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The 10 Best Midrange Scorers In The NBA

By Nicholas Agar-Johnson

Mar 23, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball over Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball over Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony shoots another mid-range jumper over another helpless defender. Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony is no longer an MVP candidate for the New York Knicks. Some might even argue that he is hurting the development of rising star Kristaps Porzingis. What cannot be argued, however, is that Melo is still one of the league’s best midrange scorers. He is taking the third-most attempts per game from that range with 8.4 per game and is making 43.4 percent of them, per NBA.com.

Melo is primarily an isolation scorer and his scoring in the midrange is no different. Anthony has been assisted on only 30.3 percent of his midrange looks. That number is around the level that would be expected of a high-usage point guard, not a 6’8″ forward who often looks best as a rangy power forward.

Even as he ages, Melo remains effective on those isolation jump shots. He is shooting 51.4 percent on pull-up jumpers and 60.7 percent on his fadeaways. He might not be as quick off the dribble as he was in his younger days, but his footwork in the post remains impeccable:

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist may be one of the league’s best defenders, but he is no match for a Carmelo fadeaway from the right block. With Dirk Nowitzki sidelined with injury for much of this season (which has unfortunately bumped him off this list for now), Carmelo Anthony has become the king of the old man midrange game.

However, Melo must cede his throne to the true king of the midrange — one who looks like he will hold the title for years to come.