Cavs: 3 hidden stats that hint at what Lauri Markkanen will bring
Cavs: 3 hidden Lauri Markkanen stats – Historic shooting numbers as a 7-footer
Dirk Nowitzki was the greatest big-man shooter in the history of the league. For his career he hit 1,982 3-pointers, which is by far the most by a 7-footer, nearly double that of second-place Channing Frye. In fact, only 20 such players have even hit 100 career 3-pointers, and only five have cleared 500.
Lauri Markkanen is the closest to making it six, and he should do so early in the 2021-22 NBA season as he sits at 493 three-balls for his career, sixth on the list of career 3-pointers from a 7-footer. That’s an average of just over 123 3-pointers per season, or 2.2 3-pointers per game; Markkanen leads the pack with both numbers. In other words, just four seasons into his career, Markkanen has had the best shooting start for a 7-footer in the history of the NBA.
If Markkanen stays reasonably healthy this season he could pass Kristaps Porzingis and Andrea Bargnani to land at fourth on the list. Brook Lopez would therefor be the only active player ahead of him, and at age-33 he won’t be putting up major volume for long. By the time he finishes his newly-signed contract, at his current pace and if he plays in 75 games per season, he could be in second place on this list behind only Nowitzki.
Next. 3 lineups with Lauri Markkanen they should try. dark
Markkanen is far from a complete player, and he has a lot of work to do in order to be regarded as the caliber of player as Nowitzki or even Lopez. Yet when we are discussing the all-time great shooters, the numbers demand that right now we include Markkanen in that discussion. His hot start is unique in NBA history for a player his size, a fact that will help the Cavs unlock something special on offense for years to come.