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Eastern Conference star declares himself ‘on the same level’ as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, behind Stephen Curry

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 8:00 AM ET

One Eastern Conference player believes he is just as good as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, but Stephen Curry is above them all.

Stephen Curry is considered by many to be the greatest shooter of all time. But sometimes it’s easy to forget just how many great shooters there are in the NBA today.

Curry and the Warriors popularized the three-point shot and showed people that a jumpshooting team can find success in the NBA.

Several players who have entered the NBA since Curry’s rise to superstardom have made three-point shooting a pivotal part of their skillset.

But one NBA player believes he is the best three-point shooter outside of Curry, and on the same level as some other all-time great shooters.

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Michael Porter Jr. makes ‘second-best’ shooter claims behind Stephen Curry

Michael Porter Jr. recently did a stream with popular influencer Plaqueboymax. When discussing the best three-point shooters in the NBA, MPJ put himself among the best.

Porter Jr. claimed that Stephen Curry is the best shooter in the NBA, but other stars like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Trae Young are, at the very least, players he is on the same level as.

“Stephen Curry. That’s the only one I’m giving like a clear ‘elite, can shoot better than me.’ There’s dudes that are on the same level. I think Klay Thompson. KD, I think…

“If I got in the gym, like Duncan Robinson, he probably can shoot with me. You know, Trae Young, Dame… But I think Steph is the only one that’s clearly a better shooter.”

Porter Jr. is a strong shooter. In fact, his claim that he is on the same level as players like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson is actually correct.

Michael Porter Jr. has been an excellent career shooter

Michael Porter Jr.’s claim that he is the best shooter in the NBA, excluding Stephen Curry, is actually quite correct, as his numbers support this assertion.

The table below shows Michael Porter Jr.’s career three-point percentage compared to all the other players he mentioned. (The period for all shooters is from 2018 to 2025)

Player	Shooting Percentage (2018-2025)
Michael Porter Jr.	40.6%
Klay Thompson	40.2%
Kevin Durant	40.5%
Trae Young	35.2%
Damian Lillard	37.2%
Duncan Robinson	39.7%

The fact that Porter Jr.’s shooting percentage since he debuted is better than that of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard.

On the Brooklyn Nets, Porter Jr. looks to play a Nikola Jokic-type role. But he shouldn’t move away from his three-point shooting, as it is his strongest asset.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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