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The NBA playoffs are when the best and most prolific scorers shine. The lights are the brightest and it's a true testament to greatness when a player gets his team buckets at an efficient clip even when the pressure is amped up. Some of the most efficient scorers unsurprisingly operate in the paint as it gives them the best looks and highest percentage shots. Zion Williamson led the league in FG% for any player averaging over 20 points per game in the regular season but we, unfortunately, couldn't see him in the 2021 NBA playoffs.
Who are the most efficient shooters in the 2021 NBA playoffs?
For this ranking, we have taken players with a minimum of 150 shot attempts into consideration. Some of these players are the franchise's main scorers and all defensive attention is usually on them. These superstars still managed to shoot at an efficient clip and give their team buckets when they needed them most.
Amazingly, Philadelphia 76ers' Seth Curry won't make this list because he had a total of 147 attempts, three shy of our minimum requirement for this ranking. He shot at an absurd 57.8% from the field as a perimeter player. Moreover, Atlanta Hawks' John Collins is currently on 149 attempts and his postseason is still going on. Just one more shot and he would instantly crack this list as he is averaging 57% from the field.
But let's take a look at the five best shooters in the 2021 NBA playoffs.
#5 Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid was the best player and highest scorer on the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 28.1 points per game on 51.3% shooting from the field on 17.9 attempts a game. One of his highlights was when he dropped a playoff career-high 40 points on 52% shooting from the field in Game 2 against the Hawks and 36 points in Game 3 against Washington on 14-18 (77.8%) shooting.
#4 Kevin Durant
The fact that Kevin Durant operates everywhere on the floor, and not just the paint, is why his presence on this list is even more impressive. He was the primary scorer left on the team in the conference semifinals series as Kyrie Irving went down with an injury and James Harden was just a shell of himself. Durant dropped the second-highest playoff triple-double of all time with 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in a must-win Game 5 against the Bucks. KD shot 51.4% from the field in the 2021 NBA playoffs on 23.5 attempts per game with a total of 282 attempts.
#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo
It's no surprise that Giannis Antetokounmpo made this list. He lives in the low post and led the league in points in the paint during the regular season. An absolute freight train on the open court, nobody can stop the two-time MVP once he puts his head down and attacks the rim. His postseason is still going on so his percentage can go up or down but as of right now, he is shooting at an impressively efficient clip. Antetokounmpo has taken the most attempts by far from anybody on this list with 306 attempts and has knocked down 167 of them. He is shooting 54.6% from the field on 21.9 attempts per game.
#2 Kawhi Leonard
Unfortunately for LA Clippers fans, Kawhi Leonard had an unbelievable run in the 2021 NBA playoffs that came to an abrupt end. He was shooting at a remarkable 57.3% from the field on 19.4 attempts per game. Leonard was on his way to another incredible postseason run but hurt his knee in Game 5 against the Utah Jazz. He attempted 213 shots in the playoffs and made 122 of them. Leonard is one of the best midrange scorers in the league who can get his own shot anywhere on the court.
#1 Deandre Ayton
What the 22-year-old Deandre Ayton is doing in his first-ever playoff series is nothing short of historic. He is shooting at an absurd 70.9% from the field on 151 attempts so far, the most in NBA history by a wide margin. For context, the second person on this list is Leonard at 57.3%. DeAndre Ayton undoubtedly has had the best playoff run for a debutant and also has a game-winning dunk under his belt. In the first-round series against the LA Lakers, Ayton was unstoppable, averaging nearly 80% from the field.
Also Read: Ranking the best 3-point shooters in 2021 NBA Playoffs
Guess the Lakers players!
