Guess That Shot Chart! 2026 All-Star Edition
An interactive look at where All-Stars and Rising Stars are getting their buckets
Alrighty, folks, we’ve made it to the All-Star break! Remember: The key to enjoying it is low expectations. Every few years, the dunk contest is fun. Every few years, we get a decent All-Star finish. Don’t hold your breath for this weekend, but if you expect the worst, you can only be pleasantly surprised.
And hey, the three-point contest is almost always a good time, even if this year’s field leaned more heavily upon star power than the truly deserving.
Anyway, it’s time to continue an annual tradition. We’re guessing shot charts!
(I’ve run something like this a few times, inspired by a now-defunct ESPN feature, and people seem to like it. I’m always trying to figure out how to make sportswriting more interactive, to create pieces that allow me to engage with you in a more tactile way.
This is a fun and informative example that provides me with scaffolding to talk about interesting things. I want to run more pieces like this, so if you have seen other versions of interactive writing across any genre or have ideas of your own you’re willing to share, please write in the comments or email me at mike@basketballpoetry.com; I’d love to find more examples to steal from to inspire me!)
Here’s how it works. I’ll show you a shot chart of one of the named All-Stars or Rising Stars, and you guess who you think it represents (the lists of potential options are here). Then, at the bottom, I’ll give out the answers and discuss what makes that shot chart noteworthy.
Remember, shot charts have plenty of flaws. For example, they don’t show you how players generate shots (catch-and-shoots or off-the-dribble? Set plays or random basketball? Dunks or layups?), they ignore free throws, and they aren’t particularly precise (most players shoot more shots in the handful of hexes around the rim than anywhere else), but it’s a useful glance at the volume and accuracy of a player from all around the court.
I’ll make the first five multiple choice; the next five will be fill-in-the-blank for added difficulty. All charts are from Statmuse. Answers at the bottom.
Shot Chart 1
A) Nikola Jokic
B) Jalen Duren
C) Giannis Antetokounmpo
D) Donovan Clingan
Shot Chart 2
A) Kon Knueppel
B) Steph Curry
C) Norman Powell
D) Tre Johnson
Shot Chart 3
A) LeBron James
B) Kel’el Ware
C) Chet Holmgren
D) Jalen Johnson
Shot Chart 4
A) Jalen Brunson
B) Anthony Edwards
C) De’Aaron Fox
D) Bub Carrington
Shot Chart 5
A) Matas Buzelis
B) Alperen Sengun
C) Pascal Siakam
D) Scottie Barnes
Shot Chart 6
Answer: ____________
Shot Chart 7
Answer: ____________
Shot Chart 8
Answer: ____________
Shot Chart 9
Answer: ____________
Shot Chart 10
Answer: ____________
ANSWER KEY
Shot Chart 1
You may have guessed that this is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s shot chart, but it’s striking in how much it differed from last year’s chart.
Much was made, both here and elsewhere, about Antetokounmpo’s 16-footers last season. He nailed 47% of long midrange jumpers while shooting four per game, excellent accuracy on huge volume.
This year, he’s down to merely 28% from that range and has attempted just two per game. Whatever else you want to say about the 2025-26 Bucks, they’ve done a good job surrounding Antetokounmpo with capable three-point shooters. He’s taken advantage by steamrolling to the rim on 70% of his shots, yet another career high, and making them at a preposterous rate. While I’d love to see him continue to nail the Nowitzkian one-footers he toyed with last season, I love even more that he’s simply decided to abandon that shot for better-outcome looks at the basket.
That said, I’m not even sure how much more Antetokounmpo we’ll see this season. The team seems more interested in pivoting toward securing the best lottery odds possible, which will deprive us of a chance to witness an all-time great still very much in his prime.
Shot Chart 2