NBA Top 10: Shot chuckers

Everyone who has ever played the game of basketball knows that one guy who would shoot the ball way more than he should, and that’s a common occurrence.

However, every so often a player is so good at what they do, they can make a career out of it, and we have a name for these special creatures: ball hogs.

Today we honor those who have mastered the art of never swinging the rock.

No. 10: Bradley Beal

Beal today may be coming off the bench as the most expensive sixth man of all time, but back when he had the green light in D.C., he would let almost anything fly and for good reason, that man had no help.

Back-to-back years he led the league in field goal attempts between 2019-2021. But for the most part, Beal only did what he did because of his situation.

No. 9: CJ McCollum

He makes this list for a different reason than the others: his ability to either shoot a team back into or completely out of a game.

A perfect example is the Pels’ recent 25-point comeback against the Jazz just a few days ago, where McCollum scored 45 on 18/31 shooting.

“Well, great,” except prior to their back-to-back against the Jazz, he was a combined

12/42 (28.5%) in the three games before that. Truly one of the greatest off/on players of this generation.

No. 8 Dejounte Murray

A fellow Pelican and shot chucker, Murray is currently averaging 17.2 PPG on 16.2 FGA per game, which is some truly nasty work.

Lowest true shooting% in the league, since he was drafted Murray has had only one job and that is to get buckets, and he will do it at any cost.

No. 7 Luka Doncic

Luka Magic has only been around for a handful of years but has already cemented himself as one of the all-time greats in ball hoggery.

He has the highest usage % of all time with 35.4% and with that comes many more shots, he has the highest FGA/game since Allen Iverson with 20.76.

But it takes more than just shooting the ball a lot to be a shot chucker, and that’s why he’s down here at No. 7.

No. 6 Tim Hardaway Jr.

Many of you might not know about THJ in his prime, so I ask you to do your homework. Look up his performance at the 2014 Rising Stars game to get an idea of how ridiculous this guy’s shot selection is.

If you think it's much different in real games, it’s really not. Not much else to say, if you know you know but definitely worth the time.

No. 5 Russell Westbrook

Russ is one of the greatest PGs of all time no doubt. But none of his greatness was due to his shooting ability. Essentially the opposite of Steph Curry with none of the efficiency.

Lowest FG% of an MVP since 2000 and still they had to give him the award for everything else he did, truly a one of a kind.

No. 4 Michael Porter Jr.

You don’t get the nickname “never swing the rock” by being conservative with your shots. MPJ doesn’t care if you’re in his face, in the air or on top of him. That shot will go up.

Another one of those players that you just have to watch to understand, MPJ has never seen a shot that he didn’t like.

No. 3 James Harden

This man is the poster child for what it means to be a ball hog. He is the system, if you want to win a basketball game you give James Harden the ball and let him shoot as many times as he wants.

Only one of two players to make 3,000 career three-pointers and did it on almost 10% worse 3pt%, without a doubt the most successful shot chucker of this generation.

No. 2 Cam Thomas

These last two gentlemen are those who were born to let it fly, they think nothing else but “How can I get another shot off?” These two are what happens when the guy from LA Fitness who shoots it too much makes it to the NBA.

Cam Thomas was introduced to us on Feb. 7 back in 2023 when he became the youngest player to score 40 points in three consecutive games.

Since then, the Nets have begun their rebuild in the post-Harden (not surprising)/Durant/Irving era and Thomas has been given the green light and while he may have missed much of this season, you know that when he’s in, he will put up shots.

No. 1 Jordan Poole

Who else was this going to be?

Jordan Poole is the direct result of Steph Curry’s impact on the league in the most blatant sense possible.

The Golden State Warriors drafted him and pretty much said “go wild” and ever since he was allowed to put up some of the worst shot selections in league history with no repercussions.

Then he went to the Wizards and has been doing the exact same thing just as the first. option instead of the third.

Chris Vadnais is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email cmv5562@psu.edu.