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The ongoing debate over whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan is the Greatest Of All-Time is over. Atlanta Hawks shooting guard/small forward Tony Snell has surpassed them both in 2021.
Snell’s historic season.
Drafted No. 20 overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, the eight-year veteran closed out the regular season with the most efficient line in history. Snell became the first player (minimum 100 attempts) to ever make 50% of his field goals, drain 50% of his three-point attempts and hit 100% of his free throws.
- FG%: 51.5
- Average 3.6 attempts per game
- 3P%: 56.9
- Average 2.3 attempts per game
- FT%: 100
- Average 0.2 attempts per game
- Games played: 47
- Games started: 23
- Avg. minutes per game: 21.1
https://twitter.com/alsouqi_omar/status/1394098951511449606?s=20
Make your free throws, kids.
Snell’s wild season stat-line is not the only record he broke this year. In fact, his previous achievement helped him reach the 50-50-100 mark.
On March 13, 2021, Snell was fouled on a three-point attempt against the Kings. Sacramento head coach Luke Walton challenged the call, but it was ultimately upheld. That put Snell on the line for the first time in 2021. Thus, one of the most unique active records came to a halt.
After an NBA-record 471 (!!) minutes played without attempting a free throw, Snell drilled both shots. The makes marked his 37th and 38th made free throw in a row.
TONY SNELL HAS DONE IT!!!
The NBA record holder for most minutes played during a single season without attempting a free throw is OVER at 471.
big drama ensues as Luke Walton CHALLENGES but the call is upheld.
Snell steps to the line and drills them both, now 38 in a row! pic.twitter.com/XQGgJMkNdy
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 14, 2021
Snell’s streak continued throughout the remainder of the regular season, helping him become the only member of the 50-50-100 club. He made two free throws at Denver on March 28. Then he made seven-straight attempts in a four-game stretch against New Orleans, Golden State, New Orleans again, and Memphis from April 2 — April 7.
The 29-year-old has now made 47 free throws in a row, dating back to March 12, 2019.
Tony Snell’s wild ride.
Snell’s career has been consistent. He isn’t a superstar by any stretch, but he is rarely, if not never the worst player on the court. With that being said, he has been a part of some pretty unbelievable outlier moments.
On February 24, 2017, Snell played 28 minutes against the Jazz. He finished with 0-0-0-0-0. The only numbers on his entire stat sheet was 0-2 shooting and one foul. On November 7, 2019, Snell played 32 minutes against the Knicks. He went a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and made all six of his three point shots.
Two sides of tony snell pic.twitter.com/aQWuhlmdKQ
— Danny Murphy (@dmurph32) November 19, 2020
During the year in between, Snell joined elite company alongside J.J. Reddick. The two became the co-leaders for fewest offensive rebounds in NBA history among those who played at least 2,000 minutes. Snell recorded nine offensive rebounds in 2053 minutes. Duncan Robinson broke that record (?) in 2021 with six offensive rebounds in 2114 minutes.
Needless to say, Snell’s first eight years in the NBA have been nothing short of exhilarating. He and the Hawks will charge into the NBA Playoffs as the five seed in the East against New York. The Knicks will need to get together and figure out a game plan to stop the NBA’s efficiency G.O.A.T. to have any chance at winning.