Shooting consistently from the field is one of the keys to success with regard to players having an impact on their teams. A player who shoots a ton of jumpers from the perimeter often doesn’t have a high field-goal percentage because it is simply impossible to nail shot after shot at an extremely high level. Even the greatest perimeter shooters ever can’t shoot 60% from the field over their careers.
- 20. Jeff Ruland – 56.37%
- 19. Bo Outlaw – 56.74%
- 18. Amir Johnson – 56.97%
- 17. James Donaldson – 57.06%
- 16. Darryl Dawkins – 57.20%
- 15. Steve Johnson – 57.22%
- 14. JaVale McGee – 57.77%
- 13. Mark West – 58.04%
- 12. Shaquille O’Neal – 58.23%
- 11. Hassan Whiteside – 58.63%
- 10. Dwight Howard – 58.68%
- 9. Steven Adams – 58.74%
- 8. Mason Plumlee – 59.52%
- 7. Tyson Chandler – 59.66%
- 6. Deandre Ayton – 59.67%
- 5. Artis Gilmore – 59.90%
- 4. Montrezl Harrell – 61.88%
- 3. Clint Capela – 62.75%
- 2. Rudy Gobert – 65.40%
- 1. DeAndre Jordan – 67.50%
That is why centers and power forwards are often the players with the highest field goal percentages. Due to the fact they are generally close to 7 feet tall or even above 7 feet tall, they are able to get close to the rim and finish inside at alarming efficiency. Even if players shoot a ton of three-pointers these days, layups and dunks are both large parts of teams’ offenses because it is the most effective way to guarantee two points. Remember, defense wins championships, but offense wins basketball games.
But which players have the greatest efficiency of all time? Having seen the 20 greatest three-point shooters ever, it is time to focus on purely field-goal percentage. We have collected the 20 best field-goal shooters ever, historically and current, based on their percentages from the field over their careers. While some names are expected, including some of the largest players in terms of size, some other names could surprise you, considering the fact that they played so long ago while some are still playing today. Without further ado, here are the 20 best players based on career field-goal percentage.
20. Jeff Ruland – 56.37%
Field-Goals Per Game:
6.3 – 11.2 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,105 – 3,734
The 6’10” big man was a terrific inside presence when he was healthy as he retired following the 1992-93 season. Taken No. 25 overall in the 1980 NBA Draft, Ruland played the 1981 season in Spain and then competed in the NBA for the Washington Bullets, where he posted 14.4 PPG and 9.3 RPG.
Ruland would actually go on to make back-to-back All-Star Teams with the Bullets in 1984 and 1985, posting over 18 PPG and 11 RPG in each season. The center was effective with his back to the basket, and could play heavy minutes as required. The big man would only complete 332 NBA games over his career, however, as a retirement spell between 1988-1991 ended his prime years.
19. Bo Outlaw – 56.74%
Field-Goals Per Game:
2.2 – 3.9 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,005 – 3,534
The 6’8” power forward Bo Outlaw was a consistent presence finishing chances at the rim because he was not a great three-point shooter and was limited offensively. Outlaw was better at patrolling around the rim than he was anywhere else, which is why he finished his career with a 56.74% FG percentage.
Outlaw spent eight seasons with the Orlando Magic over two different stints and also competed for the Los Angeles Clippers over four years and the Phoenix Suns for three seasons. The player never managed to post at least 10 PPG in a single season, although he was always useful in terms of finishing put-backs.
18. Amir Johnson – 56.97%
Field-Goals Per Game:
2.9 – 5.2
Total Field-Goals:
2,558 – 4,490
Amir Johnson was a role player for most of his career, and that is why he only averaged at least 10 PPG twice in his career. The 6’9” big man was always a better power forward than a center, although he could occupy the latter position as well. Competing 14 years in the league, Johnson often found a home because of his inside presence.
Johnson could always score inside with consistency because he had solid athleticism and the right mentality to absorb contacts. He wasn’t the biggest guy nor the most technically skilled, but he knew his spots and how to be effective battling in the paint against anybody. During the 2009-10 season, Johnson shot 62.3%, which was his career-high over the qualifying number of games.
17. James Donaldson – 57.06%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.2 – 5.7 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
3,105 – 5,442
The 7’2” James Donaldson was a tough presence around the basket for the Dallas Mavericks, the franchise for which many might remember the big man competing with. The former No. 73 overall pick was not much of a scorer and preferred to rebound and play defense, although he could get it done around the basket as well.
Donaldson shot 57.06% from the field over his career and even made the All-Star Team as a member of the Mavericks during the 1987-88 season. The center posted 7.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 1.3 BPG that year and was a consistent presence as a huge player patrolling the paint.
16. Darryl Dawkins – 57.20%
Field-Goals Per Game:
4.8 – 8.4 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
3,477 – 6,079
The man known as “Chocolate Thunder” finished his career with an impressive 57.20% field goal percentage as a 6’11” center with solid finishing skills. Dawkins averaged 12.0 PPG over his career, so he was never an offensive liability and had nine straight seasons between 1978 and 1986 when he posted at least 10 PPG.
Dawkins was not much of a shooter and kept within the confines of the post, which is why he also averaged 6.1 RPG over his career as well. The center hardly missed when he got his passes inside the basket and was mainly remembered for playing with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets.
15. Steve Johnson – 57.22%
Field-Goals Per Game:
4.5 – 7.9 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,841 – 4,965
The 6’10” Steve Johnson was taken No. 7 overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings and had a very solid 10-year career. The big man only made one All-Star Team selection, and that came in 1987-88 with the Portland Trail Blazers when he averaged 15.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG.
Overall, however, Johnson was solid as a back-to-the-basket center and inside finisher who held a career 57.22% field goal percentage. Like most other big men on this list, Johnson knew his limits and kept to the lane even if he had a stretch of playing over 24 MPG for three seasons between 1986 and 1988. Regardless, the center retired following the 1990-91 season and is 15th on the all-time FG percentage list.
14. JaVale McGee – 57.77%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.3 – 5.8 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,876 – 4,978
Center JaVale McGee was often ridiculed for his mistakes and goofy style of play earlier on in his career but has since developed into a key shot-blocker and consistent finisher around the basket. McGee is a bundle of athleticism at 7’0” tall because he could sky for finishes at the rim and also leap and catch lobs as well.
McGee has shot a whopping 57.77% from the field so far in his career and that number will work if he continues to come off the bench and play minutes to clog up the lane. The former No. 18 overall pick has come a long way since his early days and he was most recently a valuable addition to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019-20 season when they won the NBA championship in the Bubble.
13. Mark West – 58.04%
Field-Goals Per Game:
2.3 – 4.0 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,528 – 4,356
Mark West, a former No. 30 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks, was a 6’10” center who made his living around the basket. The big man averaged a career 5.7 PPG, so he was not a go-to scorer by any means, but he had a long 17-year career with eight seasons in Phoenix and the remaining shared between Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Indiana, and Milwaukee. The center lacked offensive moves, but he did finish his chances at the rim.
West posted double-digit scoring only once in his career and that came in the 1989-90 season with the Phoenix Suns. The big man shot a whopping 62.5% from the field that season, which was the highest mark in the league, and he came through with the finishes time and time again. Being a large center and knowing his limits meant West was able to keep his FG percentage as high as possible.
12. Shaquille O’Neal – 58.23%
Field-Goals Per Game:
9.4 – 16.1 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
11,330 – 19,457
Easily a top-five center ever and the most dominant physical specimen in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant scorer who won two scoring titles and held a career average of 23.7 PPG over his illustrious 19-year career. In terms of scoring the ball from the center position, Shaq might only be behind Hakeem Olajuwon in terms of pure offensive firepower.
O’Neal was a force on the block thanks to a hook shot and also using his size to back down and throw jams time and time again. During the center’s run with the Los Angeles Lakers, in which he won three straight NBA titles, Shaq simply had no answer. We might never see a player as big, strong, and dominant as Shaq was, and no surprise, he shot an incredible 58.23% from the floor over his career.
11. Hassan Whiteside – 58.63%
Field-Goals Per Game:
5.3 – 9.0 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,687 – 4,583
Hassan Whiteside was a shot-blocking and rebounding phenom in his prime with the Miami Heat. Whiteside never had a go-to move on the block but was an excellent lob threat and a terrific offensive rebounder. The 7’0” center is currently dealing with criticism about his work ethic, but he was a great defender at one point in his prime as he made the 2016-17 All-Defensive Team and led the NBA in blocks on two occasions.
Hassan is extremely tall and long, which meant he could finish inside consistently and played with some great guards, including Dwyane Wade and Damian Lillard, which helped him pad his field goal shooting statistics. Whiteside had a soft touch around the rim and also a decent mid-range jumper which is why he holds a career average of 12.6 PPG on over 58% shooting from the field.
10. Dwight Howard – 58.68%
Field-Goals Per Game:
5.7 – 9.7 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
7,051 – 12,016
Dwight Howard is one of the greatest centers to have ever played on defense, as he is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and was a force for the Orlando Magic during his prime. Even today, he is showing his dominance in China for the Taoyuan Leopards. Going back to his NBA career, Dwight was certainly a force.
The superstar center made a career scoring a ton of points and posting 15.7 PPG because of his strength, size, and athleticism. Howard is one of the best dunkers from the center position and was also a lob threat around the basket. The big man could also score inside through a running jump hook and was effective even if he never really developed a go-to post move like other great centers.
9. Steven Adams – 58.74%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.8 – 6.5 (FGM – FGA)
Total Field-Goals:
2,713 – 4,619
Steven Adams is considered the strongest player in the NBA right now because he is literally an immovable presence in the paint. Standing 6’11” and weighing 265 lbs, Adams is capable of bullying any player in the NBA. Anytime Adams set screens, it was literally like running into a brick wall.
The man is clearly missed during the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers series because he is a game-changer on the defensive end of the floor. However, on offense, he has shown to be efficient near the basket, and playing with the likes of Russell Westbrook and Ja Morant over his career has skyrocketed his field goal percentage in terms of finishing lobs and inside passes.
8. Mason Plumlee – 59.52%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.4 – 5.7 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
2,508 – 4,214
Mason Plumlee, a current backup center for the Los Angeles Clippers, is one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history when it comes to finishing around the rim. Mason doesn’t have go-to post moves like some players on this list, but he can certainly dunk and make shots at the basket.
Standing 6’11” and weighing 254 lbs, Plumlee is well-built and is a terrific athlete for his size. He can run the floor well and is always near the rim to put back missed shots and also catch lobs consistently. Plumlee has had a 9-year career and averaged over 22 MPG so far, so he can certainly play a role in the NBA.
7. Tyson Chandler – 59.66%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.1 – 5.1 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
3,558 – 5,964
Tyson Chandler only averaged in double-digits scoring five times over his 19-year career, and was mainly earning minutes due to his shot-blocking ability and defense. However, when it came to catching and finishing lobs, Chandler was also extremely effective.
The 7’0” center had excellent hops for his size and skied high for dunks over helpless defenders during his prime. Like a few big men who appear on this list, Chandler had the benefit of playing with elite playmaker Chris Paul but also had Jason Kidd feeding him during his stint with the Dallas Mavericks.
6. Deandre Ayton – 59.67%
Field-Goals Per Game:
7.3 – 12.2 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
2,213 – 3,709
Current Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has been a machine in terms of finishing inside chances. Ayton has yet to make an All-Star Game in his career but is on track to becoming one considering how well he can finish around the rim with a soft touch.
Ayton is averaging 16.7 PPG over his career, and most of his looks have been near the basket. He isn’t just a merchant around the post, however, as he can nail the mid-range jumper and is adding a three-point shot slowly as well. As long as Chris Paul is feeding him, Ayton will shoot over 55% from the field every season.
5. Artis Gilmore – 59.90%
Field-Goals Per Game:
7.1 – 12.2 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
9,403 – 16,158
Artis Gilmore is incredibly large at 7’2” and 240 lbs but was an 11-time All-Star who eventually made the Hall of Fame. The center was a massive rebounder and defender in his prime, which is why he had a spectacular two-way impact. The big man shot a whopping 59.9% from the field and did it while posting 17.1 PPG in the NBA.
Gilmore wasn’t exactly a sharpshooter, but he was a consistent scorer inside due to his size and finishing. Artis is one of the greatest players to have played in the 1980s, and it was his two-way play down low that made him an elite center. In terms of the most underrated, Gilmore has to be up there as well.
4. Montrezl Harrell – 61.88%
Field-Goals Per Game:
4.9 – 7.9 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
2,506 – 4,050
Montrezl Harrell is an amazing finisher inside the paint, and that is despite the fact he stands only 6’7” tall. The power forward and center is definitely undersized but somehow is able to get buckets down low. Thanks to a mix of aggression and explosiveness, Harrell gets it done consistently down low.
Unlike most other bigs, Harrell isn’t a complete liability from the free-throw line as he shoots 66.4% from the stripe, so he is confident throwing down dunks and absorbing contact. Harrell rarely shies away from using his body, and that is a massive reason why he shoots such a high percentage from the floor.
3. Clint Capela – 62.75%
Field-Goals Per Game:
5.4 – 8.6 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
2,899 – 4,620
Clint Capela is another center that appears on this list despite not being a consistent shooter or scorer by any means. The Swiss-born big man is tall at 6’10” but has improved as a finisher at the rim since his days with the Houston Rockets when James Harden was feeding him lobs. He shot 63.4% from the field during his career with the Rockets.
Now a member of the Atlanta Hawks, Capela is shooting 61.7% from the field and has Trae Young feeding him easy chances. Capela relies on lobs mainly, although he is a capable offensive rebounder and is always able and willing to finish inside. That is why he is the third-most efficient scorer in NBA history in terms of field goal percentage.
2. Rudy Gobert – 65.40%
Field-Goals Per Game:
4.6 – 7.1 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
3,156 – 4,826
Rudy Gobert is a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and has been a consistent defender for the Utah Jazz when he became a multiple-time All-Star with the Utah Jazz. The center is a consistent shot-blocker and has tremendous length at 7’1”, so he will be an impact player even if he just stands near the rim with his hands up.
At the same time, Gobert can also finish when near the rim. The big man often gets criticized for being too finesse and not using his body enough, but he has a soft touch around the rim and has been a consistent presence to finish dunks as he starts a new phase of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
1. DeAndre Jordan – 67.50%
Field-Goals Per Game:
3.6 – 5.4 (FGM – FGA)
Field-Goals Total:
3,707 – 5,492
DeAndre Jordan is the man with the highest field-goal percentage of all time. Having played with one of the greatest passers ever, Chris Paul, Jordan benefited greatly from having lobs thrown to him consistently, and he was always able to finish. The 6’11” center is a large man, but his athleticism was always the reason he was able to finish inside consistently.
Give him credit because shooting over 65% from the field is impressive even for big men. Jordan is an offensive liability because he shoots a career 47.5% from the free-throw line and has gone 2-13 from three over his career. When it comes to dunks and finishing offensive rebounds, however, Jordan ranks 1st all-time.
