbing percentage shows that he can get even better, which is quite scary. The rest of his game left a lot to be desired. Oft-injured, Pierce's free throw shooting percentage would fluctuate from season to season. Do you have a sports website? pic.twitter.com/grNC2nRgG5. . He is also fourth all time in career 3-point percentage (43.89) a shade ahead of Nets legend Drazen Petrovic (43.74). DeRozan has ranked in the top five in mid-range field goals made per game eight times in the past 10 seasons and never finished lower than 11th. Durant is putting up 29.1 points, 5.0 assists and 6.7 rebounds per contest. It was a vintage performance of Durant-on-Twitter and he uttered an unforgettable one-liner about the role of graphs in sports. Kevin Durant's Scoring Brilliance Has The Brooklyn Nets Surging - Forbes Asked about how he's handling the heavier minutes, Kevin Durant asked, "How'd I look tonight?" There's no reason to think he won't continue his supremacy at the charity stripe and eventually surpass the current No. Kevin Durant, Suns reflect on lack of 3s in Game 1 loss, how to - Yahoo Stephen Noh is an NBA writer for The Sporting News. Kevin Wayne Durant Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Explore Which team has the most wins as road dogs since 2014-15? Even if everyone else in the league decided that they would only shoot at the rim or from beyond the arc, DeRozan would keep the in-between game alive. This would be the first of two great free throw shooting duos he formed over the course of his career. You can look at a shot chart fromKevin Durantfor half a second and see that he is absolutely brilliant from everywhere on the floor. It's not ideal, but Williams has figured out a way to lessen the strain on Durant a bit. An absolute nightmare to guard, Allen made his living running defenders ragged off of screens and nailing catch and shoot jumpers. Ultimately, Durant believes that players are best at what they practice at the most and they would have no idea how good they could be at the mid-range if they dont train in that area. Kevin Durant's midrange game is the ultimate cheat code He previously led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage during the 2018-19 season (47.4). Joe Harris leads the NBA in 3-point percentage, shooting 48.3 percent for the season. Hes the greatest midrange shooter ever, Redick added. Just shy of the 2,000 free throw attempt criteria, he will most assuredly reach that plateau during the upcoming season. What that means is if the opponent decides to double-team Jokic, however, he also has the playmaking chops to find an open teammate for an easy dime. His three NBA MVP awards and three NBA Championships is proof of that. Active players are listed in bold Eventually he would go on to replace another player on this list as the starting point guard for the Cavs.
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