Kyrie Irving's latest ranking shows why Mavericks' biggest weakness should improve

The Dallas Mavericks were among the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season, and this is one of the reasons they lost over 50 games for just the second time in the 21st century. Dallas shot 34.4 percent from three on 31.9 attempts per game, which both ranked in the bottom five of the NBA.

Their 3-point shooting quickly became their biggest weakness in a season fans would love to forget about, but change is coming for the Mavericks in the form of Kyrie Irving. He has the touch and the playmaking for others to turn this issue into an afterthought.

He didn't play a single game last season after tearing his ACL in March of 2025, and his presence will help get Dallas' shooting back on track. The Mavericks have done an excellent job of adding shooters around their star-studded duo of Cooper Flagg and Irving during the offseason, but the real reason fans should have faith that better days are ahead behind the 3-point line is because of Irving's looming return.

One recent ranking shows why Dallas' poor shooting from last season should improve once Irving returns.

Kyrie Irving's ranking illustrates his greatness as a 3-point shooter

In a recent list by Bleacher Report titled "Ranking the NBA's 99 Best Shooters of All Time," Irving came in at No. 12. Of the over 5,000 players who have played in the NBA, Uncle Drew is just outside the top 10 for shooters. That's a massive honor, and he should be a major reason the Mavericks' 3-point shooting drastically improves.

They're adding one of the greatest shooters of all time to a roster that was revamped with shooters, and Dallas should be right back to lighting it up from beyond the arc.

Finally having an elite shot creator lead the offense will work wonders for the Mavericks' role players, but Irving himself is a knockdown shooter. He typically doesn't get enough credit for how great a shooter he is, and Bleacher Report's staff did right by him by placing him where they did on this list.

Irving's shooting has somehow gone overlooked

"Modern NBA fans likely know Kyrie Irving as much for his ball-handling and circus-like finishes around the rim as anything else," Bleacher Report wrote. "And honestly, that only serves to make the jump shooting even more impressive. So many of the makes over the course of his career were immediately preceded by a mesmerizing array of dribble moves. Crossovers, spins, counters on counters on counters."

This is what makes Irving's 3-point shooting so spectacular. He has a knack for hitting tough shots off the dribble, and he has developed into one of the best closers in the NBA. Kyrie takes his game to the next level when the game is on the line, and his level of shotmaking rises as well.

Dallas badly needs Irving's shooting

This is one thing that the Mavericks lacked last year. John Poulakidas, Klay Thompson, and Max Christie were strong 3-point shooters, but none of them can break their man down off the dribble and hit a tough shot when the game is on the line. This is Irving's specialty, and the numbers back this up as well.

He has drained 1876 threes over 779 regular-season games and 225 threes over 96 playoff games. Irving's long-range shooting has flown way too far under the radar due to all of the attention that his ball-handling gets, and Mavericks fans should prepare themselves for what they're going to witness next season.

His on-ball gravity is going to naturally create better looks for everyone else, but they're adding a player who's a 39.4 percent 3-point shooter to their team who shoots over six 3-pointers per game. This is elite efficiency on high volume, and he's going to carry his weight as well.

Whether he's draining a three off the catch from the wing or hitting a pull-up 3-pointer in transition, Irving is bound to help erase the Mavericks' shooting woes. Last season's struggles from beyond the arc were painful to watch, but Dallas finally has significant help on the way — and his name is Kyrie Irving.

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