Michael Jordan's three point shooting

MrKnox · Post #1 » by **MrKnox** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 5:46 pm

Underrated or properly rated?

Career 32.7% 3-point shooter on less than 2 attempts per game....NOT EASY to do.

Career 33.2% 3-point shooter in the playoffs.

Career 36.8% 3-point shooter in the NBA Finals (35 games)

Jordan was the Chicago leader in 3-point FG's made during their first 3-peat....he shot over 38% FG from 3 in 3 consecutive playoff seasons.

From 1985-1993....Jordan had 132 games where he took at least 3 attempts from the 3-point line in a game....he was a combined 36.9% FG shooter in those 132 games.

Jordan had 2 seasons from the regular 3-point line where he took around 3 attempts per game on average...he was 35.2% and 37.6% during those 2 seasons.

From the 22-foot 3-point line...he shot 42.7% and 37.4% past his prime. He shot a little over 3 attempts per game during those years as well.

Jordan in his first 3 NBA Finals from the NORMAL line:

24/57 = 42.1% FG from 3. Much better than lots of players including Kobe and Lebron in their Finals.

Jedi32 · Post #2 » by **Jedi32** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 6:14 pm

Dude we all know Jordan is better than Kobe and Lebron

Hero · Post #3 » by **Hero** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 6:20 pm

It's amazing how many Jordan threads we still have in 2015.

He is appropriately rated.

Kevin Johnson · Post #4 » by **Kevin Johnson** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 6:46 pm

I think it's hard to rate and rank 3 PT shooting for players who were in college before the 1990s since the NCAA didn't implement the 3 PT line until the mid 1980s. And I don't think coaches really understood or emphasize its importance until recently.

All these older player would have been much better 3 PT shooters had they grown up with a 3 PT shot their whole careers

MrKnox · Post #5 » by **MrKnox** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 7:27 pm

Jedi32 wrote:Dude we all know Jordan is better than Kobe and Lebron

Of course he is. I'm asking if his three point shooting is underrated in general.

beach house · Post #6 » by **beach house** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 7:35 pm

imagine lebron with kobe's footwork, arsenal, and creativity/unpredictability
better than jordan :wink:

Post #7 » by **Quotatious** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 9:09 pm

He was a Kobe level 3-point shooter, about average. Shot it pretty well in the postseason several times, though (1987, then every year he played between '91 and '96).

Jordan said that he didn't like the 3-point shot that much because it took away from his driving/midrange game.

SactoKingsFan · Post #8 » by **SactoKingsFan** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 9:13 pm

Probably a bit overrated since 38.2% of the RS 3s he made came during 2 seasons when the line was shortened. He had his moments, but Jordan's 3PT shooting generally wasn't anything special.

afox · Post #9 » by **afox** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 12:49 am

The man could do anything he set his mind to....

Ballerhogger · Post #10 » by **Ballerhogger** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 12:54 am

Quotatious wrote:He was a Kobe level 3-point shooter, about average. Shot it pretty well in the postseason several times, though (1987, then every year he played between '91 and '96).

Jordan said that he didn't like the 3-point shot that much because it took away from his driving/midrange game.

Which is true .

MrBigShot · Post #11 » by **MrBigShot** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 1:09 am

Based on the eye test, It doesn't seem to me like he was a Kobe-level three point shooter. I may be wrong, but I think shot selection is one of the biggest things that sets Kobe & MJ apart, and Kobe has routinely taken very difficult threes. Pull ups...triple threat 3s with someone right in his face, fadeaway threes...whereas from what I've seen of MJ he took more quality threes within the flow of the offense. Kobe isn't an impressive 3pt shooter overall for his career, but I think if he had taken high quality looks and cut out the terrible ones (which made him unstoppable when they were going in, but otherwise they weren't good looks) his percentages would look much better. His percentages are a reflection of his often difficult shot selection, not his raw three point shooting ability.

Ufclegend98 · Post #12 » by **Ufclegend98** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 2:00 am

MrBigShot wrote:Based on the eye test, It doesn't seem to me like he was a Kobe-level three point shooter. I may be wrong, but I think shot selection is one of the biggest things that sets Kobe & MJ apart, and Kobe has routinely taken very difficult threes. Pull ups...triple threat 3s with someone right in his face, fadeaway threes...whereas from what I've seen of MJ he took more quality threes within the flow of the offense. Kobe isn't an impressive 3pt shooter overall for his career, but I think if he had taken high quality looks and cut out the terrible ones (which made him unstoppable when they were going in, but otherwise they weren't good looks) his percentages would look much better. His percentages are a reflection of his often difficult shot selection, not his raw three point shooting ability.

This is right on the money about jordan and Kobe. Jordan took better 3 point shots. If kobe took the same quality he would have shot a higher percentage than mj. Kobe's main weakness as a player is shot selection and adapability.

Jedi32 · Post #13 » by **Jedi32** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 4:00 am

MrKnox wrote:
Jedi32 wrote:Dude we all know Jordan is better than Kobe and Lebron

Of course he is. I'm asking if his three point shooting is underrated in general.

Yeah because it's like the only thing I've seen people use against him and he really wasn't as bad at it as some make it seem.

yoyoboy · Post #14 » by **yoyoboy** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 4:12 am

MrKnox wrote:Underrated or properly rated?

Career 32.7% 3-point shooter on less than 2 attempts per game....NOT EASY to do.

Career 33.2% 3-point shooter in the playoffs.

Career 36.8% 3-point shooter in the NBA Finals (35 games)

Jordan was the Chicago leader in 3-point FG's made during their first 3-peat....he shot over 38% FG from 3 in 3 consecutive playoff seasons.

From 1985-1993....Jordan had 132 games where he took at least 3 attempts from the 3-point line in a game....he was a combined 36.9% FG shooter in those 132 games.

Jordan had 2 seasons from the regular 3-point line where he took around 3 attempts per game on average...he was 35.2% and 37.6% during those 2 seasons.

From the 22-foot 3-point line...he shot 42.7% and 37.4% past his prime. He shot a little over 3 attempts per game during those years as well.

Jordan in his first 3 NBA Finals from the NORMAL line:

24/57 = 42.1% FG from 3. Much better than lots of players including Kobe and Lebron in their Finals.

This doesn't make any sense. 32.7% isn't good from 3 and the fact that he took such a small number, makes it less impressive, not more impressive.

kbitboc · Post #15 » by **kbitboc** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 4:43 am

I would say he's a poor 3 point shooter.

treefi · Post #16 » by **treefi** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 5:00 am

MrKnox wrote:Underrated or properly rated?

Career 32.7% 3-point shooter on less than 2 attempts per game....NOT EASY to do.

Why isn't that easy to do? The less shots, the more wide-open you should be.. especially if you are frickin' MICHAEL JORDAN and can drink/dunk at any moment. 32.7% is awful.

Jordan's 3-point shooting ability was average for an NBA guard.

treefi · Post #17 » by **treefi** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 5:03 am

See: Tayshaun Prince this year. lol

nicnac215 · Post #18 » by **nicnac215** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 5:08 am

If Jordan grew up in the 3 point era, he would probably shoot it like Curry.

bigballa3jj · Post #19 » by **bigballa3jj** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 6:06 am

Jordan was an average 3 point shooter. Not great, not terrible. He knew his limitations and wouldn't force/chuck up bad 3s just for the hell of it.

reapaman · Post #20 » by **reapaman** » Mon Apr 6, 2015 6:10 am

There was God, sliced bread and then Jordan. Jordan is all and all is Jordan. He was an expert at everything.