The NBA’s greatest pure shooter?
Dirk Nowitzki...Image via Wikipedia
Who is the greatest “pure” shooter in NBA history?
Before you try to answer that, how about the shooting performance of Dirk Nowitzki in this year’s NBA playoffs? Dirk made over 94% of his playoff free throws, shot 46% from the 3-point line and just under 50% from the field. Nowitzki’s playoff MVP was well deserved and showcased him as one of the game’s all-time great shooters.
So is Nowitzki worthy of the title of the “NBA’s greatest ‘pure’ shooter?” Consider this: Dirk is one of only 18 players in NBA history to have a career field goal percentage over 45%, a career three-point percentage over 35% and a career free throw shooting percentage over 85%. He may not be “the greatest pure shooter in NBA history,” but he is certainly (and statistically) one of the best.
So who else should be in the conversation? Here’s the list of the 18 players who have shot better than 45% from the field, 35% or better from the three-point line and 85% or better from the free throw line in their careers. (Players are listed from those who have been retired the longest to active players)
Player, career years Career FG Pct/ Career 3-pt Pct/Career FT Pct.
Fred Brown (1971-84) .478/.373/.858
Larry Bird (1979-92) .496/.376/.886
Kiki Vandeweghe (1980-93) .525/.368/.872
Mark Price (1986-98) .489/.429/.904
Jeff Hornacek (1986-2000) .496/.403/.877
Chris Mullin (1985-2001) .509/.384/.865
Hersey Hawkins (1988-2001) .461/.394/.870
Mario Elie (1990-2001) .473/.365/.854
Mitch Richmond (1988-2002) .455/.388/.850
Dana Barros (1989-2004) .460/.411/.858
Reggie Miller (1987-2005) .471/.395/.888
Wally Szczerbiak (1999-2009) .485/.406/.860
Steve Nash (1996-Active) .489/.432/.902
Ray Allen (1996-Active) .452/.399/.893
Dirk Nowitzki (1998-Active) .476/.381/.877
Peja Stojakovic (1998-Active) .450/.401/.895
Chris Paul (2005-Active) .471/.359/.852
Kevin Durant (2007-Active) .462/.358/.882
Gold Glove teammates
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Seventeen different major league teams haved placed four teammates on the league Gold Glove squad in a season. The last teams to accomplish this feat were the 2003 Seattle Mariners, who placed first baseman John Olerud, 2B Bret Boone and outfielders Mike Cameron and Ichiro Suzuki on the ’03 Gold Glove team, and the 2003 Cardinals, who placed catcher Mike Matheny, 3B Scott Rolen, shortstop Edgar Renteria and outfielder Jim Edmonds on the NL Gold Glove squad.
The Cincinnati Reds accomplished this feat four straight years (1974-77) when Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Davey Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo each won Gold Gloves in those four seasons. The Baltimore Orioles with Bobby Grich, Mark Belanger, Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair won Gold Gloves each season from 1973-75.
Following are the teams that had four Gold Glove award-winning teammates in one season.
Season Team
2003 Seattle, St. Louis
2002 St. Louis
1993 San Francisco
1981 Philadelphia
1979 Philadelphia
1978 Philadelphia
1977 Cincinnati
1976 Cincinnati
1975 Cincinnati, Baltimore
1974 Cincinnati, Baltimore
1973 Baltimore
1971 Baltimore
1970 Baltimore
1963 St. Louis
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