Thunder On Pace For One of the Best 3-Point Shooting Seasons of All Time
Oklahoma City's rise to the top of the Western Conference has taken the NBA by storm, and after five straight wins, this team is showing no signs of slowing down.
Of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the charge as a legitimate MVP contender, but this jump has been a total team effort. Jalen Williams has emerged as a second star and Chet Holmgren could qualify in the same category. The three-headed monster in Oklahoma City has Thunder fans clamoring for playoff basketball once again.
The culture and identity that Mark Daigneault set on the defensive end is certainly instilled in the group's rotation. The Thunder always preached that offense would come with it one day too. This season has been an example of that, and the offense has skyrocketed out of nowhere.
The team basketball approach has led to wide open shots all over the floor and jaw-dropping efficiency across the board. Out of nowhere, Oklahoma City's outside shooting ability has become a lethal weapon, and the well-oiled machine is almost impossible to slow down.
The Thunder ranks No. 1 in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 39.8%, just over 0.7% higher than the second-ranked Clippers. The team's volume is high too, ranking seventh in the NBA in triples made.
Not only is this Thunder team the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA this season, but shockingly, it's one of the best 3-point shooting teams of all time.
In the history of the NBA, the 2023-24 Thunder ranks No. 15 in 3-point percentage.
The all-time season record belongs to the 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets, who shot 42.8% from distance. While that number is extremely impressive, the Hornets only made 7.2 3-pointers per game.
To put it into perspective, the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors shot the same percentage as the Thunder, 39.8%, but only knocked down 10.3 triples per contest.
On the all-time list, this year's Thunder team would slot in second in NBA history in 3-pointers made per game behind the 2020-21 Los Angeles Clippers -- although after this season's conclusion, there are several teams set to join that list with the high volume of 3-point attempts in the modern NBA. None as efficient as the Thunder, though.
Oklahoma City has eight players shooting over 40% from 3-point range. Aaron Wiggins leads the pack at 51.8%, followed by Jalen Williams at 45% and Isaiah Joe at 42.6%. Lindy Waters III plays sparingly but is shooting 43.8%. Lu Dort is enjoying a career year from distance, shooting 40.4%. Both of Oklahoma City's rookies have been automatic too, as Chet Holmgren is knocking down 40.3% of his triples and Cason Wallace is at 42.1%. Kenrich Williams rounds out the 40-percent club at 41.1%.
Even Gilgeous-Alexander, who has never been a volume outside shooter, has upped his 3-point attempts to 3.3 per game at 38%.
It has been a full-on team effort in Oklahoma City, and the 3-point efficiency has been striking -- and even historic. The Thunder could make a deep playoff run, and outside shooting has a lot to do with it.
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