Kevin Durant Hasn't Shot Under 50% Since 2012; What About LeBron James, Stephen Curry, And Others?

LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, also prides himself on efficiency. In fact, since 2009, James has shot over 50 percent from the field in 14 of the last 16 seasons, an elite run in its own right, particularly for a perimeter-based forward who’s had to evolve his game with age.

- 2003–04: 41.7%

- 2004–05: 47.2%

- 2005–06: 48.0%

- 2006–07: 47.6%

- 2007–08: 48.4%

- 2008–09: 48.9%

- 2009–10: 50.3%

- 2010–11: 51.0%

- 2011–12: 53.1%

- 2012–13: 56.5%

- 2013–14: 56.7%

- 2014–15: 48.8%

- 2015–16: 52.0%

- 2016–17: 54.8%

- 2017–18: 54.2%

- 2018–19: 51.0%

- 2019–20: 49.3%

- 2020–21: 51.3%

- 2021–22: 52.4%

- 2022–23: 50.0%

- 2023–24: 54.0%

- 2024–25: 51.3%

Career FG: 50.6%

14 out of 22 seasons over 50%

His shot selection has evolved over time, moving from thunderous drives and mid-range pull-ups to a more refined arsenal of floaters, turnaround fades, and improved three-point shooting. 

What makes it even more impressive is that he continues to maintain this level of efficiency deep into his 40s, while still averaging over 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. Few players in history have aged with such grace, combining IQ, control, and offensive versatility to remain elite well beyond the usual athletic prime.

Stephen Curry 

Stephen Curry, meanwhile, is arguably the greatest shooter the game has ever seen, but his efficiency is a different kind. Curry has shot above 50 percent from the field in just one season, which is understandable given the sheer volume and difficulty of his shots. 

- 2009–10: 46.2%

- 2010–11: 48.0%

- 2011–12: 49.0%

- 2012–13: 45.1%

- 2013–14: 47.1%

- 2014–15: 48.7%

- 2015–16: 50.4%

- 2016–17: 46.8%

- 2017–18: 49.5%

- 2018–19: 47.2%

- 2019–20: 40.2%

- 2020–21: 48.2%

- 2021–22: 43.7%

- 2022–23: 49.3%

- 2023–24: 45.0%

- 2024–25: 44.8%

Career FG: 47.1%

1 out of 16 seasons over 50%

That number accounts for the insane difficulty and value of his shots: deep threes off the dribble, off screens, and from well beyond the arc, as well as near-automatic free-throw shooting (over 90% career). His perpetual off-ball motion creates chaos in opposing defenses, often leading to open looks for teammates. 

What separates Curry isn’t just the numbers; it’s that he’s changed how the game is played. He’s the most efficient high-volume perimeter scorer in NBA history, even if his raw FG% doesn’t scream dominance at first glance.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard deserves recognition in this conversation as well. Since becoming a full-time superstar, Kawhi has consistently hovered around the 49–51% FG range, doing it with a mid-range-heavy, isolation-driven style that’s incredibly hard to pull off at that efficiency. 

- 2011–12: 49.3%

- 2012–13: 49.4%

- 2013–14: 52.2%

- 2014–15: 47.9%

- 2015–16: 50.6%

- 2016–17: 48.5%

- 2017–18: 46.8% 

- 2018–19: 49.6%

- 2019–20: 47.0%

- 2020–21: 51.2%

- 2021-22: DNP (Injury)

- 2022–23: 51.2%

- 2023–24: 52.5%

- 2024–25: 49.8%

Career FG: 49.9%

5 out of 13 seasons over 50%

He’s also averaged over 25 PPG in multiple seasons while guarding the opposing team's best player. Leonard’s scoring approach is old-school: deliberate footwork, pump fakes, and fadeaways, a style that doesn’t lend itself to high-efficiency metrics in the modern NBA. Yet he’s made it work. 

While injuries and load management have limited his availability in recent seasons, his peak in Toronto and early Clippers tenure showcased just how devastating and controlled his offensive game could be when fully healthy.

James Harden

James Harden, by contrast, defined an era of high-volume, analytics-driven scoring. While his FG% has often hovered in the 44–46% range, Harden’s true shooting percentage (TS%) regularly surpassed 60% during his MVP-caliber years, thanks to his ability to draw fouls, hit free throws at elite rates, and rain threes at volume. 

- 2009–10: 40.3%

- 2010–11: 43.6%

- 2011–12: 49.1%

- 2012–13: 43.8%

- 2013–14: 45.6%

- 2014–15: 44.0%

- 2015–16: 43.9%

- 2016–17: 44.0%

- 2017–18: 44.9%

- 2018–19: 44.2%

- 2019–20: 44.4%

- 2020–21: 46.6%

- 2021–22: 41.0%

- 2022–23: 44.1%

- 2023–24: 42.8%

- 2024–25: 41.0%

Career FG: 43.9%

0 out of 16 seasons over 50%

He achieved this by leaning into the most efficient scoring tools in the game: step-back threes, relentless drives that drew contact, and near-automatic free-throw shooting. 

During his MVP stretch with the Houston Rockets, Harden averaged over 30 points per game three seasons in a row, doing so with minimal mid-range usage and a playstyle designed to maximize expected value on every possession. He wasn't just a scorer; he was a system unto himself. Though his efficiency has declined in recent years, his peak redefined how teams view shot selection and offensive design.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the Greek Freak for good reason, has established himself as arguably the most dominant interior force in the game since Shaquille O’Neal. 

Over the past seven seasons, Giannis has hovered between 55% and 61% from the field, efficiency levels that are almost unheard of for someone averaging 30+ points per game.

- 2013–14: 41.4%

- 2014–15: 49.1%

- 2015–16: 50.6%

- 2016–17: 52.1%

- 2017–18: 52.9%

- 2018–19: 57.8%

- 2019–20: 55.3%

- 2020–21: 56.9%

- 2021–22: 55.3%

- 2022–23: 55.3%

- 2023–24: 61.1%

- 2024–25: 60.1%

Career FG: 55.1%

10 out of 12 seasons over 50%

His offensive dominance comes from his unstoppable drives, long strides, spin moves, and improved touch around the basket. Even without a consistent three-point shot or elite free-throw numbers, Giannis generates high-value looks nearly every trip down the floor. 

His shot chart is a blueprint for efficiency: paint-heavy, transition-powered, and rim-rattling. With his relentless motor, physicality, and ever-expanding skill set, Giannis has redefined what it means to be an efficient superstar in the modern NBA.

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic might be the most surgically efficient superstar the league has ever seen. The Serbian center combines old-school fundamentals with futuristic decision-making, creating a style that defies comparison. The three-time MVP owns a career FG% of 56.0% and shot 57.6% last season while averaging a triple-double.

- 2015–16: 51.2%

- 2016–17: 57.8%

- 2017–18: 49.9%

- 2018–19: 51.1%

- 2019–20: 52.8%

- 2020–21: 56.6%

- 2021-22: 58.3%

- 2022-23: 63.2%

- 2023-24: 58.3%

- 2024-25: 57.6%

Career FG: 56.0%

9 out of 10 seasons over 50%

Jokic doesn’t force shots; instead, he waits, reads, and reacts like a chess master, often one move ahead of the defense. Whether it’s a one-legged fadeaway, a feather-touch floater, or a perfectly timed pass out of a double team, Jokic almost always makes the optimal decision. 

Among big men, his combination of efficiency, scoring touch, and court vision is unprecedented. He’s turned unselfish brilliance and effortless precision into an unstoppable offensive engine, all without ever seeming rushed or overexerted.

Jayston Tatum

Jayson Tatum may not always be in the same breath as Durant or LeBron in terms of career efficiency, but he’s improved year over year. In the 2023-24 season, Tatum averaged 27.1 points on 47.1% shooting, including a career-high from inside the arc. His game is evolving, and if he continues trimming the fat from his shot selection, he could soon join the elite tier of efficient high-usage forwards.

- 2017–18: 47.5%

- 2018–19: 45.0%

- 2019–20: 45.0%

- 2020–21: 45.9%

- 2021–22: 45.3%

- 2022–23: 46.6%

- 2023–24: 47.1%

- 2024–25: 45.2%

Career FG: 45.9%

0 out of 8 seasons over 50%

However, Tatum will face a real test maintaining that efficiency next season as he returns from a devastating Achilles injury. 

As Kevin Durant noted, recovering players often see a drop in lift and power, especially on tough shots like step-backs and sidesteps — both of which Tatum uses heavily. The physical and psychological grind of rehab may require him to retool his game, especially early in the season.

Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic, now the new centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to be one of the most dominant offensive forces in the NBA. While he shoots around 48.7% from the field, his true shooting percentage hovers near 61%, remarkable for someone carrying that much usage.

- 2018–19: 42.7% 

- 2019–20: 46.3% 

- 2020–21: 47.9% 

- 2021-22: 45.7% 

- 2022-23: 49.6% 

- 2023-24: 48.7% 

- 2024-25: 45.0%

Career FG: 46.8%

0 out of 7 seasons over 50%

What makes Luka’s efficiency so special is how unhurried he looks in the chaos. He doesn’t rely on speed or explosiveness, but on timing, strength, footwork, and an uncanny feel for angles. Whether it’s bullying smaller defenders in the post, launching step-back threes, or drawing fouls with surgical precision, Luka manufactures offense at will.

Despite constantly facing double-teams and carrying the heaviest offensive burden in Dallas before the trade, he rarely forced bad shots. Now in Los Angeles, surrounded by improved spacing and the presence of LeBron James, the attention he draws could either lighten his load or raise his ceiling further. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is efficiency personified in today’s NBA. In an era where most high-scoring guards lean heavily on three-pointers, Shai continues to defy convention. He averaged 32.7 points per game this season on an incredible 51.9% shooting from the field, almost unheard of for a backcourt player who thrives in the mid-range and paint. 

- 2018–19: 47.6%

- 2019–20: 47.1%

- 2020–21: 50.8%

- 2021–22: 45.3%

- 2022–23: 51.0%

- 2023–24: 53.5%

- 2024–25: 51.9% 

Career FG: 50.1%

4 out of 7 seasons over 50%

What sets him apart is his patience and composure: Shai doesn’t rush, doesn’t force, and rarely wastes motion. He uses advanced footwork, change-of-pace dribbles, and sharp angles to create space where there seemingly is none. Add in his elite ability to draw fouls and convert at the free-throw line, and you get a player who controls tempo like a veteran and scores like a machine. 

His blend of grace, control, and physical toughness was on full display as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship, claiming not only the 2025 NBA title, but also Finals MVP and regular-season MVP honors. At just 26, Shai isn’t just one of the most efficient players in the league; he might already be the most complete guard in the world.

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving may be best known for his dazzling ball-handling, gravity-defying layups, and clutch playoff heroics, but beneath the highlights lies one of the most efficient offensive guards the league has ever seen. In the 2023–24 season, Kyrie averaged 25.6 points per game on 49.8% shooting from the field, 41.1% from three, and posted a true shooting percentage of 61.2%, elite marks for any position, let alone a 6'2" guard. 

- 2011–12: 46.9% 

- 2012–13: 45.2% 

- 2013–14: 43.0% 

- 2014–15: 46.8% 

- 2015–16: 44.8% 

- 2016-17: 47.3% 

- 2017-18: 49.1% 

- 2018-19: 48.7% 

- 2019-20: 47.8% 

- 2020-21: 50.6%

- 2021-22: 46.9% 

- 2022-23: 48.6% 

- 2023-24: 49.7%

- 2024-25: 47.3%

Career FG: 47.4%

1 out of 14 seasons over 50%

Kyrie’s offensive game is pure poetry: he can pull up, spot up, finish with either hand, and twist through traffic with unreal balance and body control. For over a decade, he’s been a master of scoring from all three levels with precision and elegance. 

Yet as he prepares for the 2025–26 season, a massive challenge looms: returning from a serious ACL injury at age 33. For most players, such a comeback would raise serious doubts. But Kyrie has never played by the rules of convention. If anyone can return to elite form through sheer skill and craft, it’s him, though the road ahead may be the toughest test of his career.

No One Truly Comes Close To Kevin Durant

When it comes to efficiency and scoring versatility, Kevin Durant stands in a class of his own. While legends like Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic have posted multiple seasons shooting above 50 percent, none of them carry Durant’s shot profile, a perimeter-heavy, three-level arsenal filled with contested jumpers, off-the-dribble threes, and isolations against the league’s best defenders.

Players like Stephen Curry and James Harden, though revolutionary in their own right, simply haven’t maintained Durant’s level of consistent field goal efficiency over such a long stretch. 

Curry’s shooting gravity warps defenses, but his raw FG% reflects the difficulty of his attempts. Harden’s analytics-driven approach yielded great true shooting numbers during his peak, but his overall efficiency tapered off sharply in recent years.

The only modern player who even begins to resemble Durant’s efficiency ceiling is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His mid-range craft, footwork, and ability to avoid bad shots have already led to three straight 50%+ seasons as a lead guard. 

But even Shai, for all his brilliance, still has a long way to go to match Durant’s 13-year streak of 50% shooting seasons, all while taking some of the toughest shots in the league.

Simply put, when you factor in volume, difficulty, and consistency, Kevin Durant is the most efficient high-volume scorer the game has ever seen.