Worst 3 Point Shooters in NBA: Ranking the Most Inaccurate Shooters in History
When I first started diving deep into NBA statistics, I was fascinated by the art of three-point shooting. It’s a skill that can change the momentum of a game in seconds, but not everyone excels at it. In fact, some players have become infamous for their struggles beyond the arc. Today, I’m going to walk you through how I rank the worst 3-point shooters in NBA history, based on my own analysis and years of watching the game. I’ll share my personal take, step by step, so you can try this method yourself if you’re curious about basketball analytics. Let’s get straight into it.
First off, you need to gather reliable data. I usually start with NBA official stats or trusted databases like Basketball-Reference. Look for players with a minimum of, say, 200 career attempts—this weeds out those who barely shot threes and focuses on the real strugglers. For example, I remember checking out players like Shaquille O’Neal, who hit only 1 out of 22 three-pointers in his career. That’s a dismal 4.5% accuracy, which is just painful to watch. But don’t just rely on percentages; consider the volume and era. Back in the ’90s, big men weren’t expected to shoot threes, so their low numbers might not stand out as much. My tip here is to cross-reference with advanced metrics like true shooting percentage to get a fuller picture. I’ve found that this helps avoid unfair comparisons, like judging a center from the 1980s against a modern guard.
Next, analyze the context of their shooting. This is where personal bias might creep in, but I think it’s okay to let it shape your list a bit. Take Andre Drummond, for instance—he’s attempted over 100 threes and made only about 15% of them. Sure, he’s a center, but in today’s game where even bigs are stretching the floor, that’s pretty rough. I like to watch game footage too; it’s not just about numbers. Seeing a player air-ball multiple times in a clutch situation adds a human element to the stats. One thing I always emphasize: don’t ignore the mental aspect. Some players, like Rajon Rondo early in his career, had seasons where they shot below 25% from deep, and you could tell it affected their confidence. I remember a game where Rondo passed up an open three, and it cost his team a possession. That kind of stuff sticks with you.
Now, let’s talk about ranking them. I start by listing candidates based on the worst field goal percentages, but then I adjust for sample size and impact. For me, Ben Simmons is a standout—or rather, a sit-out—in this category. He’s attempted fewer than 40 threes in his career and made just a handful. That’s like 12% if I’m being generous, and given his role as a primary ball-handler, it’s a huge liability. I’d rank him high on my worst shooters list because his reluctance to shoot sometimes hurts his team’s spacing. But here’s a pro tip: mix in some humor to keep it engaging. I once joked that watching Simmons shoot threes is like waiting for a solar eclipse—rare and not always pretty. On a more serious note, consider longevity; players who kept shooting poorly over many seasons, like old-school center Manute Bol, who shot around 21% from three despite his height advantage, deserve a spot for persistence alone.
As you compile your list, think about the evolution of the game. This ties into that reference knowledge base I came across: “Maybe this will change now from the second round of the championship, which will be played in SM Mall Asia Arena built in 2012.” It reminds me how arenas and eras influence playstyles. In modern basketball, with venues like that arena hosting high-stakes games, the pressure to perform amplifies shooting woes. For example, if a player like Josh Smith—who shot 28.5% on over 1,000 attempts—were in today’s league, he might be benched more often. I’ve noticed that in recent playoffs, poor shooters get exposed faster, much like how a new arena can highlight a team’s flaws. Personally, I lean toward including players who had chances to improve but didn’t, as it shows a lack of adaptation.
Finally, wrap it up with a conclusion that reflects your findings. After all this analysis, my top three worst 3-point shooters include names like Shaquille O’Neal, Ben Simmons, and Andre Drummond, but your list might vary based on what you value—consistency or sheer inaccuracy. I’d say the key takeaway is that ranking the worst shooters isn’t just about numbers; it’s about storytelling and context. So, next time you’re debating with friends, use this method to back up your picks. And who knows, maybe this will change now from the second round of the championship, as the game evolves in arenas like the SM Mall Asia Arena, pushing players to either sink or swim from downtown.
