Luka is hitting 3s in March at 42% - is he finally a good 3 point shooter?

[90sgoat]

14 games in March, 900 attempts, 42% from 3.

37% on catch-and-shoot.

Seems Luka has improved. If he can get to 40% on catch and shoot, that would really improve the Lakers and his game.

[Neal Romer]

The Lebron Effect.

[90sgoat]

The Lebron Effect.

Yes actually.

Luka is going to learn a lot from Lebron, he needed that.

[Phoenix]

He's not suddenly a good 3point shooter. Luka is 35% for his career and 36% for the season, he runs hot and cold. Right now he's the former.

[90sgoat]

He's not suddenly a good 3point shooter. Luka is 35% for his career and 36% for the season, he runs hot and cold. Right now he's the former.

We'll see, he used to be a poor FT shooter and now he is ok. Also shooting better from FT now for Lakers, almost 80%.

[Phoenix]

We'll see, he used to be a poor FT shooter and now he is ok. Also shooting better from FT now for Lakers, almost 80%.

He was 79% last year and 38% on 3s. What he's been shooting recently aren't unprecedented numbers from him, it seems like he's just finding his shooting rhythm again. Bear in mind he's only played 43 games this year, he's pretty much getting into mid season form.

[Im Still Ballin]

Luka has taken 9.8 threes per game across 43 games in the 2024-25 NBA season. 2.4 are catch-and-shoot; he shoots 35.2% 3PT on these shots. 6.8 are pull-up, and he's knocking them down at 35.1% 3PT. That only adds up to 9.2 so I'm not sure where the last 0.6 is.

So he's right there among the best pull-up shooters. High volume and strong efficiency given the context. 4th in volume and 6th in efficiency for players with at least 4.5 attempts per game. He did 37.8% on 8.4 attempts last season. #1 in volume AND efficiency for players with at least 4.5 attempts per game.

It's his catch-and-shoot threes that are hurting his numbers. Those are generally easier shots. Needs to be closer to 40% on them. He did 37.8% on 1.9 attempts last season. LeBron and Tatum are both above 40% and shoot more than him.

Biggest problem by far, though, is his paint scoring and mid-range game. That's where his efficiency has taken a hit the most. The foul drawing is good. Just the two-point shot-making that needs a lift.

[ILLsmak]

Luka has taken 9.8 threes per game across 43 games in the 2024-25 NBA season. 2.4 are catch-and-shoot; he shoots 35.2% 3PT on these shots. 6.8 are pull-up, and he's knocking them down at 35.1% 3PT. That only adds up to 9.2 so I'm not sure where the last 0.6 is.

So he's right there among the best pull-up shooters. High volume and strong efficiency given the context. 4th in volume and 6th in efficiency for players with at least 4.5 attempts per game. He did 37.8% on 8.4 attempts last season. #1 in volume AND efficiency for players with at least 4.5 attempts per game.

It's his catch-and-shoot threes that are hurting his numbers. Those are generally easier shots. Needs to be closer to 40% on them. He did 37.8% on 1.9 attempts last season. LeBron and Tatum are both above 40% and shoot more than him.

Biggest problem by far, though, is his paint scoring and mid-range game. That's where his efficiency has taken a hit the most. The foul drawing is good. Just the two-point shot-making that needs a lift.

maybe bail outs / heaves.

-Smak

[Phoenix]

Unfortunately like most modern players, he's fallen in love too much with the 3( and I get that it's a major part of today's game, but I feel like it caps players off at the knees a bit). Luka has a pretty damn good post-game that he was showcasing 2 years in, and you don't see him do as much of it recently:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8gq2t-A6GU&ab_channel=PandaHank41

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA-MYMsC2Oo&ab_channel=TheBasketballPlaybook

[Manny98]

The Lebron Effect.

This

[Meticode]

He's had months like this in the past. Just this past December before the injury he was shooting 41% for that month. He'll have good months and bad months.

It has nothing to do with LeBron. LeBron missed a chunk of those games in March.