Instant analysis: Kyle Korver remains one of the league’s best 3-point shooters

Kyle Korver is the latest in a series of deft deadline dealings by Cavs GM David Griffin. The former Hawks guard is known league-wide as a knock down 3-point shooter, but just how good has Korver been so far this season?

Korver is averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game per nba.com/stats. His 3 assists per 36 minutes are the second-highest mark of his career.

In his 14th season in the NBA, Korver is shooting 40.9% from 3 on 5 attempts per game. On the season, 65% of all Korver’s shot attempts have come from behind the 3-point arc. Additionally, he has been a marksman from the corners, making 51.9% of such attempts.

In Atlanta, Korver operated as the main floor spacer in a Pick and Roll-heavy Hawks offense driven by point guard Dennis Schroder.

Half of his 3-point attempts per game were assisted by either Schroder or Paul Millsap.

SynergySportsTechnology

As evident from his shot chart, Korver is at his best shooting from the right wing and corner, but has the ability to shoot the 3 from all over the floor.

A deeper dive into the per possession data (via SynergySportTech) paints a more complete picture of how Korver gets his looks.

The veteran is shooting 44.6% (62.8 eFG%) on Catch and Shoot jump shots, ranking him 12th among players with at least 100 Catch and Shoot opportunities. On unguarded Catch and Shoot looks? Korver is scoring 1.53 points per possession, shooting a blistering 54.4% (76.3 eFG%).

Unsurprisingly, Korver is the best spot up player in the league, scoring an excellent 1.55 points per possession and shooting 58.2% on all spot up looks.

While he doesn’t take many jumpers off the bounce, Korver prefers going right to attack a hard closeout, shooting 80% on pull-up jumpers driving right. This allows him to keep recovering defenders honest as they try to contest his 3-point attempts.

On the whole, Korver attempts a jump shot on 90.4% of all possessions he finishes (third most of any player in the NBA). He is shooting 42.6% on jump shots, ranking him in the 93rd percentile of all players.

On the defensive end, Korver grades out as around league average (0.92 points per possession—46th percentile). The Hawks did, however, struggle on defense with Korver on the floor, giving up 106.4 points per 100 possessions in his minutes per nba.com/stats.

As he has gotten older, Korver has struggled to guard the pick and roll as well as in isolation. His best attributes on defense mirror that of his offense—chasing players around cuts and defending spot ups.

By the numbers, Korver exceeds his reputation as an excellent shooter by continuing to be the class of the league from behind the arc. Notably, he also also has the acumen to put it on the deck and attempt an uncontested mid-ranger instead of forcing contested 3s. Although Korver may have lost a step on the defensive end, his 3-point stroke continues to be one of the best in the NBA.

All stats courtesy of Synergy Sports unless otherwise noted.