Originally Posted by
Pelicanidae
Lebron still can't shoot, so he's not a great example.
The difference is: how many of those players who ''couldn't shoot a lick'' actually tried? Lopez, for example, took precisely 31 threes over his first 487 career games. His skill set didn't include shooting, but at least part of that was because he wasn't trying. The first season he started actually shooting, he shot 34.6% on nearly 400 attempts. That was his first year even trying.
Similarly, if you look at Dedmon, he attempted 1 three in his first 224 games. Then, two seasons ago, he started shooting threes and immediately in his first year as a ''stretch 5'', shot 35.5% on 141 attempts.
Lonzo started throwing up a LOT of threes as soon as he got into the league. He's played 99 total career games and taken 523 threes already, and shot 31.5% on them.
Did any of the other guys you named ever shoot that badly from behind the arc while actively trying to be a shooter? Or did they just not have shooting as part of their game, like Dedmon and Lopez?
Also, what are you talking about saying Kawhi shot badly early in his career? He shot at least 37% from three in each of his first three seasons.
Edit: of course, Jason Kidd did shoot a lot of threes early, that is true. I give you that one. Kidd wasn't a consistent league average shooter until he was in his thirties though, so hopefully Lonzo isn't taking that path.