NBA All-Star Game: Hawks’ Kyle Korver an Unorthodox Star
For as subjective as it may be, stardom has a general definition. Even in the looser interpretations of the word, players who quality for star status—and in this case, the All-Star Game—fall within traditional confines of excelling in one or more of three areas: scoring, facilitating and defending.
In 2014-15, there should be a change implemented in the All-Star system. A sharpshooter down south is the man responsible.
Atlanta Hawks wing Kyle Korver is an unconventional All-Star candidate.
According to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has already thrown Korver’s name into the discussion.
"So coach, which Hawks player would get your All-Star vote?“Wow, that is a tough question,” Casey said. “Well, (Al) Horford you have to look at him. (Paul) Millsap is playing at a high level. I think the question comes between (Kyle) Korver and (Jeff) Teague, who do you pick because both of them are playing great.”"
It’s hard to go against Jeff Teague, a deserving All-Star candidate in his own right, but there doesn’t need to be a decision between the two.
Korver’s season averages of 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists don’t scream, “All-Star.” Fortunately, there are new means of evaluation to establish Korver’s importance to an elite 33-8 Hawks team.
Per Vivlamore, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau used an interesting word to describe that value: star.
"“Every year he gets better and better,” Thibodeau said. “It’s a tribute to the way he works at it, studies, prepares, his offseason conditioning work he puts in. It’s incredible. It’s not an accident what he’s doing. Everyone knows it’s coming. He knows how to get open. He plays for a team whose shooting complements its stars. And he’s a star in his own way. He has always embraced his role. He has always played for the team.”"
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens echoed the sentiment.
"“He averages 13 points per game, right?” Stevens asked before a Hawks-Celtics game last month. “But you go into the game and you have to treat him like he averages 30, or else it could be 30.”"
Korver is not your conventional star, but what he’s doing in 2014-15 is All-Star incredible. Whether or not he makes it, he deserves to be honored for what he’s doing.
It all starts with what’s on pace to be one of, if not the greatest 3-point shooting display in NBA history.
All-Time Shooting Season
Throughout his career, Kyle Korver has been known as one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s shot above 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in eight separate seasons, has converted more than 90.0 percent of his free throws in four and has made at least 100 3-point field goals in nine.
In 2014-15, Korver has elevated his shooting to an all-time level—in some regards, a best of all-time level.
The 33-year-old leads the league in 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goals made per game and 3-point field goal percentage. That combination is unheard of in today’s NBA.
The last player to lead the NBA in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage: Darrell Griffith in 1982-83—the fifth season in which the shot existed in the association. Griffin converted 91 shots from distance on 36.1 percent shooting.
Korvers’ already made 34 more shots from beyond the arc than Griffith while shooting 17.5 percent better.
With league-best marks of 125 3-point field goals made and 3.1 converted per game, his volume is as impressive as his efficiency.
The former Creighton Blue Jays star is shooting 53.6 percent from 3-point range. That’s not only the best mark of any player in the league, but it’s a historically significant number.
For starters, it’s an NBA record at this point of the season.
Kyle Korver (ATL): 53.6 3-pt FG pct, highest for any player through 41-team games in NBA history (@EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 18, 2015
Should Korver maintain that shooting mark, it’d match the NBA record for 3-point field goal percentage during a full NBA season. The player who currently holds that distinction: Korver.
He set the all-time mark in 2009-10 with the Utah Jazz.
In other words, the only player who Korver is chasing in efficiency is himself.
In 2014-15, he’s on pace to do more than just match his standard-setting shooting mark. When paired with the volume in which he’s converting, Korver is set to raise the bar.
If Korver were to stop shooting 3-pointers today, he’d go down as the fourth player in NBA history to record at least 100 3-point field goals made while maintaining a 3-point field goal percentage above 50.0 percent, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Korver only needs four more 3-point field goals to set the NBA record for the most converted by a player who shot at least 50.0 percent from distance. It’s only taken him 40 games to close in on it.
Maintaining his efficiency would be the only remaining task.
Korver’s true shooting percentage of .739 is on pace to be the highest of any perimeter player in NBA history, per Basketball-Reference.com. Korver’s current slash line of .515/.539/.920 would qualify him for the 50-50-90 club.
That club’s current member count: zero, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Korver’s groundbreaking season continues.
Better Than Your 2-Pointers
A fact that few touch upon is that 3-point specialists, who generally hover around 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, miss roughly 60.0 percent of their looks. The 3-ball is extremely valuable, but that level inefficiency in comparison to 2-point shots has capped their value.
Kyle Korver is breaking the mold.
Not only is Korver shooting an absurdly efficient 53.6 percent from beyond the arc, but he’s found a way to out-class the inside scorers. It’s all in the numbers.
Only 12 players in the association are shooting at least 53.6 percent from the field. 11 of whom are big men, while the other is small forward and reigning MVP Kevin Durant.
Korver’s averaging more points than seven of the 12. That only begins to scratch the surface.
The Hawks’ 3-point king is shooting more efficiently on 3-point field goals than all but five qualified NBA players are on 2-point field goals.
In other words, Korver is more efficient from beyond the arc than most players are from within it.
As for the rest of his game, Korver’s value is on par with some of the best in the league.
All-Star Value
It’s somewhat understandable that Kyle Korver having one of the greatest shooting seasons in NBA history doesn’t do it for you. A player making history in one area loses its luster if it doesn’t have a widespread impact on the game.
Korver is an exception to that usual tradition.
Thus far in 2014-15, the Hawks have a net rating of plus-12.3 when Korver is on the floor. When he comes off and goes to the bench, that number drops all the way to negative-2.3.
That’s a difference of 14.6 points per 100 possessions, per Basketball-Reference.com.
That’s the difference between being elite and being a below-average team.
It’s not a one-way number, either. For those who view Korver as a defensive liability, check the numbers: Atlanta, No. 5 in defensive efficiency, allows only 0.1 points per 100 possessions more with Korver on the floor than when he’s on the bench.
By the numbers, he has a positive Defensive Real Plus Minus, and the eye test, he’s actually been an effective defensive player.
Furthermore, Korver is No. 3 in the NBA and No. 1 amongst perimeter players in offensive rating at 127.8, per Basketball-Reference.com. Other Top 5 perimeter players include Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry.
No other player on the Hawks, No. 5 in offensive efficiency, is in the Top 15.
Korver is also No. 13 in Win Shares and Wins Above Replacement. That rounds out what’s nothing short of a star-caliber advanced metrics resume.
Clearly, Korver has some factors going against him. His usage rate of 13.8 percent is abysmally low for an All-Star, and his averages of 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.1 3-point field goals aren’t conventional star-caliber numbers.
The fact of the matter is, the best team in the Eastern Conference is elite when Korver is on the floor and below average when he isn’t. As quantified with numerous statistics, he’s just as valuable as a decoy as many stars are with the ball in their hands.
Once the ball does find Korver’rs grip, magic occurs.
If we’re to embrace the advanced metrics movement, then the All-Star Game should take these numbers into consideration. Not only has Korver been one of the most valuable players in the Eastern Conference, but he’s been vital to the success of the No. 1 team in the standings.
Korver is an unorthodox, but legitimate All-Star Game candidate.