After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”?

Moderators: Clav, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid, cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285

Is LeBron a good shooter?

He’s a good shooter
24
18%
He’s a decent shooter
86
63%
He’s not a good shooter
27
20%
 
Total votes: 137

tsherkin
Forum Mod - Raptors
Forum Mod - Raptors
Posts: 92,281
And1: 31,867
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#21 » by tsherkin » Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:52 pm

IAMZOOTED2 wrote:

Compared to Jordan, James is only a couple ticks lower… and Jordan was considered both reliable and dependable


No, that's very much not the case. Jordan was a considerably better shooter than Lebron, not merely "a couple ticks" different.
Jaqua92
RealGM
Posts: 13,304
And1: 8,527
Joined: Feb 21, 2017
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#22 » by Jaqua92 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:11 pm

IAMZOOTED2 wrote:
tsherkin wrote:
IAMZOOTED2 wrote:LBJs shooting is reliable, dependable even.


Seems at odd with the season, and with his 3pt shooting in general.

He has improved his range thru the years, but also the mechanics and fluidity of the shot.


Compared to his rookie season, sure, but he hasn't meaningfully improved his shooting ability since 2013, and has seemed to noticeably regress since then, in fact.



Compared to Jordan, James is only a couple ticks lower… and Jordan was considered both reliable and dependable
What is this?

Lebron's best season outside the paint was 42%.

LeBron has shot over 40% from mid range once in his career.

Jordan routinely shot 50% on ridiculous volume from mid range.


LeBron has been, objectively, an average shooter at best. There's no statistical argument to call him anything other than average at best.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
User avatar
Harry Garris
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 8,248
And1: 13,971
Joined: Jul 12, 2017
     

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#23 » by Harry Garris » Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:19 pm

Good enough to force the defense to play up on him, and ultimately that’s what matters for guys who make plays with the ball in their hands a lot. Lebron has never been an elite shooter by NBA standards, but he’s skilled in so many other ways as a playmaker that he can leverage an average jump shot to much better effect than an elite jump shot in the hands of most other players.
Image
User avatar
Egg Nog
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,139
And1: 8,381
Joined: Oct 27, 2007
Location: Vancouver

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#24 » by Egg Nog » Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:29 am

tsherkin wrote:
Egg Nog wrote: but he is a very efficient scorer. Nothing has really changed.


He was. He hasn't been "very efficient" in quite some time. He's on a nice stretch right now, though, so we shall see what comes the rest of the season.


The stats don't really agree with what you're suggesting. Perhaps not at this exact moment (though he is right at his career average TS%) but LeBron just posted 61.9TS% last season which was the 4th best of his career...and 60.2TS% the year before that.
Def Leppard
Analyst
Posts: 3,452
And1: 2,228
Joined: May 27, 2013

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#25 » by Def Leppard » Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:48 am

I wouldn't leave him open if you know what I mean

Sent from my SM-G981W using RealGM mobile app
"Rise up, gather round, rock this place, to the ground"
tsherkin
Forum Mod - Raptors
Forum Mod - Raptors
Posts: 92,281
And1: 31,867
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#26 » by tsherkin » Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:57 am

Egg Nog wrote:
The stats don't really agree with what you're suggesting. Perhaps not at this exact moment (though he is right at his career average TS%) but LeBron just posted 61.9TS% last season which was the 4th best of his career, and 60%TS the year before that.


You know what, you're right. I was looking at 2019 and 2020 and blasted right over those.
Ein Sof
Pro Prospect
Posts: 950
And1: 798
Joined: Jun 11, 2021

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#27 » by Ein Sof » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:02 am

He's good enough that people can't just back off and let him shoot, even though he's the greatest rim attacker in history
Jaqua92
RealGM
Posts: 13,304
And1: 8,527
Joined: Feb 21, 2017
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#28 » by Jaqua92 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:10 am

Ein Sof wrote:He's good enough that people can't just back off and let him shoot, even though he's the greatest rim attacker in history
Super stars who aren't liabilities with their jumpers get respected everywhere.

Tatum is an MVP candidate and is not an effective mid range shooter. He's never shot better than 44% from mid range IIRC. He's shooting 35% from 3. Teams still respect him for it and don't back off.

LeBron was an average shooter at best. Good enough to not be a liability, but you could live with him taking jumpers.

Luckily for LeBron and for whatever team he played on, he rarely takes a bad shot, and he's so effective when attacking, that he usually gets good looks for his Js



Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
threethehardway
Bench Warmer
Posts: 1,364
And1: 2,118
Joined: May 31, 2021

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#29 » by threethehardway » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:11 am

LeBron takes difficult midrange and three point shots from all over the floor. Spo had him narrow his shot selection and he was a world-beater in efficiency. Ever since he got away from Spo, his shooting has fluctuated year to year because he does what he wants.

How I define "good shooter" is this, do you want to leave the guy open? PJ Tucker can't shoot, I'll leave him open. Jarred Vanderbilt can't shoot, I'll leave him open.

I am not leaving LeBron or Trae Young open, I don't care what the percentages say.

Is Lebron a good shooter compared to Kyle Korver, no.

Is he a good shooter compared to Kevin Durant, hell no.

LeBron is on the level of Tracy McGrady and Kobe, guys that are shot maker more than shooters, so there's year to year variance depending on the way the ball bounces, but you wouldn't leave them open.
NZB2323
RealGM
Posts: 14,390
And1: 10,945
Joined: Aug 02, 2008

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#30 » by NZB2323 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:11 am

He’s a career 73.5% free throw shooter, which I wouldn’t say is “good.”

I also feel like every time Lebron shoots a 3 instead of driving to the basket, the defense is okay with that.

If I’m the opposing coach, I want Lebron, AD, Embiid, and Giannis to be shooting 3s.
User avatar
levon
RealGM
Posts: 17,310
And1: 27,087
Joined: Aug 04, 2017

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#31 » by levon » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:15 am

He's not a great shooter, but there isn't a shot that he can't make at this point. He's got the full bag.
Jaqua92
RealGM
Posts: 13,304
And1: 8,527
Joined: Feb 21, 2017
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#32 » by Jaqua92 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:41 am

threethehardway wrote:LeBron takes difficult midrange and three point shots from all over the floor. Spo had him narrow his shot selection and he was a world-beater in efficiency. Ever since he got away from Spo, his shooting has fluctuated year to year because he does what he wants.

How I define "good shooter" is this, do you want to leave the guy open? PJ Tucker can't shoot, I'll leave him open. Jarred Vanderbilt can't shoot, I'll leave him open.

I am not leaving LeBron or Trae Young open, I don't care what the percentages say.

Is Lebron a good shooter compared to Kyle Korver, no.

Is he a good shooter compared to Kevin Durant, hell no.

LeBron is on the level of Tracy McGrady and Kobe, guys that are shot maker more than shooters, so there's year to year variance depending on the way the ball bounces, but you wouldn't leave them open.
LeBron was never a world-beater in jump shot effefiency.

In 4 years in Miami he shot

40.6% from 10 feet - 3pt
40.9% from 10 feet - 3pt
42.3% from 10 feet - 3pt (his best overall)
40.1% from 10 feet - 3pt

Just for comparisons sake


2022 Jaylen Brown
42.4% from 10 feet - 3pt (35% from 3)

2023 Jaylen Brown
46.4 from 10 feet - 3pt (33% from 3)

I think people would consider Jaylen a "very good" but not elite jump shooter.

And LeBron during his Miami days was not even close to him.

LeBron has a lot of strengths, all time strengths to his game. But his jumper, at its best, was average.














Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
User avatar
lonzo_pelota
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,483
And1: 6,675
Joined: Jul 28, 2017
   

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#33 » by lonzo_pelota » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:52 am

Considering his shooting is with defenses putting there best defender on him and having defensive schemes to thwart his normal averages id say he's been good over the years. He's the reason his teammates get such good open looks , he rarely gets the open look, most of his shots have a defender near by or a hand up.
threethehardway
Bench Warmer
Posts: 1,364
And1: 2,118
Joined: May 31, 2021

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#34 » by threethehardway » Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:09 am

Jaqua92 wrote:
threethehardway wrote:LeBron takes difficult midrange and three point shots from all over the floor. Spo had him narrow his shot selection and he was a world-beater in efficiency. Ever since he got away from Spo, his shooting has fluctuated year to year because he does what he wants.

How I define "good shooter" is this, do you want to leave the guy open? PJ Tucker can't shoot, I'll leave him open. Jarred Vanderbilt can't shoot, I'll leave him open.

I am not leaving LeBron or Trae Young open, I don't care what the percentages say.

Is Lebron a good shooter compared to Kyle Korver, no.

Is he a good shooter compared to Kevin Durant, hell no.

LeBron is on the level of Tracy McGrady and Kobe, guys that are shot maker more than shooters, so there's year to year variance depending on the way the ball bounces, but you wouldn't leave them open.
LeBron was never a world-beater in jump shot effefiency.

In 4 years in Miami he shot

40.6% from 10 feet - 3pt
40.9% from 10 feet - 3pt
42.3% from 10 feet - 3pt (his best overall)
40.1% from 10 feet - 3pt

Just for comparisons sake


2022 Jaylen Brown
42.4% from 10 feet - 3pt (35% from 3)

2023 Jaylen Brown
46.4 from 10 feet - 3pt (33% from 3)

I think people would consider Jaylen a "very good" but not elite jump shooter.

And LeBron during his Miami days was not even close to him.

LeBron has a lot of strengths, all time strengths to his game. But his jumper, at its best, was average.














Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk


I definitely would not consider Jaylen Brown a very good jumpshooter at this point in his career. He doesn't even have the same volume from range as LeBron.

I would put him in the same category with LeBron.

Very good jumpshooters to me is guys like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

Elite would be guys like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Stephen Curry.
cam24thomas
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,366
And1: 4,174
Joined: Mar 24, 2022

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#35 » by cam24thomas » Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:19 am

LeBron is a part-time good shooter, and a part-time good defender.
User avatar
shotsquatch
Starter
Posts: 2,023
And1: 3,965
Joined: Oct 02, 2020
   

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#36 » by shotsquatch » Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:16 am

LeBron will punish you if you guard him like a bad shooter. Does that prove he's a good shooter?
ShulaDon92
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,942
And1: 4,392
Joined: Oct 08, 2022

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#37 » by ShulaDon92 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 4:20 am

I'd say above average. In the clutch I personally consider him below average.
Jaqua92
RealGM
Posts: 13,304
And1: 8,527
Joined: Feb 21, 2017
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#38 » by Jaqua92 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:06 am

threethehardway wrote:
Jaqua92 wrote:
threethehardway wrote:LeBron takes difficult midrange and three point shots from all over the floor. Spo had him narrow his shot selection and he was a world-beater in efficiency. Ever since he got away from Spo, his shooting has fluctuated year to year because he does what he wants.

How I define "good shooter" is this, do you want to leave the guy open? PJ Tucker can't shoot, I'll leave him open. Jarred Vanderbilt can't shoot, I'll leave him open.

I am not leaving LeBron or Trae Young open, I don't care what the percentages say.

Is Lebron a good shooter compared to Kyle Korver, no.

Is he a good shooter compared to Kevin Durant, hell no.

LeBron is on the level of Tracy McGrady and Kobe, guys that are shot maker more than shooters, so there's year to year variance depending on the way the ball bounces, but you wouldn't leave them open.
LeBron was never a world-beater in jump shot effefiency.

In 4 years in Miami he shot

40.6% from 10 feet - 3pt
40.9% from 10 feet - 3pt
42.3% from 10 feet - 3pt (his best overall)
40.1% from 10 feet - 3pt

Just for comparisons sake


2022 Jaylen Brown
42.4% from 10 feet - 3pt (35% from 3)

2023 Jaylen Brown
46.4 from 10 feet - 3pt (33% from 3)

I think people would consider Jaylen a "very good" but not elite jump shooter.

And LeBron during his Miami days was not even close to him.

LeBron has a lot of strengths, all time strengths to his game. But his jumper, at its best, was average.














Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk


I definitely would not consider Jaylen Brown a very good jumpshooter at this point in his career. He doesn't even have the same volume from range as LeBron.

I would put him in the same category with LeBron.

Very good jumpshooters to me is guys like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

Elite would be guys like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Stephen Curry.
Okay. So we're in agreement then. LeBron is a few tiers below elite shooters. And average, to a bit above average at best.

Agreed about JB. But he's been very elite from mid range this year.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
User avatar
sashaturiaf
Analyst
Posts: 3,490
And1: 3,912
Joined: Jan 18, 2021
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#39 » by sashaturiaf » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:16 am

Decent at best. Teams play him for the drive and pass before the shot, teams will let him fire away all day if he chooses to.

He hits just enough of the open shots he gets, 70%ish free throw shooter, he's mediocre, not good and not bad.
User avatar
sashaturiaf
Analyst
Posts: 3,490
And1: 3,912
Joined: Jan 18, 2021
 

Re: After 20 years, do you consider LeBron a “Good shooter”? 

Post#40 » by sashaturiaf » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:24 am

threethehardway wrote:LeBron takes difficult midrange and three point shots from all over the floor. Spo had him narrow his shot selection and he was a world-beater in efficiency. Ever since he got away from Spo, his shooting has fluctuated year to year because he does what he wants.

How I define "good shooter" is this, do you want to leave the guy open? PJ Tucker can't shoot, I'll leave him open. Jarred Vanderbilt can't shoot, I'll leave him open.

I am not leaving LeBron or Trae Young open, I don't care what the percentages say.

Is Lebron a good shooter compared to Kyle Korver, no.

Is he a good shooter compared to Kevin Durant, hell no.

LeBron is on the level of Tracy McGrady and Kobe, guys that are shot maker more than shooters, so there's year to year variance depending on the way the ball bounces, but you wouldn't leave them open.


Crazy talk. LeBron isn't in the same stratosphere as Kobe when it comes to shooting. Kobe's jumpshot opened up the rest of his game. The rest of lebrons game opens up his jumpshot.

Return to The General Board