As I was scrolling through NBA archives last week, a question popped into my head that I just had to research: Who are the worst 3-point shooters in NBA history? The answers I uncovered genuinely surprised me, and some of these stats will likely shock you too. Having watched basketball for over two decades, I’ve seen my fair share of awkward shooting forms and head-scratching misses, but the numbers behind these historically poor performances tell a story all their own.
Let’s start with a name many older fans will remember—Ben Wallace. The man was an absolute beast on defense, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, but when it came to shooting beyond the arc, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. Over his career, Wallace attempted 66 three-pointers and made just six of them. That’s a career percentage of 9.1%. I mean, I’ve seen high school players with better form. It’s almost impressive how consistently he struggled from deep, yet he’s still remembered as one of the greatest defenders the game has ever seen. It goes to show that specialization can make a legend, even with a glaring weakness.
Then there’s the case of Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq dominated the paint like nobody else, but his lone three-point make in 22 attempts feels almost mythical. I still remember watching one of those attempts live—the ball looked like a meteor hurled at the rim. His 4.5% success rate from downtown is the stuff of blooper reels, but honestly, he never needed that part of his game. What’s fascinating is how the game has evolved since Shaq’s era. Back then, big men weren’t expected to shoot threes; today, it’s almost a requirement. I can’t help but wonder how a player like Shaq would be developed in the modern NBA—probably with a lot more shooting drills.
But the most eye-opening example, in my opinion, is Andris Biedriņš. The Latvian center attempted 12 threes in his career and missed every single one. Zero makes. It’s one thing to be inefficient; it’s another to have a perfect record of failure. I’ll admit, part of me respects the audacity it takes to even try that many times without success. Biedriņš was known for his rebounding and put-backs, but from long range, he was practically a non-factor. Stats like these make you appreciate how much the game values spacing and shooting today.
Reflecting on these players got me thinking about how basketball contexts differ across eras and regions. Maybe this will change now from the second round of the championship, which will be played in SM Mall Asia Arena built in 2012. That line, which I came across in an old article, stuck with me because it highlights how the sport is constantly adapting. New venues, new strategies, and evolving player roles all influence what we expect from athletes. If Ben Wallace were playing today, you can bet coaches would be forcing him to take hundreds of threes in practice. The game’s demands have shifted so dramatically that historical stats like these almost feel like relics.
I reached out to a former NBA scout for perspective, and he put it bluntly: "In the past, if you were a defensive specialist or a dominant big, you could get away with being a non-shooter. Today, that’s a liability. Teams will leave you wide open and dare you to shoot, completely changing the offensive flow." He’s right—I’ve seen playoff games where poor shooters are intentionally ignored on the perimeter, creating a 5-on-4 scenario for the defense. It’s a brutal but effective strategy.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this? Well, for one, it’s a reminder that basketball isn’t just about stacking up strengths—it’s about masking weaknesses. These players are remembered for what they did well, not for their cringe-worthy three-point percentages. And honestly, that’s how it should be. But as the sport globalizes and arenas like the SM Mall Asia Arena host high-stakes games, the emphasis on versatile skill sets will only grow. Personally, I love that the game keeps evolving, even if it means we’ll never see another Shaq-style big man chucking up desperation threes. It’s bittersweet, but progress rarely looks back.
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