As I sit down to analyze the current NBA shooting landscape, I can't help but reflect on how much the game has evolved. I've been tracking shooting statistics for over a decade now, and what we're witnessing today is nothing short of revolutionary. The three-point revolution that started with Steph Curry has completely transformed how we evaluate shooters. But here's what fascinates me - being the best shooter isn't just about percentage anymore. It's about volume, difficulty, and clutch performance all combined.
When we talk about pure shooting percentage, Seth Curry actually holds the career three-point percentage record at 43.9%, slightly above his more famous brother. But if you ask me, that doesn't tell the whole story. Steph attempts nearly twice as many threes per game while maintaining 42.8% accuracy, often with multiple defenders in his face. I've charted hundreds of games, and what separates elite shooters isn't just their practice routine - it's their ability to create separation and maintain form under defensive pressure. Damian Lillard's 38% from deep might not jump off the page until you consider he's shooting from 30+ feet regularly. That changes the entire geometry of the defense in ways traditional stats can't capture.
The advanced metrics tell an even more compelling story. True shooting percentage, which accounts for twos, threes, and free throws, reveals some surprises. Kevin Durant consistently posts numbers around 62% despite taking heavily contested mid-range jumpers, which most analytics departments would tell you to avoid. Yet watching him play, I've come to appreciate that some players simply transcend conventional wisdom. Then there's the matter of volume - Stephen Curry made 337 threes last season while Klay Thompson, in his prime years, was hitting around 280 per season. These aren't just numbers to me - they represent thousands of hours of repetition and muscle memory development.
What often gets overlooked in these discussions is the mental aspect of shooting. I've spoken with shooting coaches who emphasize that great shooters need what they call "amnesia" - the ability to forget misses and maintain confidence. Watching players like Duncan Robinson work through shooting slumps has taught me that shooting is as much about psychology as mechanics. His journey from undrafted prospect to signing a $90 million contract while maintaining 40% from three demonstrates how organizations now value shooting specialists. The Miami Heat's development program specifically targets players who might be struggling elsewhere but have proven shooting touch, then builds their confidence through specialized drills and video analysis.
My personal criteria for evaluating shooters has evolved beyond the basic stats. I now weigh heavily what I call "gravity impact" - how much a shooter's presence warps defensive schemes. Stephen Curry probably has the highest gravity score in league history, regularly drawing two defenders 30 feet from the basket. But what about newer talents? Trae Young forces defenses to defend him from the logo, while Desmond Bane has developed into a 43% three-point shooter on substantial volume. Having watched Bane's development closely, I'm convinced his mechanical consistency makes him one of the most reliable shooters already.
Rebuilding teams actually provide fascinating case studies for shooting development. Much like the reference about rebuilds having "room to grow coupled with not-so-pleasant expectations," we see young players on struggling teams often get green lights to develop their shooting. Jordan Poole increased his three-point attempts from 2.9 to 7.5 per game during Golden State's transition years, and while his efficiency fluctuated, that freedom was crucial for his development. This reminds me of how expansion teams or rebuilding franchises can become laboratories for shooting innovation, where players have the space to experiment and fail without immediate championship pressure.
After tracking every significant shooter in the league, if I had to crown the best pure shooter today, I'd still take Stephen Curry - and it's not particularly close in my book. The combination of volume, difficulty, and historical consistency gives him the edge. But what excites me most is the next generation. Players like Tyrese Haliburton are pushing the boundaries of what's possible, shooting 40% from deep while averaging nearly 11 assists. The evolution continues, and honestly, we're all just witnesses to this beautiful shooting revolution that shows no signs of slowing down.