Playing alongside Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James has helped raise Deandre Ayton’s shooting stats.
Player development is a huge part of success in the NBA. The best teams are often those that thrive at making their players better. Additionally, that season-to-season improvement can change the trajectory for seasons and careers.
Shooting can come and go, and we’re still less than halfway through the season, so numbers will surely change over the next three months. Here’s a look at the players who have seen the biggest jumps (and drops) in different categories of shooting …
All stats are through Wednesday, Jan. 7.
1. Effective field goal percentage
Effective field goal percentage takes the value of 3-pointers into account: eFG% = (FGM + (0.5 * 3PM)) / FGA
Biggest jump, effective FG%, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGA | FG% | eFG% | FGA | FG% | eFG% | eFG% |
| Deandre Ayton | 468 | 56.6% | 57.3% | 299 | 68.9% | 68.9% | +11.6% |
| Reed Sheppard | 239 | 35.1% | 45.2% | 363 | 44.9% | 56.6% | +11.4% |
| Keldon Johnson | 770 | 48.2% | 53.8% | 329 | 57.4% | 64.3% | +10.5% |
| Miles McBride | 547 | 40.6% | 51.1% | 248 | 45.2% | 60.9% | +9.8% |
| Max Christie | 590 | 42.7% | 52.5% | 303 | 48.2% | 62% | +9.6% |
| Isaiah Collier | 555 | 42.2% | 45.9% | 162 | 51.2% | 54.9% | +9% |
| Alex Sarr | 828 | 39.4% | 45.7% | 377 | 50.4% | 54.4% | +8.7% |
| Kyshawn George | 546 | 37.2% | 47.6% | 315 | 46.7% | 56.2% | +8.6% |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 491 | 46% | 49.8% | 313 | 51.4% | 58.3% | +8.5% |
| Day’Ron Sharpe | 317 | 52.1% | 53.8% | 156 | 60.3% | 62.2% | +8.4% |
Minimum 150 FGA in each of the last two seasons (224 players).
The other end of the list…
Biggest drop, effective FG%, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGA | FG% | eFG% | FGA | FG% | eFG% | eFG% |
| Keon Ellis | 464 | 48.9% | 63.9% | 179 | 38.5% | 50.6% | -13.3% |
| Jared McCain | 274 | 46% | 55.3% | 186 | 34.4% | 42.2% | -13.1% |
| Brandon Williams | 188 | 52.1% | 58.5% | 317 | 43.2% | 45.9% | -12.6% |
| Aaron Nesmith | 379 | 50.7% | 61.7% | 214 | 37.9% | 49.3% | -12.4% |
| Jarace Walker | 360 | 47.2% | 57.6% | 304 | 36.5% | 45.4% | -12.2% |
| Jay Huff | 305 | 51.5% | 64.8% | 243 | 43.2% | 53.5% | -11.3% |
| Jarrett Allen | 640 | 70.6% | 70.6% | 240 | 59.6% | 59.8% | -10.8% |
| Brook Lopez | 774 | 50.9% | 59.9% | 178 | 36.5% | 49.4% | -10.4% |
| Nikola Jović | 377 | 45.6% | 56% | 199 | 38.7% | 46.5% | -9.5% |
| Sam Hauser | 474 | 45.1% | 62.7% | 243 | 37.4% | 54.1% | -8.5% |
Minimum 150 FGA in each of the last two seasons (224 players).
League average: 54.4%
League leader (minimum 150 FGA): Rudy Gobert (72%)
Biggest team jump: Charlotte, from 50.3% (30th) last season to 54.2% (17th) this season.
Three quick notes:
- Deandre Ayton has benefited from playing with a trio of playmakers. He’s been assisted on 83% of his field goals (the highest rate of his career), with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James accounting for 121 (71%) of those assists.
- After struggling to crack the Rockets’ rotation as a rookie, Reed Sheppard has played more like the guy that GMs predicted to be the best player in his Draft class.
- We should see a lot of second-year players near the top of this list, but it’s great for the Wizards for Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George to both be in the top 10.
- It’s amazing that the Celtics have the league’s second-ranked offense, with three guys – Sam Hauser (-8.5%, ninth biggest drop), Derrick White (-8.4%, 11th) and Payton Pritchard (-8.2%, 12th) – having seen significant drops in effective field goal percentage. Jaylen Brown has seen a big jump in efficiency with a huge jump in usage rate, and the team has also seen a big jump in offensive rebounding percentage.
2. Paint shooting
Dillon Brooks’ production in the paint is up in 2025-26, while his 3-point shooting is down a tick.
Here are the players who have finished better (and worse) in the paint…
Biggest jump, FG% in the paint, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGM | FGA | FG% | FGM | FGA | FG% | FG% |
| Quinten Post | 45 | 87 | 51.7% | 52 | 79 | 65.8% | +14.1% |
| Day’Ron Sharpe | 146 | 259 | 56.4% | 88 | 130 | 67.7% | +11.3% |
| Dillon Brooks | 146 | 313 | 46.6% | 118 | 204 | 57.8% | +11.2% |
| Jose Alvarado | 84 | 191 | 44% | 44 | 80 | 55% | +11% |
| Jerami Grant | 86 | 223 | 38.6% | 83 | 168 | 49.4% | +10.8% |
| Chet Holmgren | 115 | 198 | 58.1% | 165 | 240 | 68.8% | +10.7% |
| Alex Sarr | 194 | 414 | 46.9% | 149 | 259 | 57.5% | +10.7% |
| Noah Clowney | 45 | 105 | 42.9% | 58 | 109 | 53.2% | +10.4% |
| Jordan Clarkson | 98 | 213 | 46% | 78 | 139 | 56.1% | +10.1% |
| Draymond Green | 125 | 241 | 51.9% | 50 | 82 | 61% | +9.1% |
Minimum 75 paint FGA in each of the last two seasons (209 players).
The other end of the list …
Biggest drop, FG% in the paint, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGM | FGA | FG% | FGM | FGA | FG% | FG% |
| Aaron Nesmith | 93 | 151 | 61.6% | 28 | 75 | 37.3% | -24.3% |
| Jarace Walker | 82 | 146 | 56.2% | 49 | 123 | 39.8% | -16.3% |
| Derrick White | 136 | 213 | 63.8% | 74 | 153 | 48.4% | -15.5% |
| Patrick Williams | 96 | 201 | 47.8% | 30 | 90 | 33.3% | -14.4% |
| Jared McCain | 66 | 123 | 53.7% | 32 | 77 | 41.6% | -12.1% |
| Malik Monk | 236 | 420 | 56.2% | 53 | 119 | 44.5% | -11.7% |
| Jarrett Allen | 441 | 615 | 71.7% | 133 | 217 | 61.3% | -10.4% |
| Cason Wallace | 151 | 258 | 58.5% | 53 | 108 | 49.1% | -9.5% |
| Cameron Johnson | 163 | 260 | 62.7% | 47 | 88 | 53.4% | -9.3% |
| Ronald Holland II | 153 | 245 | 62.4% | 79 | 148 | 53.4% | -9.1% |
Minimum 75 paint FGA in each of the last two seasons (209 players).
League average: 57.4%
League leader (minimum 75 FGA): Ryan Kalkbrenner (80.7%)
Biggest team jump: Brooklyn, from 52.9% (29th) last season to 57.7% (11th) this season.
Three quick notes:
- Dillon Brooks has seen a jump in efficiency (and a huge jump in usage rate) after his move to Phoenix. He’s actually seen a significant drop in 3-point percentage, but has been a much-improved finisher in the paint after shooting just 48.7% inside over his first eight seasons in the league.
- Chet Holmgren shot 65% in the paint as a rookie, but saw a big drop last season. Now, he’s at 68.8%, a mark that ranks fourth among 78 players with at least 200 attempts in the paint. He’s also taken a career-high 61% of his shots in the paint.
- Pacers Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker are both near the bottom of the effective field goal percentage list above, and that’s largely about their finishing in the paint.
3. 3-point shooting
Tari Eason’s 56% on corner 3-pointers is one of the top marks in the NBA this season.
Here are the players who have shot better (and worse) from beyond the arc…
Biggest jump, 3-point %, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | 3P% |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 37 | 158 | 23.4% | 43 | 119 | 36.1% | +12.7% |
| Tari Eason | 63 | 184 | 34.2% | 44 | 94 | 46.8% | +12.6% |
| Kel’el Ware | 35 | 111 | 31.5% | 46 | 107 | 43% | +11.5% |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 62 | 189 | 32.8% | 56 | 127 | 44.1% | +11.3% |
| Bobby Portis | 65 | 178 | 36.5% | 71 | 150 | 47.3% | +10.8% |
| Keldon Johnson | 87 | 274 | 31.8% | 45 | 107 | 42.1% | +10.3% |
| Max Christie | 115 | 314 | 36.6% | 84 | 185 | 45.4% | +8.8% |
| Kyshawn George | 114 | 354 | 32.2% | 60 | 147 | 40.8% | +8.6% |
| Bub Carrington | 138 | 407 | 33.9% | 71 | 167 | 42.5% | +8.6% |
| Miles McBride | 115 | 312 | 36.9% | 78 | 172 | 45.3% | +8.5% |
Minimum 75 3PA in each of the last two seasons (192 players).
The other end of the list…
Biggest drop, 3-point %, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | 3P% |
| Tyus Jones | 166 | 401 | 41.4% | 26 | 85 | 30.6% | -10.8% |
| Jaylin Williams | 61 | 153 | 39.9% | 30 | 102 | 29.4% | -10.5% |
| Ja Morant | 88 | 285 | 30.9% | 16 | 77 | 20.8% | -10.1% |
| Jay Huff | 81 | 200 | 40.5% | 50 | 164 | 30.5% | -10% |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 157 | 372 | 42.2% | 52 | 161 | 32.3% | -9.9% |
| Jake LaRavia | 60 | 142 | 42.3% | 40 | 121 | 33.1% | -9.2% |
| De’Andre Hunter | 157 | 388 | 40.5% | 59 | 188 | 31.4% | -9.1% |
| Lonzo Ball | 67 | 195 | 34.4% | 32 | 121 | 26.4% | -7.9% |
| Luguentz Dort | 170 | 413 | 41.2% | 55 | 165 | 33.3% | -7.8% |
| Keon Ellis | 139 | 321 | 43.3% | 43 | 121 | 35.5% | -7.8% |
Minimum 75 3PA in each of the last two seasons (192 players).
League average: 35.9%
League leader (minimum 75 3PA): Bobby Portis (47.3%)
Biggest team jump: Charlotte, from 33.9% (28th) last season to 37.1% (sixth) this season.
Three quick notes:
- Wendell Carter Jr. saw improvement from 3-point range every season he was in the league before dropping from 37.4% in 2023-24 to a brutal 23.4% last season. So this season’s improvement is really just a return to form.
- Tari Eason shot just 34.5% on four attempts per 36 minutes over his first three seasons in the league, but is at 46.8% on seven attempts per 36 this season. His 56% from the corners is the best mark among 56 players with at least 50 attempts.
- Bub Carrington would be near the bottom of the paint-shooting list if he had one more field goal attempt inside. He’s 23-for-74 (31.1%) in the paint, down from 47.5% last season. But he’s negated those struggles with big improvement from beyond the arc.
4. Pull-up shooting
Blazers standout Deni Avdija has seen his effective FG% on pull-up shots drop 13.6% this season.
Here are the players who have shot more (and less) effectively off the dribble…
Biggest jump, pull-up effective FG%, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGA | FG% | eFG% | FGA | FG% | eFG% | eFG% |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 182 | 34.6% | 42% | 102 | 52% | 65.7% | +23.7% |
| Reed Sheppard | 81 | 28.4% | 34.6% | 142 | 41.5% | 50% | +15.4% |
| Jrue Holiday | 157 | 31.8% | 40.4% | 82 | 41.5% | 54.9% | +14.4% |
| Nikola Jokić | 142 | 31.7% | 38.7% | 80 | 46.3% | 53.1% | +14.4% |
| Miles McBride | 217 | 38.7% | 46.3% | 90 | 44.4% | 57.8% | +11.5% |
| Bobby Portis | 135 | 40.7% | 42.6% | 92 | 51.1% | 53.8% | +11.2% |
| Jaylen Brown | 407 | 35.9% | 42% | 373 | 46.1% | 52.3% | +10.3% |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 285 | 31.6% | 39.6% | 122 | 39.3% | 49.6% | +9.9% |
| Kyshawn George | 122 | 27% | 36.9% | 126 | 38.9% | 46% | +9.1% |
| CJ McCollum | 444 | 37.8% | 46.6% | 264 | 45.8% | 55.7% | +9.1% |
Minimum 75 pull-up FGA in each of the last two seasons (98 players).
The other end of the list…
Biggest drop, pull-up effective FG%, 2024-25 to 2025-26
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Diff. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | FGA | FG% | eFG% | FGA | FG% | eFG% | eFG% |
| Jarace Walker | 106 | 42.5% | 53.8% | 88 | 31.8% | 38.6% | -15.1% |
| Collin Sexton | 297 | 41.1% | 50.2% | 95 | 29.5% | 35.3% | -14.9% |
| Paolo Banchero | 433 | 38.1% | 44.5% | 141 | 28.4% | 30.1% | -14.3% |
| Deni Avdija | 111 | 44.1% | 57.2% | 140 | 35.7% | 43.6% | -13.6% |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 223 | 42.6% | 52.5% | 84 | 32.1% | 39.3% | -13.2% |
| Jordan Poole | 450 | 37.1% | 51.9% | 93 | 29% | 39.2% | -12.6% |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 223 | 48% | 51.8% | 97 | 39.2% | 41.2% | -10.6% |
| Quentin Grimes | 283 | 38.2% | 48.8% | 87 | 27.6% | 38.5% | -10.3% |
| Desmond Bane | 377 | 40.8% | 52.4% | 191 | 34.6% | 42.7% | -9.7% |
| Jalen Williams | 469 | 43.5% | 47.2% | 99 | 36.4% | 37.9% | -9.3% |
Minimum 75 pull-up FGA in each of the last two seasons (98 players).
League average: 46.1%
League leader (minimum 75 FGA): Tim Hardaway Jr. (65.7%)
Biggest team jump: Denver, from 45.7% (16th) last season to 52% (second) this season.
Two quick notes:
- Teaming up with Nikola Jokić should help your shooting, but Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn’t shot much better off the catch than he did last season. Instead, he’s an incredible 28-for-54 (51.9%) on pull-up 3-pointers. Add improvement from Jokić himself and Jamal Murray (less of a jump, but on almost twice as many shots as Hardaway and Jokić combined), and the Nuggets have the No. 1 offense in the league.
- Paulo Banchero banked in a pull-up 3 to beat the Nets at the buzzer on Wednesday, but he’s otherwise had a pretty rough year shooting off the dribble. The Magic still rank as the league’s second-most-improved offensive team, but they’d be in even better shape if their star didn’t have the sixth-lowest effective field goal percentage (49%) among 129 players with at least 300 field goal attempts.
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John Schuhmann has covered the NBA for more than 20 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.
