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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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May 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the fourth quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 118-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum continues to dominate on offense and is rising up the rankings of the league’s best mid-range scorers. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. C.J. McCollum

It seems somewhat premature to rank a player as young as C.J. McCollum as the third-best midrange scorer in the NBA. However, it is hard to argue with his volume and efficiency. McCollum averages 5.8 attempts per game from that area and converts on 49.0 percent of them–just barely behind Klay Thompson for second-best among players with five or more attempts per game. Many of the best midrange shooters in the game are on that list, but only Klay stands above McCollum’s efficiency.

Unlike Thompson, however, McCollum is generating most of those looks on his own. Only 32.3 percent of his midrange baskets this season have been assisted per NBA.com’s shot tracking data.

McCollum is undersized for a shooting guard at 6’3″ so he has to use his dribble to create open looks. He has a solid step-back jumper, as he converts 55.0 percent of his step-backs from inside the arc. He also converts his floating jumpers at a ridiculous 65.2 percent rate.

His most frequent and effective shot, however, is his pull-up jumper. Like Chris Paul, McCollum has mastered the art of keeping his dribble alive just long enough to create an opening in the defense. Once he has some space, he is quick to pull up for a shot that goes in more often than not against even the best defenders:

C.J. McCollum has knocked down 51.8 percent of his pull-up jump shots from inside the arc. More than half of his 96 midrange makes have come from pull-up jumpers. C.J. has made 51 pull-up jumpers this year from the midrange as of Thursday per NBA.com’s shot tracking data.

McCollum is not a newcomer to the midrange fraternity either; he attempted 5.8 midrange shots per game last season as well and canned 44.6 percent of them. C.J. McCollum is only a fourth-year player, but he can already score in the midrange with the best in the game.