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One of the rarest achievement clubs in the NBA is the 50-40-90 club. A club inhibited by a few of the greatest and most complete shooters in the game. In fact, it is so exclusive, only nine players in the leagues' 75 years have registered their names in this ever-elusive club.
A 50-40-90 club involves three shooting stats and it also derives its name from the prerequisite needed in these three stat brackets. For a shooter to make it into this club, they need to shoot at least 50 percent from field goals and 40 percent from three-pointers, and 90 percent from the free throw line.
As we mentioned before, there have only been nine players in NBA history to become members of the 50-40-90 club. The most recent addition was post the 2020-21 season, when Kyrie Irving averaged 50.6 FG%, 50.2 3P%, and 92.2 FT%. Apart from him, three others from the club are current league players. These include Kevin Durant (2012-13), Stephen Curry (2015-16), and Malcolm Brogdon (2018-19).
Five NBA players who can join the 50-40-90 club in the 2021-22 season
However, 2020-21 saw a bunch of stars almost accomplish this prestigious stat line. If these stars continue shooting as consistently in the 2021-22 season, they will have a solid probability of making it to the 50-40-90 club.
#5 Kawhi Leonard (51.2 FG%, 39.8 3P%, 88.5 FT%)
Kawhi Leonard has been a phenomenal player this decade. Drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the 11th overall pick in 2011, Claw was immediately traded to the San Antonio Spurs. He managed to support Spurs' championship bid and won his first ring in 2014.
In 2019, he established himself as a player worthy of being considered a franchise leading star as he took the Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian team in the NBA, to their first ever championship win.
In 2020-21 NBA season, Kawhi averaged 51.2 FG percentage, 39.8 three-point percentage, and 88.5 percent from the free throw line. He is one of the top contenders for the club in the discussion.
#4 Tobias Harris (51.2 Fg%, 39.4 3P%, 89.2 FT%)
Tobias Harris is a consistent secondary scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers. His clutch moments, excellent free-throw shooting, and reliable field goal percentage make him an excellent asset for whichever NBA team he represents.
The former Clippers player averaged 21.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in the 2020-21 postseason. He served as an excellent substitute for the off-form Ben Simmons during Philadelphia's playoff run. Tobias managed to average 51.2 FG%, 39.4 3P%, and 89.2 FT% in 2021-22 and will try to register numbers that ensure his seat among the greats in the 50-40-90 club in 2021-22 NBA season.
#3 Mikal Bridges (54.3 FG%, 42.5 3P%, 84.0 FT%)
Mikal Bridges will be appearing in his fourth NBA season in just a few months and has consistently improved his game with each passing year. Bridges is, in all honesty, not the best scorer in the league or even his team. However, scoring is not the only means for a player to establish himself as a worthy talent.
What makes Mikal a noteworthy pro-baller is his overall talent. He is a decent ball-mover, a high flyer, has a good jump shot package, and can defend ferociously. The man has undeniable potential and it shows in his numbers. He averaged 54.3 percent of field goals, 42.5 three-point percentage, and 84 free-throw percentage.
#2 Bogdan Bogdanovic (47.3 FG%, 43.8 3P%, 90.9 FT%)
Bogdan Bogdanovic has emerged as an extremely lethal beyond-the-arc shooter. Of his 7.6 three-point attempts per game in the 2020-21 NBA season, Bogdan managed to score 3.3 field goals from the three-point line. That is a brilliant 9.9 points out of his 16.4 points per game last season.
Bogdanovic plays for the Atlanta Hawks and was a key player in their run to the Conference Finals alongside his teammates Trae Young and Lou Williams. Bogdan has fulfilled two of the three compulsory criteria for enlistment into the NBA's 50-40-90 club. He averaged 43.8 percent from the three-point line and 90.9 percent from the free-throw line. The only thing he needs to improve is his field goal percentage from 47.3 to at least 50.
#1 Chris Paul (49.9 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 93.4 FT%)
Chris Paul led the league in the 2020-21 NBA season not only in mid-range scoring but also in free-throw percentages. Of his 2.6 FT attempts per game, he made an unbelievable 2.4 of them.
CP3 is currently one of the best point guards in the league. His insightful game IQ, self-made mid-range shooting, and cut throat competetiveness grant him the ability to perform big and clutch.
In the 2020-21 season, Chris Paul was the closest player to making it into the unique 50-40-90 NBA club. The Point God averaged 49.9 FG%, 39.5 3P%, and 93.4 FT%. He needs to only average 0.1% more in FG and 0.5% more in 3P per game in the 2021-22 NBA season to be counted alongside the like of Larry Bird, Steve Nash, and Reggie Miller.
Guess the Lakers players!
