One of the best 3-point shooters of all-time, Kyle Korver of the Utah Jazz, might shoot under 40 percent from deep for just the second time in 10 years.
During his second stint with the Utah Jazz, Kyle Korver has fit in quite nicely. He’s 37 years old, but he still gets the job done and will probably be able to shoot the ball even when he’s on his last legs. Acquiring Korver from the Cleveland Cavaliers was a great deal for the Jazz.
Korver, however, is in “danger” of shooting below 40 percent from 3-point land for just the second time in 10 years, which is remarkable. The last time he shot below 40 percent, he just barely missed it, as he shot 39.8 percent from three during the 2015-16 season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Prior to that, the last time he shot below 40 percent from deep was during the 2008-09 season. As a member of the Jazz, a young, 27-year-old Korver hit on 38.6 percent of his triples that season.
The old sniper shot over 46 percent on threes as a member of the Cavaliers before being traded to Utah. With the Jazz, Korver is shooting 39.3 percent. There’s been quite a few times where I’ve wow’d at Korver missing an open look. Overall, he’s currently at 40.5 percent on the season.
You know what’s crazy? The Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, have never shot below 40 percent from three throughout a season. That’s almost 20 years of combined experience between the two. Korver is an all-time great shooter, but that just shows you how lethal the Splash Brothers are. Don’t take their greatness for granted.
40 percent is typically a goal that high-level shooters aim for when looking at 3-point percentage. Doug McDermott of the Indiana Pacers, a player commonly compared to Korver, recently said that shooting under 40 percent is a down shooting year for him.
I’m sure Korver would say the same thing.
Korver is currently shooting 36.7 percent from downtown during the month of March. He will need to finish the season strong if he wants to remain over 40 percent on the season. Knowing Kyle Korver, I’d bet on him catching fire and making it 12 out of 16 seasons in which he’s shot over 40 percent from three.