Pacers forward Obi Toppin has been the best finisher in the league this season.
Shooting is the most important thing in basketball.
There are four factors that go into how well a team plays on either end of the floor, with the other three being free throw rate, turnover rate and rebounding percentage. And by far, the one that correlates most to overall success is effective field goal percentage.
Effective field goal percentage = (FGM + (0.5 * 3PM)) / FGA
With that in mind, here are the best shooters of 2024-25 in four different categories…
1. Paint shooting
Shooting in the paint is less “shooting” and more “finishing,” but it remains critical. The most valuable shots on the floor are those near the basket.
Highest FG% in the paint, 2024-25
| Player | FGM | FGA | FG% | %FGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obi Toppin | 186 | 251 | 74.1% | 47% |
| Jarrett Allen | 412 | 575 | 71.7% | 96% |
| Walker Kessler | 267 | 374 | 71.4% | 91% |
| Daniel Gafford | 259 | 369 | 70.2% | 99% |
| Jalen Duren | 345 | 497 | 69.4% | 99% |
| Luke Kornet | 153 | 223 | 68.6% | 98% |
| Goga Bitadze | 193 | 282 | 68.4% | 89% |
| Brook Lopez | 206 | 306 | 67.3% | 43% |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 610 | 910 | 67.0% | 74% |
| Victor Wembanyama | 209 | 312 | 67.0% | 36% |
Minimum 200 FGA in the paint (188 players)
%FGA = Percentage of total field goal attempts that have come in the paint
Through April 1, 2025
League average = 57.1%
Three additional notes:
- Obi Toppin‘s overall effective field goal percentage (63.4%) is down from last season (66.1%) because he hasn’t shot as well from outside the paint. But, at 6-foot-9, he’s been the best finisher in the league. Just two seasons ago, he shot just 61.9% in the paint.
- The best finisher under 6-foot-9 has been Christian Braun (66.0% in the paint), who has benefited from a lot of his paint attempts coming in transition. But his 1.32 points per possession in transition is the best mark among 54 players with at least 200 total transition possessions, according to Synergy tracking.
- Braun has also been the most improved finisher in the paint among 163 players with at least 100 paint attempts last season (when he shot just 51.4% in the paint) and at least 200 this season. He’s followed by Shaedon Sharpe (from 46.9% to 59.5%), Mikal Bridges (from 51.9% to 62.8%), Caris LeVert (from 48.2% to 58.5%) and Josh Hart (from 54.7% to 64.6%). The player in that group that’s seen the biggest drop off is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who’s shot 58.3% in the paint, down from 70.2% last season.
2. Catch-and-shoot 3s
There are two categories of 3-point shooting, and the official league leaders in 3-point percentage are mostly shooting off the catch.
Highest catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage, 2024-25
| Player | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | %3PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurean Prince | 124 | 245 | 50.6% | 82% |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 126 | 268 | 47.0% | 86% |
| Norman Powell | 102 | 219 | 46.6% | 55% |
| Kevin Durant | 135 | 296 | 45.6% | 80% |
| Payton Pritchard | 159 | 350 | 45.4% | 62% |
| Isaiah Joe | 139 | 308 | 45.1% | 73% |
| Nikola Jokić | 97 | 215 | 45.1% | 78% |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 101 | 227 | 44.5% | 73% |
| Grayson Allen | 120 | 273 | 44.0% | 86% |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 121 | 275 | 44.0% | 80% |
Minimum 200 catch-and-shoot 3PA (115 players)
%3PA = Percentage of 3-point attempts that have come off the catch
Through April 1, 2025
League average = 37.4%
Three additional notes:
- Taurean Prince would be the sixth player in the 12 seasons of tracking data to have shot over 50% on at least 200 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. He’s always been a good shooter, making 39.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s over the previous seven seasons. But he’s hit a new level this year, and it’s helped that 51% of his total 3-point attempts have come from the corners, up from 44% over the last three seasons.
- The best mark for a player with 200 catch-and-shoot attempts in those 12 seasons of tracking data belongs to Luke Kennard, who shot 52.6% on 213 attempts two seasons ago. And Kennard would be second on the list this season (48.4% on 184 attempts) if we reduced the minimum number of attempts below 200.
- Prince is also the most improved shooter among 96 players with at least 100 catch-and-shoot attempts last season and at least 200 this season. He’s followed by Ochai Agbaji (from 28.9% to 39.6%), Nikola Vučević (from 29.1% to 39.7%), Victor Wembanyama (from 28.3% to 37.7%) and Damian Lillard (from 32.3% to 41.5%).
3. Pull-up 3s
Players that can shoot 3s effectively off the dribble can create major advantages for their offense.
Highest pull-up 3-point percentage, 2024-25
| Player | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | %3PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach LaVine | 117 | 276 | 42.4% | 59% |
| Ty Jerome | 51 | 122 | 41.8% | 52% |
| Duncan Robinson | 68 | 163 | 41.7% | 38% |
| Cameron Payne | 44 | 108 | 40.7% | 47% |
| Jamal Murray | 84 | 207 | 40.6% | 54% |
| Jordan Poole | 129 | 326 | 39.6% | 56% |
| Darius Garland | 109 | 277 | 39.4% | 56% |
| Mike Conley | 55 | 140 | 39.3% | 48% |
| Anthony Edwards | 214 | 547 | 39.1% | 74% |
| Immanuel Quickley | 41 | 105 | 39.0% | 50% |
Minimum 100 pull-up 3PA (72 players)
%3PA = Percentage of 3-point attempts that have come off the dribble
Through April 1, 2025
League average = 32.9%
Four additional notes:
- Zach LaVine has been a better-than-average shooter off the dribble throughout his career (35.5% on pull-up 3s through his first 10 seasons), but this has been his best season by a healthy margin, topping his mark of 39.0% on pull-up 3s in 2020-21.
- The Wolves have two guys on this list and the leader would be Naz Reid (34-for-79, 43.0%) if we reduced the minimum to 75 attempts. As a team, Minnesota ranks first in pull-up 3-point percentage at 36.7%, just ahead of Cleveland (36.6%).
- Where’s Stephen Curry? Currently 13th at 140-for-369 (37.9%).
- Among 82 players with at least 50 pull-up 3-point attempts last season and at least 75 this season, Caris LeVert (from 27.5% to 40.0%) has seen the biggest improvement. He’s followed by Gary Trent Jr. (from 30.8% to 42.7%), Cam Johnson (from 24.2% to 35.9%), Jordan Clarkson (from 25.0% to 36.0%) and Jordan Poole (from 30.4% to 39.6%). The biggest drop-off has come from Brandin Podziemski (from 45.5% to 29.9%).
4. Pull-up 2s
Two is less than three and the mid-range shot is the least valuable on the floor. But it’s not dead and sometimes you just need a guy who can get to his spot and give you a chance to score late in the clock.
Highest pull-up 2-point percentage, 2024-25
| Player | 2PM | 2PA | 2P% | %Pull-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 89 | 157 | 56.7% | 73% |
| Ty Jerome | 76 | 138 | 55.1% | 53% |
| Khris Middleton | 63 | 117 | 53.8% | 64% |
| Tyler Herro | 117 | 221 | 52.9% | 41% |
| Kevin Durant | 227 | 434 | 52.3% | 85% |
| Devin Booker | 209 | 406 | 51.5% | 59% |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 253 | 501 | 50.5% | 60% |
| Bub Carrington | 74 | 148 | 50.0% | 48% |
| De’Andre Hunter | 50 | 100 | 50.0% | 57% |
| Jalen Brunson | 160 | 321 | 49.8% | 57% |
Minimum 100 pull-up 2PA (88 players)
%Pull-up = Percentage of total pull-up jumpers that have been 2-pointers
Through April 1, 2025
League average = 42.5%
Five additional notes:
- Most of Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s pull-up 2-pointers are floaters. He’s taken only 67 mid-range shots, but 520 (46%) of his 1,134 total field goal attempts have been paint shots outside the restricted area. His 56.7% on pull-up 2-pointers would be the fourth-best mark for a player with at least 100 attempts in the 12 seasons of tracking data.
- The best mark in those 13 years belongs to Kevin Durant (59.6% in 2022-23). This season would be Durant’s sixth of shooting 50% or better on at least 100 pull-up 2-point attempts, tying him with Chris Paul for the most in the 12 seasons of tracking data. But Paul (currently 74-for-151, 49.0%) still has a shot at shooting 50% or better for a seventh season.
- Paul accounts for one of the two times in those 12 years of tracking data that a player has shot 50% or better on at least 500 pull-up 2-point attempts, doing it in 2013-14 (51.4%). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did it last season (51.8%) and is doing it again this season (50.5%).
- Among 93 players with at least 75 pull-up 2-point attempts in each of the last two seasons, Nick Smith Jr. (from 30.1% to 43.0%) has been the most improved. He’s followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (from 33.3% to 44.7%), Stephen Curry (from 39.5% to 49.2%), Tyrese Maxey (from 37.2% to 46.0%) and Mikal Bridges (from 40.5% to 48.3%).
- Among the 116 players with at least 50 pull-up 2-point attempts and 50 pull-up 3-point attempts, DeMar DeRozan has the biggest differential between how well he’s shot on the 2s (48.7%) and how well he’s shot on the 3s (25.4%). Jordan Poole has the biggest differential (by a huge margin) between how well he’s shot on the 3s (39.6%) and how well he’s shot on the 2s (28.2%). Anthony Edwards and Malik Beasley are the only other players in that group who have shot better on pull-up 3-pointers than they have on pull-up 2s.
* * *
John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
