Atlanta Hawks: Top 5 Shooting Guards of All-Time
May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) reacts after making a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
This may be an upset pick, and one that surprises many people, but I’m already confident in saying that Kyle Korver will deserve this ranking when his Hawks career is all said and done. There is probably some debate about whether he should be listed as a small forward or a shooting guard, but basketball reference lists him as a shooting guard so I’m rolling with it!
Korver completed his third season with Atlanta in 2014-2015 and it was the best season of his career. Korver averaged 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 48.7 percent shooting, 49.2 percent shooting from outside and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Over the course of three seasons, Korver’s numbers are still ridiculous. He has averaged 11.7 points and 4 rebounds per game on 47.4 percent from the floor, 47.4 percent from the three-point line and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Korver’s three-point shooting stretches the floor for Atlanta and makes their offense nearly impossible to stop. Though he’s only played three seasons with the organization, his impact on last season’s 60 win campaign is enough for me to vault him into the fifth spot in these rankings. Given how well his shot has aged, it’s not out of the question for him to continue putting up seasons in which he shoots well over 40 percent from behind the arc.
Few players in Atlanta Hawks history can boast shooting numbers anywhere close to Korver’s. He’s already made the fourth most three-pointers in franchise history with 595, leads the franchise in three-point percentage (47.4 percent) and leads the franchise in true shooting percentage (66.3 percent).
Next: Steve Smith