Five best shooting forms in NBA history, ranked

Across different eras, shooting forms have been a vital factor in the NBA. It has long been used as a deadly weapon to get points on the board. Throughout the years, NBA fans have witnessed several shooters carve out legacies.

But in the modern era, it’s safe to say that more and more players are gaining a little more courage to pull the trigger at a higher rate than usual, especially with more spacing and the ongoing 3-point revolution.

Many basketball fans will agree that a sweet shooting form is key to detonating some long-range bombs. In fact, many basketball coaches will often stick to the basic mechanics of shooting the ball. However, NBA players aren’t afraid to do some adjustments to improve their shooting efficiency. Let’s rank the five best shooting forms.

5. Steve Nash

There’s no doubt that Steve Nash has one of the most beautiful jumpers in NBA history. Furthermore, that sweet stroke translated to solid shooting percentages. He shot 43 percent on 3-pointers and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Nash also accumulated a true shooting percentage of 60.5 percent.

While Nash never really turned up the volume, in favor of playmaking, the back-to-back MVP did leave fans wondering what if he did shoot the basketball more, given his stable jump shot. Nonetheless, his ability to get in position and to set his shot up certainly contributed to his shooting accuracy.

4. Reggie Miller

Although Reggie Miller’s shooting form isn’t textbook, the shot certainly worked for him. But more importantly, Miller’s shot was sweet enough to earn the respect from his NBA rivals, especially after sinking several 3-pointers in his career while also doing some damage in the clutch.

In fact, with 2,560 three-pointers made, Miller was once the NBA’s all-time leader in career 3-point makes.

While some critics may look at Miller’s mechanics, the former Pacers star often found a way to get in rhythm, which led to a long arcing shot that often goes in. Although the textbook mechanics are a good guide, Miller’s shot reminds us that a few tweaks here and there is okay as long as one is shooting the ball at an efficient clip.

Considered to be the best shooter in the world, Stephen Curry has shot the basketball like no other. In fact, the statistics say it all. Curry is currently the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals with 3,747 and counting. Moreover, he’s also shooting the ball efficiently at 43 percent from beyond the arc and 91 percent from the free-throw line.

What separates Curry’s jumper from the rest is his ability to release so quickly while maintaining his accuracy whether from off the dribble or from a catch-and-shoot situation.

In fact, Curry’s jump shot, which his dad, Dell Curry, helped to transform, is so beautiful to the point that sometimes he doesn’t even need to look. Nonetheless, Curry’s shot looks so balanced, quick, and in-rhythm, making it so difficult to stop.

2. Dirk Nowitzki

As the very player who revolutionized the stretch big man, it’s safe to say that Dirk Nowitzki has one of the best forms in NBA history. While it was quite uncommon for big men back in the day to shoot from the perimeter, Nowitzki helped usher a new era with his elite shooting stroke.

Nowitzki often finds a way to get in a good balanced position for catch-and-shoot situations, capped off by a fluid shooting stroke. It was simply poetry in motion.

But aside from his regular shot, it’s his signature one legged fadeaway that takes the cake. Standing at 7 feet tall, Nowitzki takes advantage of his height by posting up before hitting his defenders with his signature shot. In fact, the shot was so unstoppable to the point that he carried the Mavericks team en route to the 2011 NBA championship.

1. Ray Allen

When it comes to the best shooting forms, many basketball fans will agree that Ray Allen has “it.” But more importantly, Allen does it with a high success rate, having made 40 percent of his shots from behind the arc and 2,973 career 3-point field goals, which was at one point the NBA record.

What made Allen so deadly is his ability to set his feet fast enough to be ready for catch-and-shoot plays. Moreover, his eye-catching form was usually money when his teams set him up. However, it’s Allen’s smooth one-motion stroke that allowed him to shoot the ball at a quick rate. As a result, it was hard to stop and certainly came in handy during clutch moments.