The 50-40-90 club is a bit antiquated. Entrance is gained by shooting 50% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 90% on free throws. Just seven players – Steve Nash (four times), Larry Bird (twice), Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Reggie Miller and Mark Price – have done it for a full season.
Teams have increasingly realized they should hunt more 3-pointers, which lowers 3-point and field-goal percentages while producing more efficient offense. True shooting percentage better aggregates all the relevant factors.
But 50-40-90 remains the classic measure of elite shooting, and it shows versatility of scoring. It’s a feat worth celebrating.
The Warriors have fully embraced the modern philosophy on 3-point shooting, and they still entered the 50-40-90 club as a team in Game 2 last night.
Golden State made 52% of its shots, 42% of its 3-pointers and 92% of its free throws. The Celtics are the only other team with a 50-40-90 NBA Finals game, posting 50%/44%/96% in Game 2 against the Rockets in 1986.
| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| GSW-CLE 2017 G2 | 52% (46-89) | 42% (18-43) | 92% (22-24) |
| BOS-HOU 1986 G2 | 50% (45-90) | 44% (4-9) | 96% (23-24) |
Here are the teams that came closest:
| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| LAL-BOS 2008 G2 | 49% (41-83) | 48% (10-21) | 100% (10-10) |
| IND-LAL 2000 G5 | 57% (39-68) | 50% (10-20) | 89% (32-36) |
| LAL-BOS 1984 G1 | 52% (43-83) | 50% (1-2) | 88% (28-32) |
| IND-LAL 2000 G4 | 50% (42-84) | 53% (10-19) | 86% (24-28) |
| BOS-LAL 2008 G6 | 49% (43-87) | 50% (13-26) | 86% (32-37) |
| SEA-CHI 1996 G4 | 56% (41-73) | 53% (9-17) | 84% (16-19) |
| MIA-OKC 2012 G2 | 47% (36-76) | 43% (6-14) | 88% (22-25) |
| LAL-PHI 2001 G3 | 47% (35-75) | 40% (4-10) | 88% (22-25) |
| MIA-OKC 2012 G5 | 52% (40-77) | 54% (14-26) | 82% (27-33) |
| SAS-MIA 2014 G3 | 59% (38-64) | 45% (9-20) | 81% (26-32) |
| DET-POR 1990 G4 | 46% (42-91) | 44% (7-16) | 88% (21-24) |
| DET-LAL 1988 G6 | 49% (39-79) | 40% (2-5) | 81% (22-27) |
| DAL-MIA 2006 G2 | 49% (34-70) | 42% (8-19) | 82% (23-28) |
| NJN-LAL 2002 G4 | 49% (45-92) | 44% (4-9) | 81% (13-16) |
| PHI-LAL 2001 G1 | 48% (40-83) | 36% (4-11) | 92% (23-25) |
| IND-LAL 2000 G6 | 47% (36-77) | 48% (12-25) | 84% (27-32) |
| IND-LAL 2000 G3 | 46% (36-78) | 39% (7-18) | 88% (21-24) |
| LAL-DET 1989 G2 | 45% (35-77) | 40% (6-15) | 85% (29-34) |
| MIA-SAS 2014 G1 | 47% (37-78) | 41% (12-29) | 82% (9-11) |
| SAS-DET 2005 G2 | 47% (29-62) | 46% (11-24) | 82% (28-34) |
| LAL-CHI 1991 G1 | 45% (30-66) | 50% (5-10) | 82% (28-34) |
| LAL-BOS 1987 G5 | 45% (43-95) | 50% (4-8) | 82% (18-22) |
| CHI-UTA 1997 G2 | 46% (32-69) | 38% (6-16) | 82% (27-33) |
| BOS-LAL 2008 G4 | 45% (33-73) | 36% (8-22) | 82% (23-28) |