Pure shooters.
One of the most beautiful things about game of basketball. And definitely my favorite attribute of the game.
The teams listed below consist of the NBA's all-time pure shooters. But unfortunately, only 10 guys made the team. There have been many types of pure shooters to come and go in the NBA.
Shooters like Larry Bird and Reggie Miller had a jump shot that was simply unstoppable. While guys like Ray Allen and Peja Stojakovic have a deadly shooting form that no on could duplicate no matter how hard they tried.
If I could throw together a team of pure shooters in their prime, this is what it would look like.
The Unstoppables
The unstoppables are defined as the guys who were pure long distance bombers who could also score with the best of them, and were also clearly unstoppable.
Fortunately for these guys, they stand in a very short line.
LARRY BIRD, Boston Celtics (1979-91):
Bird is definitely one of the NBA's all-time best scorers, but he is also one of the best pure shooters, too. His shooting form might have looked normal, but his release was excellent; especially while watching it in slow motion.
Aside from his MVPs and championships, Bird also won three consecutive three point shootout titles, and is one of only two players in league history to have three shootout titles.
Bird has 649 total three pointers in his career, but is nowhere near the top 30 all-time leaders in three point field goals made.
To view highlights, click here.
REGGIE MILLER, Indiana Pacers (1987-2005):
Miller is the all-time in leader in three point field goals made with 2,560. Photo courtesy of NBA.com
Miller is without a doubt the greatest shooter of the 90s. As great as scorer as Miller was, he is mostly known for shooting lights out from long distance.
Reggie was the master of catching and shooting, and only Michael Jordan has scored more points than him at the shooting guard position. His 25-point fourth quarter in the 1994 playoffs against New York, where he scored two three pointers in a span of three second is the one highlight of his career we will never forget.
He's also one of the NBA's greatest players to never win a championship.
Simply put, the greatest three-point clutch shooter of this generation.
To view highlights, click here.
Sliky Smooth Js
Players who had the prettiest shooting forms fit in this category. Shooting forms that make you think to yourself, "man, now that's a pretty shot."
In other words, pure textbook shooters.
DAN MAJERLE, Phoenix Suns/Cleveland Cavaliers/Miami Heat (1988-2002):
- B/R Ticket Guide
Thunder Dan wasn't a deadly scorer, but he sure was deadly from long range. He had one of the quickest releases, making it nearly impossible for defenders to block.
Majerle is 11th all-time in three point field goals made, and is still second all-time in most three point field goals made in an NBA Finals game.
To view highlights, click here.
GLEN RICE, Miami Heat/Charlotte Hornets/L.A. Lakers/New York Knicks/Houston Rockets/L.A. Clippers (1989-2004):
Rice is fourth all-time in total three point field goals made. Getty Images
One of the more underrated scorers in NBA history--Rice's silky smooth jump shot was just too beautiful for words. Rice was the definition of "pure shooter", and shot 40 percent from long range during his career.
Rice finished third in the league in scoring in 1997, trailing only Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. He also shot 47 percent from deep the same season.
G Money, one of game's most prolific shooters.
To view highlights, click here.
RAY ALLEN, Milwaukee Bucks/Seattle Supersonics/Boston Celtics (1996-present):
Allen is the best pure shooter in the game today, period. Not only that, but he has secured his place in NBA history as one of the game's all-time best shooters.
No other human being can duplicate his form, no matter how much time they put in the gym. Even Reggie Miller proclaims Allen as the game's best shooter, and maybe second all-time after Miller.
His performance in the 2001 three point shootout contest is one of the best moments in three-point shootout history.
To end it off, the prettiest stoke you'll ever see.
To view highlights, click here.
ALLAN HOUSTON, Detroit Pistons/New York Knicks (1993-2005):
Houston wasn't just a great shooter, but a deadly scorer as well. Photo courtesy of NBA.com
Allan's smooth touch was just as smooth as Glen Rice's, if not smoother. Houston is 14th all-time in three pointer made, and was one of the league's prolific scorers in the mid 90s and early 00s.
H20 was explosive off the dribble, and probably had his career cut short because of nagging knee problems.
To view highlights, click here.
DELL CURRY, Utah Jazz/Cleveland Cavaliers/Charlotte Hornets/Milwaukee Bucks/Toronto Raptors (1986-2002):
Curry was the big fundamental when it came to shooting. he shot 40 percent from deep from his career, and is 23rd all-time in three pointers made.
You might have heard of his son, Stephon Curry from Davidson, who has taken after his father as a pure shooter.
To view highlights, click here.
The Best of the Rest
MARK PRICE, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS/Washington Bullets/Golden State Warriors/Orlando Magic (1986-98):
Price is the best pure shooting point guard to ever play the game. Aside from having one of the all-time best three point field goal percentages in NBA history, Price is also first all-time in free throw percentage.
Before LeBron James ruled Cleveland, Price was the last guy known as a icon to the Cavs' organization.
To view highlights, click here.
PEJA STOJAKOVIC, Sacramento Kings/Indiana Pacers/New Orleans Hornets (1998-present):
After 10 years, Stojakovic is still one of the game's best pure shooters. Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
Peja has an awkward slingshot release, but he's still one of the best pure shooters in the game today. He is already eighth all-time in total three pointers made, and is on pace to make his way into the top five of that list when it's all over for him.
Peja Stojakovic: awkward, but effective.
To view highlights, click here.
CRAIG HODGES, San Diego Clippers/ Milwaukee Bucks/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bulls (1982-91):
Hodges is one of the best pure shooters of all-time, but many have never heard of him. He is mostly known for his success in Chicago, winning three straight three-point shootouts during All-Star Weekend.
Hodges was a deadly spot-up shooter that played with Michael Jordan during his early years. He is also 27th all-time in three-point field goal percentage.
To view highlights, click here.
Michael Whittenberg is one of two NBA Community Leaders for bleacherreport.com
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about 1 month ago
Great article Mike! I could not have picked a better starting 5, that would be a lot of 3's for sure. Awesome stuff!
about 1 month ago
You've picked two of my favorites in Houston and Peja. Since I'm from the southern part of the Nortwest (hope that made sense) I got to see a lot of the Sac games and it was worth paying any money just to see Peja shoot. Especially during the Sactown & LA rivalry. The guy doesn't even have to look at the basket because he his technique never failed him.
about 1 month ago
Nice article. Peja is the man!
about 1 month ago
Where's Chris Mullin on this list? Dell Curry? Dale Ellis? Mitch Richmond? I'm surprised you didn't even mention Steve Nash.
from about 1 month ago
Curry is already there. and trust me I thought of everyone you mentioned. That's the problem, I have to leave some off. Although I could have replaced Hodges with Ellis.
about 1 month ago
Very strong list, hard to argue with. I would probably also put Kyle Korver in there. I know he shoots a lot, but every time he shoots it just feels like it's going in and he has such a pure stroke. If only he had a better all-around game.
about 1 month ago
Dell Curry is in the best of the rest, Great Article although i do agree that Nash should be on there, his percentages are unreal
about 1 month ago
I agree with all accept Peja. Great article!
about 1 month ago
This list needs Dennis Scott. He was arguably the best three point shooter of all time.
from about 1 month ago
It does, but I made it hard on myself my only choosing ten. There are plenty of guys that I left off, and trust me I thought of all of them.
about 1 month ago
can the Lakers Jerry West get some love? Logo was the man and the Original Mr. Clutch. I know you left out a lot of guys but as a shooter I think he's better than Allan Houston.
about 1 month ago
I would argue that Korver is a better shooter than tsome of these guys. But great article, all of these guys are amazing shooters.
about 1 month ago
Nice you got them all! Before I opened up this article I was thinking "man he better have Glen Rice and Dell Curry on this list somewhere or Ill be upset"
about 1 month ago
Great article!
I like how you included Hodges and Curry, they were phenominal shooters with on-point accuracy. I didn't think you would list them though.
If you had to pick shooters of todays game only, who would you pick? the top 10?
from about 1 month ago
Today I would have to go with...In no particular order:
Ray Allen
Peja
Dirk
Steve Nash
Kyle Korver
JJ Redick(even though he never sees the floor)
Jason Kapono
Vladimir Radmanovic
Mike Miller
Michael Redd
about 1 month ago
Good writing, but any list that doesn't include Jerry West is incomplete.
about 1 month ago
haha come on people give the guy a break its hard to choose only 10 guys who shot the ball the best there were so many great shooters
about 1 month ago
I think I would put Mullin in the starting. His jumper was pure gold and he had a higher percentage than Bird's and made more 3's.
about 1 month ago
Awesome team, Michael. We thought it would be interesting to pit your team of shooters against the In Your Face Disgrace team, our team of favorite dunkers.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/78486-my-all-anything-nba-team-the-in-your-face-disgrace
As you might expect, it was a high-scoring game. Your team went 15-for-23 (!) from downtown and 13-for-14 from the line, and just barely lost 111-110. (We shot 4-for-8)
http://www.whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gameid=1125770&teamfee=-1
Of course, that's only one game, so it would be interesting to see what would happen in a 7-game series.
about 1 month ago
great stuff man. gotta put kapono up there, he is the best shooter today... beteer than ray allen is now... not saying in his prime but if he gets minutes and plays for a while he could go down as one of the best shooters ever. he is sick
about 1 month ago
Jerry West must be on this list.
Also, Dale Ellis was a beast from long distance.
What about Steve Kerr?
Also, even though he played in an era without a 3 point shot, I think Pete Maravich has to be somewhere on this list.
about 1 month ago
How bout Jerry West?????
29 days ago
No other player faced defenses more determined to stop him than Reggie Miller. Years ago I spoke to an ex assistant coach who told me that teams worked harder to deny him shots more than any other player in the league. I never saw a player make NBA defenses work harder to keep a player from taking 3's than Reggie. The true mark of a great shooter is not always his percentage but how much he can change a defense. Stretching defenses and drawing double teams create opportunities for other players and at that he was the best. If he caught fire, nobody was more explosive the arc and opposing teams were desperate to keep that from happening. His lifetime percentage (.395) is not as good as some other great shooters but consider he never had the help a lot of players on the all time shooters list had, he never had a dominating big man, front line or other big time scorer to take pressure off him and nightly faced defenses primarily focused on denying him opportunities. You can talk percentages all night but still for my money the greatest would be Reggie Miller.
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