Analysis: Early season shooting

The rankings above display this season’s top shooting teams in adjusted field goal percentage, which is a more accurate version of field goal percentage since it accounts for the additional value of three-point shots. Through 24 games this season, the ABA League average sits at 53% - identical to last season.

Digging Deeper

ABA League teams shooting at the level they did a year ago may not seem very exciting from a distance, but that would be dramatically unselling the weight of everything that has gone on since the competition ended prematurely in the spring. The long layoff has taken a toll on leagues across the world both on and off the floor, but as teams have returned to the court most have fought a lack of rhythm—particularly on the perimeter.

While many leagues have seen a steep drop in three-point percentage from last season, the ABA League has experienced no such regression. Not every team has shot the lights out in the early going, and the top teams are sure to ease back toward the average as the year wears on since no team in the last decade has shot over 60%, but it is hard not to be impressed with the early returns.

Last season, Crvena zvezda mts lead the ABA League shooting at FG% of 57% and they figure to be in prime position to lead the league in that category again, albeit with a very different roster. Jordan Loyd has played a key part in their success as he’s been on fire to start the year, but a half dozen of the team’s other key players have made the most of their opportunities on the perimeter.

Another team competing around Europe who will travel to meet Zvezda in less than a week, Mornar has found a similar level of success. Jacob Pullen has set the tone for his team, but the unselfishness and execution off the ball of this group has shined.

Mega Soccerbet is a different team than they have been the last couple years even if they remain young as usual. New addition Filip Petrušev teams with Marko Simonović to give them a formidable frontcourt pairing that seems to be simplifying things for Nikola Mišković and Stefan Momirov on the perimeter early on.

Budućnost VOLI features several familiar faces for ABA League fans and has been nothing short of explosive on the offensive end in the early going with 7 players averaging in double-figures. Their guards have not shot the ball particularly well off the dribble which speaks more to their upside offensively than a real weakness at this stage.

It has been a long offseason, and it is worth recognizing just how good many teams in the ABA League have looked early on despite all the reasons that they have not to.

Insights and Statistics Provided by Synergy Sports Technology