The New Orleans Pelicans currently have the second-worst record in the league after the Houston Rockets. However, a player on this team leads the league in the most insane statistic you can imagine. While the league has sharpshooters like Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Kevin Durant, a seven-foot center leads the NBA in three-point shooting percentage. And even though that sounds absurd, it is true.
Jonas Valanciunas currently leads the NBA in 3-point percentage. Who would've thought? 😲 pic.twitter.com/LchqtCYjOr
— theScore (@theScore) November 30, 2021
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Jonas Valančiūnas of the New Orleans Pelicans is currently leading the league in three-point percentage. Until last season, Valanciunas was barely attempting threes in the game at all. From that to leading the league in shooting threes is exceptional growth for a player of his caliber.
Jonas Valančiūnas beats Stephen Curry to lead the league in 3P%
In last night’s performance against the Clippers, Valanciunas casually dropped 29 points in the first half. What’s even more unbelievable is that he went 7 for 7 from the 3 point line in the first half itself.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 29, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots the ball over LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Moreover, he finished the game with 39 points, making him one of two players to complete an incredible achievement, i.e. to have 35 points and 10 rebounds in a game while making seven 3 pointers. Guess who he shares this achievement with? It’s Stephen Curry himself.
There are only two players this season with 35 PTS, 10 REB and 7 threes in a game.
Stephen Curry (Nov. 8)… and Jonas Valanciunas (today)
H/T @_Andrew_Lopez, @ESPNStatsInfo pic.twitter.com/5WFL9RqOCt
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 30, 2021
What does this mean for the NBA?
7-foot centers shooting 3 point shots with such high efficiency is scary hours for the league, if nothing else. Long gone are the times of Shaquille O’Neal-like centers who could not shoot a jump shot, let alone a three-pointer.
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Even Dwight Howard is shooting 3s with incredible efficiency this season. Had he added volume to his shooting attempts, Dwight would be leading the league in at his efficiency. This shows how far the game has developed now towards three-point shooting.
Dwight Howard is shooting 71.4% from beyond the arc this season. pic.twitter.com/t6RpURn3Xl
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 23, 2021
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Considering that the pioneer of the three-point shot’s growth in the league is Stephen Curry, is it now the time for 7 feet tall centers to overshadow what Curry did and lead a new revolution? Let us know what you think.
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