Splash Mountain Raining Threes

By Myra Leon

Brook Lopez, also known as Splash Mountain, is the 7-foot center for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The right-hand shooter is averaging 10.8 points per game this season, 1.4 of which are triples. Last season, Lopez averaged 12.5 per game, 2.3 of which were threes. Although these numbers are great, Brook Lopez did not perform like this in previous seasons.

When Lopez entered the league in 2008 with New Jersey Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets, his 3-point field goal attempts were 0.0 per game. This remained at 0.0 until his 2013-14 season with the Nets when it increased to 0.1 attempts per game. 

In his last two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, Lopez began developing his 3-point skills. He jumped from 0.2 to 5.2 three-point field goal attempts per game.

During his season with Lakers, he still performed great, but he didn’t exceed his 2016-17 record for 3-point attempts until his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks. 

In his 2018-19 season, Lopez set his highest record for 3-point field goal attempts of 6.3. His 2-point field goal attempts were lower for the first time since the start of his career in 2008. This trend is projected to remain the same at the end of the 2019-20 regular season. 

When asked about the evolution of his 3-point shooting, Lopez mentions that he has always had confidence in shooting a three, but not to the extent of which he was performing. In his first season with the Bucks, Lopez was shooting from 28 feet out or further, trailing only Stephen Curry, Trae Young, and Damian Lillard. 

Other players like the ones mentioned and teams such as the Houston Rockets have set new records for three-point shooting. The NBA noticed these game changes and even tested players’ abilities during this year’s 2020 All-Star Weekend.

This year, the 2020 Mountain Dew 3-point Contest featured two ball pedestals that were located 6 feet behind the 3-point line, and shots were worth three points. 

Despite Brook Lopez raining threes during his two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, he was not selected to participate in the 3-point contest. Should have he been selected? Please leave a comment.