Rank as mid-range shooters: Glenn Robinson, Allan Houston, Sam Cassell

[Im Still Ballin]

Three of the best mid-range shooters from the Deadball Era (late '90s & early '00s).

[SouBeachTalents]

LeBron
Robinson
Houston
Cassell

[Phoenix]

OP usually provides some numbers for us to peruse over when asking these questions.

[warriorfan]

Three of the best mid-range shooters from the Deadball Era (late '90s & early '00s).

Feels like Allan Houston gets slept on. He was nice

[Im Still Ballin]

OP usually provides some numbers for us to peruse over when asking these questions.

Can't be bothered; too much work. They all look good numbers-wise.


Feels like Allan Houston gets slept on. He was nice

He's definitely the best pure shooter, whatever that means. Most accurate across all areas of the court and when wide open. Robinson is probably the best out of the post with his back to the basket. Cassell might be the best off the dribble.

[Im Still Ballin]

Crazy to think about, Ray Allen was the third-best mid-range shooter on Milwaukee when Cassell & Robinson were there. Shooting's really specific like that.

[Phoenix]

Can't be bothered; too much work. They all look good numbers-wise.



I remember Big Dog being the best just in terms of his style/tendencies and what teams played him for, but the numbers may not actually back up my ( admittedly) rusty memory of him. I guess the good thing is they all played in the same time period so we don't need to haggle over numbers across eras. Obviously the best overall shooter here is Houston( who tends to be underrated in the 'best shooter' conversation nowadays, but that's dudes stroke was PURE). He's another one of those 'his game translates better today' players.

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PLWvSqkDAU

[2qr3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PLWvSqkDAU

All the random details that you can learn from a random short video of a player that hasn't been in the spot light for many years. Who would have imagined that Jeff Hornacek was Sam Cassell's all time favorite player. I didn't know that. Makes one want to learn more about Jeff Hornacek's game.

[Phoenix]

All the random details that you can learn from a random short video of a player that hasn't been in the spot light for many years. Who would have imagined that Jeff Hornacek was Sam Cassell's all time favorite player. I didn't know that. Makes one want to learn more about Jeff Hornacek's game.

Jeff Hornacek fell victim to the dopey 'he looks like a goofy, unathletic white guy' narrative you find in online basketball discourse. He was one of those dudes you saw in a gym that you're thinking' shiiiit, I gotta check him? Light work' then he proceeds to bust your ass with his unorthodox off the wrong foot floaters and shit. Younger fans may remember him as the third wheel on those late 90s Jazz teams, but prime Suns Hornacek was nice.

[HoopsNY]

This is a tough one. I'm tempted to say Houston because he played on bad offensive teams, but still delivered, including the playoffs. Robinson and Cassell both played on good offensive teams most of the time and so I think that helped them a bit. But I'm biased since I grew up a Knicks fan.

[beasted]

Allan Houston doesn't belong in this list. He was an outside shooter, not a mid range shooter, and certainly bot someone consistently creating his own shot in one-on-one moves. Big Dawg was good, but Cassell just better in the mid-range. He could post mid-range smaller PGs, pull up, or come off of a screen and hit the mid range.

[Kblaze8855]

Allan Houston doesn't belong in this list. He was an outside shooter, not a mid range shooter, and certainly bot someone consistently creating his own shot in one-on-one moves. Big Dawg was good, but Cassell just better in the mid-range. He could post mid-range smaller PGs, pull up, or come off of a screen and hit the mid range.


https://www.hostpic.org/images/2509260010310104.jpeg

[beasted]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2509260010310104.jpeg

High efficiency isn't necessarily high volume. There are no scale points on the graph, but there is a roughly 3000 FGA gap between Houston and Cassell.

And although volume is similar between Houston and Robinson, 85% of Robinson's shots were 2PT FGAs, vs 73% for Houston. Yes, I know that number includes layups and dunks, but it's still pretty significant.

The biggest factor for me though is assisted rate, which we probably don't have stats for, but I know that Houston was assisted more even without the numbers.

Some people don't place stock in that, but for me it's important. To me it adds context to the efficiency.

[Kblaze8855]

I don’t care which think is the best mid range shooter. They’re all reasonable picks. I just happen to have the image saved recently from a discussion I saw people having about Dirk and realized it was relevant. But far as the numbers? I imagine the volume difference is because it’s counting 25 years in Houston played for real seasons of the last 25 while Sam played eight. I’m sure it’s at least a factor.

[tpols]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2509260010310104.jpeg

Dirk out on a tiny island by himself. :lol

Josh Smith his shadow in the name of duality.

[Kblaze8855]

I wonder where Brandon Bass and Shaun Livingston would be

[HoopsNY]

Allan Houston doesn't belong in this list. He was an outside shooter, not a mid range shooter, and certainly bot someone consistently creating his own shot in one-on-one moves. Big Dawg was good, but Cassell just better in the mid-range. He could post mid-range smaller PGs, pull up, or come off of a screen and hit the mid range.

How are you quantifying this? For example, during his prime, roughly 25% of his attempts came from 10-16 ft. Another 33-35% came from 16-29 ft.

I also disagree that Houston didn't consistently create his own shot. I watched his entire career and that's actually how he scored his points. The Knicks would typically iso him on the wing with him posting up and he'd face up his defender, dribble 2-3x and pop a middy with a water finish.

That being said, you might a point about Cassell, though I think offensive schemes and supporting casts matter when we consider a lack of doubles coming from opponents.

[Im Still Ballin]

Houston had maybe the craziest mid-range shooting season of all three in the 1999-00 NBA season. He shot 51.4% on 9.0 mid-range attempts/game (380/739) in the RS. 49.9% on 9.1 attempts/game (447/895) when including the PS. 48.1% assisted/51.9% unassisted ratio (215/447). League average for that year was 39.95% - call it 40%. Nearly 25% above LA (125+)/+10 rMidRange%.

Mid-range defined as 2pt FGAs from 10+ feet.

[Im Still Ballin]

For comparison, Shai shot exactly 50% on 7.1 attempts/game (350/700) in the 2024-25 NBA season. 13.1% assisted/86.9% unassisted. 42.8% league average = 17% above LA (117+)/+7.2 rMidRange%.

That ability to create self-generated shots off the dribble in isolation and as the PnR ball handler.

[HoopsNY]

Houston had maybe the craziest mid-range shooting season of all three in the 1999-00 NBA season. He shot 51.4% on 9.0 mid-range attempts/game (380/739) in the RS. 49.9% on 9.1 attempts/game (447/895) when including the PS. 48.1% assisted/51.9% unassisted ratio (215/447). League average for that year was 39.95% - call it 40%. Nearly 25% above LA (125+)/+10 rMidRange%.

Mid-range defined as 2pt FGAs from 10+ feet.

Doesn't surprise me. He was absolutely lethal. I remember watching him and getting mad that he wouldn't slash to the basket more (he was perfectly capable of it), but then he'd shoot from 15-17 ft out and it was usually a perfect swish.

[beasted]

How are you quantifying this? For example, during his prime, roughly 25% of his attempts came from 10-16 ft. Another 33-35% came from 16-29 ft.

I also disagree that Houston didn't consistently create his own shot. I watched his entire career and that's actually how he scored his points. The Knicks would typically iso him on the wing with him posting up and he'd face up his defender, dribble 2-3x and pop a middy with a water finish.

That being said, you might a point about Cassell, though I think offensive schemes and supporting casts matter when we consider a lack of doubles coming from opponents.

Just my memory. Watched hundreds of Heat vs Knicks battles as a Heat fan growing up. From what I recall, he had a Ray Allen type of midrange game, preticated on movement, head fakes and elite footwork. He was dangerous fron all areas, not necessarily just mid.

Like all 90s players, the mid-range was a steady diet, for sure, but when I think of his at his best, I don't think mid-range shooter, I just think shooter. If I was coaching a group of kids and I was pulling out game tape behind how to create space to get the mid-range shot off, I don't think I would think of Houston in maybe even the top 20 names that comes to mind, but Cassell would definitely be top 10 easy.

That's just my impression. Also, I wish we could find assisted stats to support whether I'm remembering right or wrong. I could very well be remembering all wrong.

[beasted]

Houston had maybe the craziest mid-range shooting season of all three in the 1999-00 NBA season. He shot 51.4% on 9.0 mid-range attempts/game (380/739) in the RS. 49.9% on 9.1 attempts/game (447/895) when including the PS. 48.1% assisted/51.9% unassisted ratio (215/447). League average for that year was 39.95% - call it 40%. Nearly 25% above LA (125+)/+10 rMidRange%.

Mid-range defined as 2pt FGAs from 10+ feet.

What's the assisted comparison to Cassell and others in the league?

[Im Still Ballin]

What's the assisted comparison to Cassell and others in the league?

Cassell's best mid-range shooting year was either 2000-01 or 2003-04. Here's how his numbers look:

2000-01: 45.9% on 10.1 attempts/game (436/949). 32.8% assisted/67.2% unassisted (143/436).
2003-04: 47.3% on 9.8 attempts/game (451/953). 26.6% assisted/73.4% unassisted (120/451).

And for Big Dog, 1999-00 or 2001-02:

2000-01: 48.4% on 10.2 attempts/game (425/879). 74.8% assisted/25.2% unassisted (318/425).
2003-04: 48.7% on 9.6 attempts/game (309/635). 65.7% assisted/34.3% unassisted (203/309).

[Im Still Ballin]

Houston had maybe the craziest mid-range shooting season of all three in the 1999-00 NBA season. He shot 51.4% on 9.0 mid-range attempts/game (380/739) in the RS. 49.9% on 9.1 attempts/game (447/895) when including the PS. 48.1% assisted/51.9% unassisted ratio (215/447). League average for that year was 39.95% - call it 40%. Nearly 25% above LA (125+)/+10 rMidRange%.

Mid-range defined as 2pt FGAs from 10+ feet.

Allan Houston's two best mid-range shooting seasons: 1999-00 and 2000-01.

1999-00: 49.9% on 9.1 attempts/game (447/895). 48.1% assisted/51.9% unassisted (215/447).
2000-01: 49.4% on 9.0 attempts/game (368/745). 47.3% assisted/52.7% unassisted (174/368).

[Im Still Ballin]

Some 3-10 feet shots are probably mid-range, too. Glenn is the best there, followed by Sam, then Allan.

Career 3-10 feet:

Glenn: 44.6% on 14.9% of FGAs
Sam: 42.4% on 9.3% of FGAs
Allan: 40.3% on 9.1% of FGAs