Greek Freak Analyzed

Tag: shooting

  • The NBA’s Worst 3-Point Shooting Seasons: A Historical Dive and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2024-25 Campaign to be the worse!

    The NBA’s Worst 3-Point Shooting Seasons: A Historical Dive and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2024-25 Campaign to be the worse!

    The 3-point shot has become the heartbeat of modern NBA basketball, revolutionizing strategy and elevating players like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard to legendary status. But for every sharpshooter, there’s a player whose struggles from beyond the arc become infamous. Whether due to poor shot selection, lack of range, or just an off year, some NBA seasons stand out for their abysmal 3-point percentages—especially when players take enough shots to make the numbers meaningful.

    Defining “The Worst”: Setting the Ground Rules

    To fairly assess the worst 3-point shooting seasons, we need a minimum threshold of attempts—otherwise, a player going 0-for-2 could claim the crown, which isn’t insightful. Historically, the NBA uses 82 made 3-pointers as a qualifier for the league lead in 3-point percentage (since 2013-14), but for the “worst” mark, a lower bar like 50 or 100 attempts ensures we’re looking at players who actually tried to shoot from deep, not just took a few errant heaves.

    The Historical Bottom Feeders

    1. John Salmons, 2009-10 Season (Chicago Bulls/Milwaukee Bucks) – 18.5% (20-for-108)
      John Salmons, a solid journeyman wing, had a career defined by versatility rather than shooting prowess. In the 2009-10 season, split between the Bulls and Bucks, he posted one of the lowest 3-point percentages ever for a player with over 100 attempts. At 18.5%, Salmons’ struggles were a mix of poor shot selection and a lack of natural touch from deep. His 108 attempts showed he was given the green light, but the results were disastrous. This mark stands as a benchmark for futility among players with a significant sample size.
    2. DeMar DeRozan, 2018-19 Season (San Antonio Spurs) – 15.6% (7-for-45)
      DeRozan’s midrange mastery is well-documented, but his 3-point shooting has always been a weak spot. In 2018-19, his first year with the Spurs, he took a career-low 45 attempts from beyond the arc and made just 7, yielding a ghastly 15.6%. While this falls short of a 50-attempt minimum some might prefer, it’s notable for a star player and reflects his reluctance—and inability—to adapt to the 3-point-heavy era under Gregg Popovich’s system.
    3. Josh Smith, 2007-08 Season (Atlanta Hawks) – 25.3% (38-for-150)
      Josh Smith was an athletic marvel—dunking, blocking shots, and soaring through the lane—but his 3-point shot was a liability. In 2007-08, he jacked up 150 triples and hit just 38, for a 25.3% clip. Smith’s insistence on shooting from deep, despite his clear limitations, made this one of the most inefficient high-volume seasons of its time. His career 28.5% from 3 underscores that this wasn’t a fluke; he just wasn’t built for it.
    4. Antoine Walker, 2000-01 Season (Boston Celtics) – 25.6% (98-for-383)
      Antoine Walker loved the 3-pointer, perhaps too much. In 2000-01, he launched a staggering 383 attempts—massive volume for that era—and connected on only 98, resulting in a 25.6% success rate. Walker’s shoot-first mentality and willingness to fire away made him a pioneer of sorts, but his inefficiency at that volume lands him on this list. It’s a testament to both his confidence and his struggles adapting to a skill he never fully mastered.
    5. Charles Barkley, 1995-96 Season (Phoenix Suns) – 28.0% (49-for-175)
      Yes, even Hall of Famers can flounder from deep. Barkley, known for his bruising post play and rebounding, took 175 3-point shots in 1995-96 and made just 49, for a 28.0% mark. While not as low as others percentage-wise, the volume and his reputation as a non-shooter make this season stand out. Barkley’s career 26.6% from 3 shows this was par for the course, but 175 attempts from a power forward in the mid-90s was bold—and often ugly.

    Honorable Mentions

    • Russell Westbrook, 2015-16 Season (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 29.6% (71-for-240): Westbrook’s aggression extended to his 3-point shooting, often to his detriment. This season wasn’t his worst percentage-wise, but the volume and inefficiency foreshadowed his career-long inconsistency from deep (30.5% overall).
    • Giannis Antetokounmpo, 2015-16 Season (Milwaukee Bucks) – 17.1% (7-for-41): An early-career low point for Giannis, though the small sample size keeps it off the main list. It’s a reminder of how little he has improved, because this season he is heading to a similar percentage!

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2024-25 Season: A Potential Contender?

    Now, let’s turn to the Greek Freak. As of March 29, 2025, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2024-25 season is shaping up as one of his worst from beyond the arc. Known for his dominance inside and in transition, Giannis has never been a reliable 3-point shooter—his career average sits at 28.6%—but this year, he’s plumbing new depths. Through roughly 60-65 games (assuming he’s played most of the Bucks’ schedule to date), he’s averaging around 1.7 to 2.2 3-point attempts per game, a decrease from his peak volume seasons (e.g., 4.7 attempts in 2022-23).

    This dip isn’t entirely surprising. Giannis has trended toward fewer 3s under Doc Rivers, with only about 5-6% of his shots coming from deep this season, down from 13.8% two years ago. The Bucks’ strategy has leaned into his strengths—slashing, posting up, and drawing fouls—rather than forcing an outside game he’s never fully developed. Yet, if he maintains this pace and finishes with, say, 15-for-75 (20%) over 75 games, he’d join the ranks of the worst 3-point seasons for a star player with a decent sample size.

    Could Giannis Crack the List?

    To land among the all-time worst, Giannis would need to:

    • Increase his attempts: At his current rate (2 per game), he’d finish with around 150-160 attempts if he plays 80 games. If he stays at 20%, that’s 30-for-150—a mark that rivals Josh Smith’s 25.3% on similar volume.
    • Sustain the slump: His current 20-22% is bad, but not unprecedented for him (see 2015-16’s 17.1%). However, with more attempts, it could become historically notable.

    Right now, he’s on pace to finish below Salmons’ 18.5% if he dips further, though his lower volume (likely under 100 attempts) might keep him off stricter lists. Still, for a two-time MVP and perennial All-NBA talent, a sub-22% season would be a glaring blemish, especially in an era where 3-point shooting is a prerequisite for many stars.

    Why Giannis Struggles

    Giannis’ 3-point woes stem from his mechanics and shot selection. His form—stiff, deliberate, and often rushed—lacks the fluidity of natural shooters. Defences sag off him, daring him to fire, as if he’s rarely taken enough reps to refine the skill. But we know he has. This season, his focus has shifted even more to the paint, to get easy stat padding buckets and average 30+ points per game. That’s all he seems to care about. 3-point struggles are a footnote and something he does out of frustration that more and more teams know how to shut him down in the paint.

    The Verdict

    Giannis’ 2024-25 season won’t topple Salmons or DeRozan for sheer futility unless he inexplicably ramps up his attempts and keeps missing. But if he finishes below 20% on, say, 80-100 attempts, he’d carve out a spot among the worst star-player 3-point seasons—think Barkley or early-career Westbrook territory. For now, he’s a cautionary tale of what happens when a superstar neglects the 3-point revolution. It is particularly entertaining when Giannis fans complain about Jokic and other bigs getting the limelight. Jokic is shooting better than ever in his career this year at an impressive 41.2%. Because that is what intelligent players do, they develop their game.

    Giannis is regressing. His fans say “who cares?” well come trade time you will see who cares! Especially since his free throws are worse than ever too! It gets to the stage where the coach says “just don’t shoot 3s” and the opposing coaches in clutch say “just foul Giannis, we have an almost 1 in 2 chance he misses!”

  • The Milwaukee Bucks: Three-Point Titans with a 6’11 Mystery

    The Milwaukee Bucks: Three-Point Titans with a 6’11 Mystery

    The Milwaukee Bucks are undeniably one of the NBA’s elite teams when it comes to three-point shooting. As of March 21, 2025, their roster boasts a collective prowess from beyond the arc that has propelled them into the upper echelon of the league. Players like Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and a cadre of sharpshooting role players have turned Milwaukee into a perimeter threat that defenses must respect. The Bucks rank among the league leaders in three-point attempts and efficiency, a testament to their modern, space-and-pace style which continues with coach Doc Rivers. Yet, lurking beneath this glittering statistic is a perplexing enigma: Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team’s superstar and heartbeat, is inexplicably getting worse from three-point range—and it’s a serious problem that fans are hypocritically brushing aside.

    Let’s start with the Bucks’ three-point dominance. This season, they’ve leaned heavily into their outside shooting, with Lillard’s pull-up artistry and Middleton’s catch-and-shoot reliability leading the charge. Role players like Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis have also stepped up, stretching defenses thin and creating the kind of spacing that makes Milwaukee’s offense a nightmare to guard. When the Bucks are clicking, their ability to rain threes opens up the floor for Giannis to do what he does best: bulldoze his way to the rim with unstoppable force. It’s a formula that has kept them in contention, with a record that reflects their status as a top Eastern Conference team even after a rocky 2-8 start.But here’s where the mystery deepens. Giannis, the two-time MVP and 2021 Finals hero, has never been a sharpshooter, but his decline from three-point range this season is alarming. He’s attempting fewer than one three-pointer per game—his lowest rate since his sophomore season in 2014-15—and converting at a dismal 19%. For context, his career high in three-point percentage was 34.7% as a rookie, and he hovered around 30% during his peak MVP years. Now, at age 30, with a decade of NBA experience, you’d expect some refinement in his jumper, especially given his relentless work ethic. Instead, he’s regressing, and it’s baffling.Why is this happening?

    Theories abound. Some suggest he’s intentionally abandoned the shot, focusing on his midrange game (where he’s thriving) to preserve his body for the playoffs after years of injury setbacks. There’s also the possibility of a mental block—years of defenses sagging off him might have eroded his confidence in letting it fly. Whatever the reason, the numbers don’t lie: Giannis is trending downward while the Bucks’ system demands more from the perimeter.This decline isn’t just a curiosity—it’s a serious problem. In today’s NBA, versatility is king, especially in the postseason. The Bucks’ three-point barrage works wonders in the regular season, but playoff defenses are smarter, tighter, and more willing to dare Giannis to shoot. We’ve seen it before: teams build a wall in the paint, clogging his driving lanes, and if he can’t punish them from deep, the offense stalls. In 2021, he powered through with sheer dominance, but recent first-round exits highlight how his lack of an outside shot can bottleneck Milwaukee’s attack when it matters most. With Lillard aging, the Bucks need Giannis to evolve, not regress, to keep their championship window open. Note that this 3point percentage is close to the worse 3point percentage EVER in a season in NBA history!

    And yet, Bucks fans—bless their loyal hearts—are playing a hypocritical game of denial. They’ll cheer every Lillard dagger and Portis triple, proudly touting their team’s three-point prowess, but when Giannis clanks another rare attempt, it’s crickets or excuses. “He doesn’t need to shoot threes!” they insist. “He’s the best in the paint—why change?” It’s a convenient narrative, but it dodges the truth: a Giannis who can’t stretch the floor limits the Bucks’ ceiling. Pretending otherwise is like ignoring a crack in the foundation of a house you love—it doesn’t fix itself, and it could bring everything down.

    (The irony is that the Bucks this season also have THE BEST 3point shooter in the NBA on their roster!)

    The Bucks are a three-point juggernaut, no question. But Giannis’s worsening performance from deep is a glaring flaw which makes the team extremely weak in the modern NBA. Until he rediscovers—or at least stabilizes—his outside shot, Milwaukee’s title hopes rest on a shaky premise: that their star can dominate without adapting to the league’s perimeter-driven reality. Fans can keep pretending it doesn’t matter, but the postseason will tell the real story. And if history is any guide, this mystery could turn into a tragedy.

  • Is Giannis the worse 3point shooter in NBA history?

    Is Giannis the worse 3point shooter in NBA history?

    For starters, most people respond with “who cares if he can’t shoot the 3?” They could be correct, let’s look in more detail. Here are his career 3point percentages per season:

    This should very much worry everybody. Not having a good shot could not be a major problem maybe. But getting worse every year needs further analysis. Combine this with the fact that he is shooting free throws worse than ever in his career and it is extremely worrying. Much like with that analysis, the only rational conclusion is that Giannis:

    1. Is training for strength in some stupid way which affects his shooting a lot. (Here about the mid range myth.)
    2. Hasn’t got the body IQ to figure out how to control his shooting motion.
    3. Hasn’t got the business IQ to ask for help from people that know. (He famously refuses to train with other NBA stars in the summer.)

    If Giannis keeps shooting like this season he will slot in for second worse 3point shooter in NBA history after all these people you have probably never heard of.

    This isn’t even a fair comparison since Denis Johnson hardly played in the 3point era we are living. Yep, that’s right, this is “the 3point era” and Giannis thinks any team would want to trade for him when he is shooting 18%? In fact let’s look at that all time terrible 3points shooters list again and you will see that almost all of them shoot the free throw better than Giannis! And – more importantly – they had the intelligence not to attempt that many shots from 3.

    Maybe this year is a fluke, let’s look at the entire last season. Oh, no, he is still terrible, one of the worse in the league, here they are ranked by worse 3point percentage:

    So in a league that lives by the 3, Giannis should not even think about wasting a shot like that. And – worse still – the way he plays in the paint which some people admire, often ends up in free throws which he then misses. Maybe thirty years ago he could get away with it. In the modern NBA Giannis already looks like a relic. No, worse, a relic that has no idea how to improve.

  • Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Again today, in an easy match up which the Bucks won easily and Giannis had no opponent, people started talking about his mid range. It sure looked good when it went in, eh? Let’s look at the facts. (Part 2 of this here)

    Against the Jazz with no Hendricks , Juzang , Cody Williams , John Collins or Walker Kessler the Bucks were basically playing around as if in their gym. Even so, I would say the picture isn’t looking good. He missed three shots next to the rim. (In the orange circle I added.) And he scored 4/6 in the ‘mid range’. Oh and he wasted a 3point attempt.

    Because Giannis has no mid range. It is clear when he is actually being defended by someone. Even without Porzingis, on the 4th of December 2024 this is a more realistic look at Giannis’ mid range.

    He isn’t even scoring them so well right next to the rim against shorter opponents. And just 3/8 from the ‘mid’ range. And of course the wasted 3point shot as usual. And here is Giannis against the Knicks January 12th 2024. Even worse!

    This data is pretty solid. Here is the shot chart for Giannis over his career. He clearly has specific positions and can’t do anything with his left hand.

    And here is playoff Giannis. Which isn’t even counting tough matchups seeing as he has only progressed in the playoffs twice in his many years in the NBA.

    In the playoffs he is pretty much a one trick pony and head on down the middle. Why is this a problem? Because I am not the only one looking at this shot charts. Opponents know how to neutralise him. And they do when it counts.

    So save me the talk about “Giannis mid range” becoming a threat to the league. The only thing it threatens is to further confuse the Bucks into incorrect decisions on how they should play as a team. A weapon is only a weapon when it is consistent when you need it. Not in trash time against easy teams.

    DATA SOURCE

    STATMUSE. COM

  • Giannis plays a lot on his own: is it effective?

    Giannis plays a lot on his own: is it effective?

    So I saw this today

    As usual with BBall Index there is no explanation how the hell they figured all this out. So I look at NBA. com instead and sort Isolation plays by possession.

    Nothing new, we knew that Giannis handles the ball too much. More than any other player on the Bucks which is crazy considering he isn’t a guard. Giannis handles the ball all the time, not just ISO, but because he is looking for an easy run and dunk he aims for an ISO play. Which is stupid because it wont work in tougher games.

    In isolation plays he is 8th out of ten this season so far and clearly nowhere near as efficient as the others in this ranking. So I guess BBall index is as usual just click baiting with weird stats they made up themselves. Because if I take the whole season last year Giannis looks much better.

    18th in possessions. Much less of a ball hog, much less ISO. Sure the Bucks have played the easier part of their season so far. But it is not a good look when Giannis is heading for the ISO, not being as effective and missing free throws. (The only stat he aced last year was the number of free throws he got out of ISO plays. But then he missed them more than anyone in the league again.)

    This was his shot chart last season, a sad constant need to dunk. Distance mostly less than 80cm from the rim. No wonder I wrote that the Bucks will never win anything with him playing like that!