LeBron James has prided himself on his ability to effect every aspect of a box score for his fourteen year NBA career. Three point shooting has never been his strong suit, but James has lifted those numbers above one of the best in the league this season.
James is 82-219 from deep so far this season, shooting at a 37.4% clip, well above his 30% numbers from the 2015-16 championship season.
On the other side of the fiercest rivalry in basketball, Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors is a known three-point bomber. Remarkably, he finds his numbers taking a slight dip on his previous career average, and falling behind LeBron’s numbers on the season.
LeBron’s ability to shoot the deep ball at a better percentage not only opens up his game, but everyone else’s around him.
Opposing teams now have to extend their on-ball defense to beyond the arc, meaning help defenders in the lane have to sag just little bit extra. This opens up dribble drive and kick plays for James, resulting in those wide open corner three’s we see for guys like Shumpert, Frye and Korver.
Just five days ago, the NBA released their updated ‘Kia Race To The MVP Ladder‘, and had Kevin Durant as high as #2. When you look at the numbers and see that James outscores, out-shoots, also leading Durant in assist and steal numbers, it’s a head scratcher as to why Durant leads LeBron in this conversation.
Whatever, Cavs rule, Warriors drool.