I’m not sure really sure when Jordan was at his peak as a player, but it’s somewhere in the area ranging from late 80s to 93’. He was still the best player during the 2nd 3-peat, but I wouldn’t hesitate to put the early 90s Jordan over that version.
You can see him adapt during the years. I thought it was during the 91-92 season when you clearly see more emphasis on the post game and fade-away. He had it before then, but it wasn’t as polished nor did he use it as much before that 2nd title season. Then you can see he added some more to it from 95 on.
I know that lol. I was just pointing out how difficult it would be a say one single year was him at his peak. It's easier to just give him a peak range and go from there...
'88 may have have been his physical/athletic peak, though...
Overall for his career, MJ was 238/589 (40.4%) from three during those three seasons with the short line, and 343/1189 (28.8%) from the real 3pt line.
In the 12 years he played with a real 3pt-line, his best three seasons were 37.6% in 1990, 35.2% in 1993, and just 31.2% in 1991. Otherwise he never beat 29% from three with the modern line, not even in 1992 or 1998.
What's so tough about accepting that MJ had range out to 22 feet, but struggled from 23 feet and out?
What do his 3pt numbers look like when they're not cherry-picked?
'85-'88 postseasons: 5-17 combined from 3pt in 20 games '89 postseason: 10-35 in 17 games '90 postseason: 16-50 in 16 games '91 postseason: 10-26 in 17 games '92 postseason: 5-17 in 16 games before the Finals
Going into the 1992 Finals, NO ONE said that MJ was a good three-point shooter. 31% career from 3pt range and hadn't made shyt in the first three rounds that year.
Before the '92 Finals, Portland said they were going to force MJ into jump shots because even in 1992, his reputation was that he was NOT an elite jump-shooter. MJ responded with that incredible 6-three half with Portland leaving him open and daring him to shoot. But you know how he did for the rest of the series? Just 6-22 (27%) from three the rest of the way.
'93 postseason: 28-72 (39%), by far his best year from modern 3pt range, literally the only postseason in which it was a reliable weapon for him. '95-'97 NBA offenses had been looking so ugly that they shorted the 3pt line to just 22 feet. MJ increased his volume...yet in those three season he still shot just 49-159 (30.8%) from three in the postseason. '98 postseason: NBA goes back to normal 3pt line, MJ pulls back on volume and shoots just 13/43 (30.2%) in 21 games '02-'03: Wizards Jordan obviously didn't make the playoffs, but was just 26/108 (24%) from three in the regular season.
MJ had 1 good season from three in 1993, plus one good half of a game in 1992. That's it for his postseason success from the modern line. And 99% of those shots weren't stepback threes, they weren't crossing his defender over and hitting the three off the dribble...the vast majority of threes that MJ took were simple open shots with a defender backed off of him.
Let's see if you can respond with actual basketball knowledge and not just focus on me and your man-crush on my posting. I doubt it.
lie in years in which he attempted more than 200 3's (not including 95 and 96) Jordan shot
37% in 1990 on 245 attempts
35% in 1993 on 230 attempts
37% in 1997 on 297 attempts
people are to caught up on %s not realizing he was attempting less then 100 3s in a season and most were bail out shot clock is low shows. They were not rhythm 3pt shots within the flow of the offense.
lie in years in which he attempted more than 200 3's (not including 95 and 96) Jordan shot
37% in 1990 on 245 attempts
35% in 1993 on 230 attempts
37% in 1997 on 297 attempts
people are to caught up on %s not realizing he was attempting less then 100 3s in a season and most were bail out shot clock is low shows. They were not rhythm 3pt shots within the flow of the offense.
Why would you count 1997? That was a short-line season just like 95/96.
In 1990 when MJ had his best regular season results from three, it was just because of one little hot streak he had a couple weeks in December (18-30) and two games he bombed threes in January (7-12 and 4-5). For the rest of the season he shot just 31.8% and he went into the postseason and made just 16-50 (32%) in 16 games. Plenty of volume but he wasn't hitting.
Literally the only season in his career that MJ was hitting modern-line threes at even an average clip throughout the season was 35% in 1993. Otherwise he was a streak shooter - he could get hot but he wasn't that good day in and day out. That's why he didn't shoot many of them - y'all don't think he would have taken more threes if he was going to make them?
Here's the biggest proof of that. In the 1996, 1997, and 1998 Finals, teams tried to close off the lane to MJ and he shot a lot more threes as a result. Do you know how he did?
1996: 6-19 in 6 games (31.6%) - short line
1997: 8-25 in 6 games (32.0%) - short line
1998: 4-13 in 6 games (30.8%)
Even when he was putting up decent numbers of shots, he wasn't making them at even a league-average clip.
I've seen shooting coaches point out that it was because he has form where he releases the ball at such a high point in his jump - it is better for elevating over guys in that 10-18 foot range but made it more difficult to be consistent on a longer shot than a player who jumped less or who released their shot in more natural rhythm with their legs.
I wouldn't say he's a GOAT shooter, but he's definitely a GOAT scorer, and GOAT shot selection guy. Wrap that in with his man-to-man defense in his prime and he's by far the best guard overall to ever play.
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