JJ Redick is imploring Anthony Davis, teammates to shoot more 3s

JJ Redick is imploring Anthony Davis, teammates to shoot more 3s

Los Angeles Lakers star center Anthony Davis has not made more than 30 3-pointers in each of the last four seasons, knocking them down at a 24.8 percent clip.

Despite his struggles from 3-point range, Davis stated during his media day session Monday that new head coach JJ Redick–one of the best shooters of this generation, as a player–has been persistent about his star big taking more 3s in 2024-25.

“He has been on me all summer about shooting 3s,” he said, according to Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation. “Even in the Olympics when I would make a 3, he would text me and say that’s what I want to see and things like that. But for him, it’s definitely gonna be shooting more 3s. For me, I just try to work on everything. There’s northing in my game that I can’t polish or touch up so when I’m working out, I just try to hit every facet on my game.”

Davis, 31, has never been a high-volume 3-point shooter–never taking more than 20 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Though there has been points where he hasn’t been incredibly inefficient like he has over the last four seasons.

From 2016-20, Davis knocked down 32.6 percent of his 2.3 triple tries per game. That’s not great, but that’s not terrible for a player who was a non-spacing big beforehand when he was forced to play alongside Omer Asik and DeMarcus Cousins.

Davis isn’t alone, either; Redick wants the same from multiple of his Laker teammates, according to multiple reporters:

Rui Hachimura on speaking to JJ Redick: “I was just here working out and we talked for 30 minutes … he talked about wanting me to shoot more 3’s. He thinks I’m a great shooter. Offensively, defensively, I have to be involved more, and I think it’s going to be a big year for…

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 30, 2024

LeBron James said he's willing to adapt his game to whatever head coach JJ Redick wants this season, whether that's playing off the ball more or shooting more 3s. LeBron said he can do anything on a basketball floor and will plug in wherever LA needs him.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) September 30, 2024

Add Austin Reaves to the list of Lakers that JJ Redick wants to shoot more threes. Reaves was asked what he think Redick wants to add to his circle, to reference the media day presser:

"I think he wants me to shoot more threes."

— Jacob Rude (@JacobRude) September 30, 2024

The Lakers were dead last in 3-pointers attempted per 100 possessions last year, despite being No. 8 in efficiency. In the four years prior, they’ve ranked No. 23, 23, 20 and 27 in triple tries per 100, which isn’t good enough in the modern NBA.

Fortunately enough, three of the Lakers’ top qualifiers in that category–D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and LeBron James–are all still with the team. They also drafted sharpshooter Dalton Knecht, who shot 39.7 percent from deep on 6.5 attempts (9.5 3PA per 100) last year, No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Richard Jefferson: Lakers need 3 ‘All-Star caliber’ players to compete with Celtics

A consistent willingness to attempt more 3s is definitely one way to improve spacing–but you must be efficient. No defense is going to respect you if you make 25 percent of your 3s, regardless of your volume; that hinders your offense more than helps it.

I do think the Lakers’ No. 15-ranked offense will improve under Redick, should they stay healthy. But whether or not Davis is more efficient from deep remains to be seen.

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