Is KAT a better 3-point shooter than Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young?
Now that the Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns has beaten the Atlanta Hawks superstar in the Mountain Dew 3-point contest, let’s look and see if he is really a better shooter. Towns has been saying that he is the best shooting big man in the game, a pretty big claim since Dirk Nowitzki also won the 3-point contest.
However, we are not here to debate whether Towns is better than the legendary member of the Dallas Mavericks organization. He is not, but that is a debate for another day. We are here to look at whether Towns is better than Trae Young.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the comparison between the two players over their careers. Towns has the better record statistically, going 739-of-1864 which is good for 39.6 percent. Young has made 655-of-1859 which is only good for 35.2 percent. So based on statistics, it would seem that Towns has the advantage over the Hawks superstar.
Why Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young is a better 3-point shooter than KAT.
If you look at box scores only then you are missing the impact a player has on the game. Young is the best shooter on the planet from the logo and he takes more of these per game than Towns ever will. He is also the player who creates most of his shots against so much pressure.
Towns does not generate many of his own 3-point attempts, waiting on the perimeter to receive the pass from his point guard who has penetrated the paint. If Young was simply a catch-and-shoot player from deep like Towns he would have a much better record.
Young has to break down the defense on most offensive possessions. He has to look to make the right pass, particularly in the restricted area, or his own floater. It is very rare for Young to have a 3-point shot without pressure, when he does though he makes a high percentage of them.
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So, in answer to if KAT is a better 3-point shooter than Young, it is an emphatic no. While KAT is very good, he does not have the same pressure on him that Young does and this is the biggest difference.