Comparing OKC Thunder Sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to NBA 3-Point Contest Participants
After being released by the Philadelphia 76ers just weeks before the 2022-23 NBA season, Oklahoma City signed Isaiah Joe to a standard contract.
In his first year with the Thunder, Joe had a solid season, averaging 9.5 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. Yet, despite Joe's impressive shooting numbers, the OKC sharpshooter was left off out of the 3-point competition last year.
With Joe now a more established 3-point threat and the Arkansas product having another solid season with Oklahoma City as a top-three seed in the Western Conference, many Thunder observers thought that Joe had a good chance at earning a spot in the contest in 2024.
Yet when the NBA released its list of 3-Point Contest participants, Joe's name wasn't there. Instead, Trae Young, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Karl-Anthony Towns and defending champion Damian Lillard will compete in this year's 3-point shootout.
Six of the eight aforementioned players currently have a lower 3-point percentage than Joe, with only Towns and Beasley hitting shots from beyond the arc at a higher rate.
So far this season, Joe is averaging 8.4 points while shooting 42.8% from deep on 4.7 attempts per game. Young, Haliburton, Lillard and Mitchell are all shooting under 40% from the perimeter this year, but take more 3-point shots per game than a role player like Joe.
Mitchell and Lillard have the lowest percentages out of the bunch, with Mitchell knocking down 36.3% of his 3-pointers and Lillard shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc.
Brunson is shooting 40.6% from the perimeter on 6.5 attempts per game, helping lead New York to a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite Brunson having a lower 3-point percentage than Joe, the Knicks' lead guard is taking nearly two more attempts per game.
Outside of Beasley, each of the 3-Point Contest participants is one of the main offensive options on his team. Joe, however, is not one of the primary playmakers in the Modern Frontier, granting him fewer opportunities than the aforementioned stars.
While Joe has had another good season for the Thunder, he is taking fewer 3-point shots per game than every player who is set to compete in the event on Saturday.
If Joe manages to replicate a similar production next year, there is a better chance he will get an invite to the 3-point contest if Oklahoma City is once again at the top of the Western Conference.
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