My Top 5 Best "Tough Shot-Makers"

When people bring up who the "best scorers" are, what they really mean is best "tough shot-makers". They don't bring up the high volume, more efficient basketball players like Shaq, LeBron, Hakeem, Giannis, and Kareem because to them, the way they score isn't difficult to do. I beg to differ, but that's discussion for another day, I suppose.

So in honor of your criteria of ✌🏿best scorers✌🏿, I will list the 5 best "tough shot-makers" that I've watched and why I feel that way.

1. Steph Curry

6'3 not as athletic as most players who are guarding him but still finds ways to create space and get contested shots off. And he's also pretty efficient in doing do with this high level of difficulty. In 2015/16, Curry averaged 30ppg on 50% from the field and 45% from 3. That's never been done before and rightfully so, earned him a unanimous MVP award.

2. Michael Jordan

6'6 super athletic but was also a technician with creating space and evading defenders, even while in mid-air. He's one of the few guards to average 50% from the field for his career, at his size. MJ, in his career with the Bulls, averaged 31ppg on 50% from the field. 

3. Kevin Durant

6'10 with a 7'5 wing span. Sure, he has the ability to tower over players and shoot jumpers over them, but he does most of his work from the perimeter and high post area with an array of post moves, and crossover pull-up jumpers. Players his size are too slow, and players with his speed and agility are too small. Only a small % of his buckets come from the paint. Kevin Durant for his career averages 27ppg on 49% from the field and 38% from 3.

4. Dwayne Wade 

this might surprise some, but at 6'3, Dwayne Wade has found ways to get shots up at a high rate all while not using the perimeter as much as his peers. Flash had 4 seasons where he shot 50% or better from the field, averaging 23ppg during those seasons, two of which where he was the primary scorer for his team.

5. Kobe Bryant 

Kobe, a descendant of MJ, wasn't as athletic as him. Because of this, he was more of a technician. He's had the best footwork I've seen from a player of his size and maybe only second to Hakeem overall. His ability to create enough space to shoot jumpshots from the mid-range/perimeter can't go unnoticed. Kobe is a career 45% shooter from the field, which is why he's not higher on my list of tough shot makers. However, he deserved to be on this list. When post-MJ generation fans shoot balled up pieces of paper into trash receptacles, it's his name we utter. 

Honorable mentions:

Allen Iverson

Dirk nowitzki

Carmelo Anthony

Tracy McGrady

Vince Carter

Ray Allen

Derrick Rose