How good of a shooter is Lebron?

[Connor B]

From outside 10 feet? Mid range to three? We know his FG% is so great cause he drives and gets tons of shots near the basket, and I would never criticize that cause players gotta be effective the best way they know how, but in this Spurs series they are obviously going to try to keep him out of the paint and "dare" him to shoot. Just how good of a shooter is he?

Well, according to basketball-reference.com, from 10-16 feet each year since 2012, he has shot .477, .311, and .350. From 16 - < 3P, he has shot .333, .434, .422.

So, not bad, but probably not quite as good as Lebron stans would have you believe. If the Spurs can really keep him out of the paint, its gonna be harder for him to average the great numbers he has been.

[BlkMambaGOAT]

He'd make Shaq's jumpshot look like Larry Bird's

[inclinerator]

the best of all time he hits 100 percent of his outside shots and misses only in the paint

[Warfan]

He's definitely improved a lot in the area, it also helps that teams do play him for the drive, and because of this he gets space to hit those jumpers.

He averaged 27/11/7 the last 2 finals basically without a jumper, so if he hits them consistently I can see him having a great series.

[BlkMambaGOAT]

He's definitely improved a lot in the area, it also helps that teams do play him for the drive, and because of this he gets space to hit those jumpers.

He averaged 27/11/7 the last 2 finals basically without a jumper, so if he hits them consistently I can see him having a great series.
:coleman:

[ImKobe]

From streaky to good - so far has made 41% of them. Miami's spacing obviously inflates the numbers a little bit, since he gets less contested jump shots and defenders are more focused on stopping him from going inside rather than worrying about him pulling up for a lower % shot. He's not a high-volume jump shooter either, has attempted 934 jump shots in 92 games this season, which averages out to about 10 a game, while let's say Kobe, took 1217 jump shots in 78 games in 2012-13, nearly 16 attempts a game and shot 39% on them, difference being that he took more threes and he forced his shot a lot more (+ higher volume).

[GeeWiz]

LeBron is streaky, if he is hot, then he hits most of his shots, but its a gamble in the mid-range,

3-point shot he is below average.

[tanner892]

Well he didnt have a problem shooting Js in last years finals, if u give him room he can knock them down, I honestly dont think its a good strategy for the Spurs to dare him to shoot like they did last year, as soon as he hits 1 or 2 he is hot for the game, they need to play him/respect him as a shooter.

[GeeWiz]

Well he didnt have a problem shooting Js in last years finals, if u give him room he can knock them down, I honestly dont think its a good strategy for the Spurs to dare him to shoot like they did last year, as soon as he hits 1 or 2 he is hot for the game, they need to play him/respect him as a shooter.

Did you watch the finals? That strategy worked for 5 of 7 games.

[Warfan]

:coleman:

Well maybe a lot is a bit of exaggeration, but he has noticeably improved, particularly with the 3-ball aswell.


With cleveland -
3-10ft: 40%
10-16ft: 32%
16>23ft: 38%
3pt: 33%

With miami -
3-10ft: 49%
10-16ft: 44%
16-23ft: 41.5%
3pt: 37%

He has benifited from having better teammates and thus more room/space to operate on the perimeter, but he is definitely an improved shooter.

[freshperry]

Pretty much what everyone said. Lebron is super streaky but when he's hot it feels like he cant miss. However when cold, its especially frustrating because he decides to pass it instead of trying to shoot his way out of the slump. Then again, everyone is pretty much a streaky shooter. Good shooter? yes. Is it dependable? Not really...

[tanner892]

Did you watch the finals? That strategy worked for 5 of 7 games.

considering he averaged 25ppg on 45% and 35% 3pt, and lit them up for 37 points in Game 7, no I wouldn't call it a success, I think it works in spurts, but in Game 7 it was clear that he was feeling it and they still played him like he was Shaq from out there, it was actually hard to watch.

[BlazerRed]

Lebron is what I'd call an "average" mid range shooter. Below average from 3. A beast in the paint.

[JonatanRey]

No disrespect but its the only flaw on his game. He is a streaky shooter and the Spurs should alternate 2-3 zone defense and float, dare him to shoot. If he is hot, you are dead, but you are dead anyway if you defend him closely.

[Solefade]

above average jump shooter overall but he's streaky and sometimes it can be anywhere from below average to really good

[GeeWiz]

considering he averaged 25ppg on 45% and 35% 3pt, and lit them up for 37 points in Game 7, no I wouldn't call it a success, I think it works in spurts, but in Game 7 it was clear that he was feeling it and they still played him like he was Shaq from out there, it was actually hard to watch.

Game 7, the plan backfired yes, but it was working for a large part of the series, LeBron is not an amazing shooter, his game is elite around the rim and in the paint, he just got hot and stepped up to the plate when the Spurs dared him to shoot in game 7, if you are being dared to shoot to begin with, I wouldn't say that you are considered a great shooter....

[Swaggin916]

Stats Show Lebron outside of 10 ft is around a 40% shooter which isn't very good except for 3 pointers which 38% he shot this year is solid.

But yea like someone said, he's streaky. He's like Wade though he is a pretty reluctant shooter from those spots because they see the value of driving and dishing to really good wide open shooters.

[lilteapot]

average shooter, strange mechanics, unpredictable shooting performances. one night he could shoot 20% from the perimeter and other nights he could be lights out. it's pretty wild.

[dubeta]

LeBron averaged 41% from 3 point line last year, and around 38 % this year (numbers Kobe never got) and people still call him an average shooter :facepalm

In fact, LeBron actually had one of the highest catch and shoot percentages this season, and people still call him an average shooter.

I guess this is one of the instances when a player has a stigma attached to them for their entire career, just because of a bad few seasons (2003-2007) of shooting.

[GimmeThat]

dribble pull ups

especially the two spots right between the free throw lines if you can get there. That's how I'd try to shoot myself out of a slump.
unless you can drive left, but then you'd also be challegened with the ability to hit bank shots instead of just regular jump shots.
but if I really can, I would use my forward motion to do a semi-hook, draw a charge shot.

baseline jumpers is how I get into a groove for hitting open mid range.
probably the 45 angle for my 3s


I don't know if the Spurs defense is actually better than the Pistons and or the Celtics Lebron had faced earlier in his career.

That's just a reality.

[Milbuck]

Slightly above average, but very streaky. Enough to make him seem elite at times. His jumpshooting efficiency is a bit inflated because of Miami's terrific offensive system and spacing, but he has improved substantially over the years.

[konex]

We will find out in the Finals cos the Spurs won't be letting him dunk all game

[Boarder Patrol]

2012-13 I thought he had a great jumper but this year it seemed to regress. 3 point shot is average at best but he has good selection with it so he can hit it at a good clip.

[theaussieguy]

how is lebron not a good shooter? I thought it was pretty much universally accepted Lebron is a decent shooter I guess I was wrong.

Surely you guys remember all the kobe comparisons back when he was healthy on here. So often you would see threads stating Lebron has surpassed Kobe as the better jumpshooter and most of the time the arguments had stats to support them. Im still new to this NBA thing, i guess i got trolled.

[Cold soul]

Lebron is solid to good as shooter goes anyway. I have to give Lebron some credit here he has greatly improved his shooting especially from 3.

[aj1987]

Lebron is what I'd call an "average" mid range shooter. Below average from 3. A beast in the paint.
He shot 41% last year and 38% this year, from the 3. How the heck is that "below average"? He's a career 34.1% shooter from the 3. Is Kobe a below average 3pt shooter?

[Black and White]

Most people have covered it already, LeBron is streaky, thats the best word to describe him.