There are a bunch of ways to be a good shooter in the NBA. Some guys park in the corner and drill catch-and-shoot jumpers. Others fly off screens like it’s a track meet. Some pull up from 30 feet like it’s a free throw. Stars still live in the midrange. And then there are the bigs who just need to hit one triple to make a defense sweat.
But no matter the style of shooter, the ability to shoot is the most important skill in the NBA. So here are 10 shooting superlatives from the 2025 NBA Draft class, each spotlighting a different way to bend the floor:
Knueppel is lethal off the catch, making 43.3% of his standstill 3s and 38.3% of 3s off movement at Duke, per Synergy. His mechanics are pristine, his release is high and quick, and he barely needs any room to let it fly. Even with a hand in his face, the shot looks pure. If he ever develops into a consistent off-the-dribble threat, his ceiling takes on a whole new level of intrigue.
Johnson says his favorite NBA comparison is Ray Allen, and it’s easy to understand why when you see him sprint through screens, plant, square and fire all in one fluid motion:
The results back up the eye test: He made 40.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s as a Texas freshman, including over 50% of his 3s off screens. He’s just as deadly off the bounce. His footwork on step-backs and sidesteps is excellent, and he’s able to comfortably launch going either to his left or his right. Overall, he made 38.4% of his dribble-jumper 3s, per Synergy. He’s not the fastest or most physical guard in the class, but he does have some of the best balance, footwork and fearlessness, which make him the most dangerous shooter on the move in this draft class.
Sallis isn’t a knockdown 3-point shooter yet. But from the midrange? The dude is money. He made 52.3% of his pull-up 2s this season, per Synergy, thanks to a slippery handle, tight footwork and elite body control. He’s comfortable stopping on a dime, pulling up with balance or using a half-spin to flow into clean looks. Add in his touch on floaters, and Sallis has one of the most refined in-between games in the class.
After measuring just 6-feet and a half inch, Richardson officially became one of the shortest prospects in the class. But he’s also one of the most polished. His midrange bag is loaded with stop-on-a-dime pull-ups, high-arcing fadeaways and soft floaters, and he knocked down 45.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s as a freshman at Michigan State. He didn’t inherit his dad Jason Richardson’s size, which naturally raises real questions about whether he’ll be able to create enough separation at the NBA level. But what he did inherit is the scoring instinct, and that gives him a shot for success.
McNeeley’s college numbers don’t scream elite shooter since he hit only 31.7% of his 3s, which includes just 36.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and an ugly 15.2% of his dribble-jumper 3s. But he was lights out off the catch in high school, and the mechanics, touch and feel haven’t gone anywhere. At 6-7, he’s constantly moving, navigating screens, relocating and stressing defenses even when he’s not touching the ball. Even though his percentages were rough in college, it’s hard not to think that he’ll figure it out at the next level.
At 7-1, Raynaud attempted 5.5 3s per game as a senior, and these weren’t basic standstill looks. Stanford ran him off screens, let him trail into transition 3s and featured him in the pick-and-pop. He hit 34.5% from deep overall and 37.4% on catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy. Raynaud was even given the green light off the dribble, and though he wasn’t successful (2-for-20 total) it was a sign of continued growth considering he didn’t even start playing basketball full-time until his senior year of high school. Raynaud still has room to grow after four college seasons, but his trajectory and skill set make him one of the most intriguing bigs in the class.
If you’re looking for a second-round bet to stick in an NBA rotation, Brea has a clear path given his shooting ability. He drilled 43.4% of his 3s over five college seasons on 4.9 attempts per game. With NBA range and a lightning-quick release, Brea has the footwork and balance to fire off movement. And though he doesn’t create a ton of space with the ball in his hands, he is capable of hitting side-steps against a closeout or the occasional pull-up out of pick-and-rolls.
Maluach isn’t a shooter yet, but the touch is there. At Duke, he made 76.6% of his free throws, 57.1% of his hook shots and 67.9% of his layups in the half court, per Synergy. He’s consistently been a solid free-throw shooter dating back to high school, and he has always taken a handful of 3s but just hasn’t made many of them. Maybe he never will either. After all, he wouldn’t be the first big man who can hit open gym 3s but can’t do it in games, when fatigue, pressure and lurking defenders all heavily influence shooting percentages. But there’s a chance he finds his shot someday, which would change the whole vision of what Maluach could be.
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Coward made 40% of his 3s this past season, but he played only six games and had only 30 attempts. It’s not a reliable sample, but it fits a pattern. In his three years playing Division I basketball, he made 38.8% of his 3s, including 40.6% on catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. Coward primarily thrived as a spot-up threat, but also flashed clean footwork coming off movement and soft touch on midrange pull-ups. Then he scorched the nets at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. The recent sample is small, but the long-term track record is legit.
Clayton landed all the knockout blows for Florida on its way to a national title. In the Sweet 16 against UConn, he hit a go-ahead, side-step 3 to take a late lead, then made a deep, off-balance 3 to bury the Huskies. Next round he topped it off with a Steph-like 3 in the final minute while fading away from the basket. Overall, Clayton hit 36.9% of his pull-up 3s and 39.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s throughout the season with many of them in high-leverage spots. He’s just 6-2, not a vertical athlete and already 22, so he’s a projected late first- or early second-round pick. But after what he did in March, you can’t help but wonder: Are teams overthinking this?
However you define it, shooting still defines everything in the NBA. These are only 10 of the many prospects you’ll find in my NBA Draft Guide, which features full scouting reports, player comparisons, and a two-round mock draft.
