Basketball 101- Corner Three

Any of you who have watched NBA or WNBA basketball have heard the phrase “corner three.” A three point shot from the corner has actually become a popular weapon on all levels- high school, college, and pros. In the NBA, the corner three makes up 19% of all shots taken. The reason for the popularity:

1- In the NBA/WNBA, the corner three is only 22’0” vs 23’9” from above FT lines, so the corner three is almost two feet closer. In college, the shot is only 1.75” closer and in HS it is the same distance, so distance is really only a factor in the pros.

2- On every level, many coaches want their wings to run to the corner on the break. This forces defenses to get back farther, and allows either the wing to be open in the corner or if the defense gets to the baseline, it is apt to create shots out front on the break. 

3- Right now dribble drive and ball screens are heavily used. By putting players in the corners, it creates space for these offenses to drive. 

4- Statistically it is the most valued shot in the NBA. 

Mid-Range 2’s- 0.79 pts/shot

Above break 3’s- 1.05

Corner 3- 1.16

Layups-  1.20

Unchallenged corner 3-  1.29

History of Corner Three

Some experts say it began as a strategy of Gregg Popovich. He took Bruce Bowen who shot only 34% from three in his first five NBA seasons. Popovich stationed Bowen in the corner and made a corner three specialist. For the rest of his career, he shot 41% on corner threes. 

Al Horford now is the poster child for the corner three. In Horford’s first 7 seasons, he made a total of 10 threes. In one game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, he made 8 threes in the game. Horford has been 44.6% on corner threes. 

Stats on Corner Threes

Kyle Korver from 2013-2020 shot 50.7% on corner threes, which translates to an unbelievable 1.54 points per shot. 

During his career, Ray Allen took 894 corner threes. 

Jrue Holiday in 2024 has been 42.8% overall on threes, but has been 61.1% on corner threes. 

Steph Curry has been 40.8 on threes, and 42.9% on corner threes. According to Curry,”If I can get a corner three that’s wide open, it’s the greatest shot.”

Not All Corner 3’s Are The Same

Some players have a preference to shoot from one corner or the other. In the following- the first numbers is the players % from left and second from the right corner in 2024.

Seth Curry- 62-26

Zach Lavine- 53-36

Khris Middleton- 52-29

Coby White  48-31

Doug McDermott. 38-47

Duncan Robinson- 37-47

Lebron James- 33-57

Al Horford- 43-46

Steph Curry- 52-56

Jrue Holiday- 59-63

Is It Just The Shorter Distance?

The shorter distance makes a huge difference in the NBA. On college level there are players who are told they cannot shoot from the corner, but even on HS and college level the corner three is a valuable shot. 

1- Corner threes on all levels is a catch and shoot shot. Players are not moving and they tend to get their feet set- so they are going to shoot better in the corner.

2- Players shoot better when they receive a pass from the inside to the outside. When players drive in dribble drive actions, they will be kicking the ball out from the lane to the corner. This is a great pass for a player to catch, have your feet squared, and get the shoot off. The leading assist players in NBA history on passes for corner threes are Lebron James and Chris Paul- they are classic example of how corner three is created on any level (HS, college, pros). A player who can get into the lane, draw help, and then kicks the ball out to the corner. 

Is It Just a Fad?

Many teams on all levels are running offenses where they space the floor with five out- which means a player in each corner. Other teams are setting up with a player in each corner- and then having the other three almost operate 3 on 3. Many teams have instituted “corner hug,” to mean the defense never leaves the corner three point shooter to help on a driver or on a post. As long as basketball remains a game where offenses emphasize dribbling and driving- the corner three is here to stay.