Almost everybody loves the long range 3-point shot in the NBA, but who makes up the five best from distance between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets?
By Skylar Darel
Who are the best three point shooters in New York basketball? The New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets both rank in the bottom ten in the NBA in three point percentage– the Knicks are 23rd, the Nets 27th. To be fair, each side ranks in the bottom ten in field goals attempted– the Knicks, again, in 23rd, the Nets 28th.
A disparity in three pointers made and attempted, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t some fine three point marksman between the two teams. Here are our picks for the best three point shooters in New York Basketball. For this list, we’ll be considering career statistics, as well as the 2015-16 NBA season.
Honorable Mentions:
Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks: Despite being just over halfway through his rookie season, Porzingis is making his mark from downtown. He’s shooting an impressive 34.8% from three this season, while attempting 3.2 shots from outside the arc per game. What is perhaps more impressive is how good his form is– he makes shooting look easy, despite being 7’3”.
Andrea Bargnani, Brooklyn Nets: A former Knick and current Net, the former first overall pick is known for having a sweet stroke from outside. Despite not being a very potent post player for his size, Bargniani’s claim to fame on offense is his ability to stretch the floor as a power forward or center. This season, he’s shooting 35.8% from three, right around his career average.
Jarrett Jack, Brooklyn Nets: The exciting point guard is out for the season with a torn ACL, but his three point shooting prowess is well known– he boasts an impressive career mark of 34.6% from three, on 2.1 attempts per game. Jack has played several roles on seven NBA teams, but he’s always been reliable from three.
Now, onto the list.
5. Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
One of the most potent scorers in today’s NBA, Carmelo Anthony’s offensive repitoire is quite expansive. He can post up, hit from midrange, and, of course, knock down threes. He is a volume shooter, and has attempted over 4 three pointers per game in his last five seasons. His career mark is 34.4 percent, but he posted career highs of 40% and 37.9% in 2013-14 and 2012-13, respectively. He also has a penchant for hitting big threes, like when he sunk a game tying and game winning triple against the Chicago Bulls in the 2011-12 season.
4. Joe Johnson, Nets
There’s a reason he holds the nickname “Big Shot Joe.” The seven time All-Star has posted a 37% career mark from downtown, despite taking the most threes per game– 4.2– as anyone in the top five. Johnson has attempted over 400 threes in a season three times in his NBA career, and he was named an All-Star in all three seasons. He also is tied for second All-Time for the most threes made in a single quarter, when he nailed eight threes against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 3rd quarter of a 2013 matchup.
3. Sasha Vujacic, Knicks
While he isn’t the most popular guy on the list, there’s no doubt that the best attribute presented by Croatian guard Sasha Vujacic is his ability to knock down three point shots. He was instrumental to the Los Angeles Lakers run to the NBA Finals in 2008, hitting 118 threes over the course of the regular season. He also knocked down 81 threes for the Lakers in their championship season of 2008-2009. He hit 31 and 19 threes in the postseason in 2008 and 2009, respectively. For his career, he owns a 36.7% mark, but he has struggled in limited minutes in 2015-16, shooting just 27.9%.
2. Arron Afflalo, Knicks
The Compton, California native was brought in this summer to provide a second scoring alternative to Carmelo Anthony, and he sure has delivered. Afflalo has hit 37.6% of his threes, and his currently second on the Knicks with 14 points per game. He also has partaken in the three point shootout contest before, as a member of the Orlando Magic. One of the centerpieces in the Dwight Howard to the Lakers trade, Afflalo is often underappreciated as a 3-and-D player. However, a 38.4% career average on 3.1 attempts per game shows he’s quite the marksman from deep.
1. Jose Calderon, Knicks
Surprised? I don’t blame you, but the numbers don’t lie. Jose Calderon is shooting 41.1% from three this season, only .1 behind Lance Thomas, who leads the team– the difference being Calderon attempts exactly 2 more threes per game than Thomas. Calderon also has a career average of 41.2% from three. Despite being a defensive liability, and constantly being threatened with replacement, no one can deny how dangerous a shooter Calderon is from deep.