The Golden State Warriors have two of the best shooters in the NBA in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. They’ve earned the “Splash Brothers” nickname, but after Curry and Thompson, the Warriors don’t shoot well from the three point line. While Curry and Thompson will be taking most of the shots from the perimeter, the Warriors need somebody to come off the bench and knock down some open jumpers.
No Warrior has ever won the three point shooting contest during All-Star weekend, but now the Warriors have signed two-time champion, Jason Kapono. Very few individuals can challenge the “Splash Brothers” in a shooting contest and Kapono is one of them. The 33 year-old small forward hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2011-12 season, but has nine years of experience under his belt.
Kapono spent four successful years at UCLA and was drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s jumped around the NBA a bit, but won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2005-06. The following season was the best of his career, he averaged 10.9 points per game and led the NBA with a .514 average from beyond the arc. The two years he won the NBA three point shooting contest, he also led the NBA in three point shooting percentage.
The seasoned veteran is the 19th player on the training camp roster and will have a tough time landing a roster spot. The Warriors have several young guys battling in training camp, but none can shoot better than Kapono.
Here is the press release from the Golden State Warriors:
The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard/forward Jason Kapono to a contract, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Kapono, 33, owns career NBA averages of 6.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 17.8 minutes in 509 games (87 starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. He last played professionally in Greece in 2012-13, appearing in 17 games for Panathinaikos and posting averages of 7.6 points, 1.6 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 17.0 minutes while hitting 45.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
The nine-year NBA veteran ranks fifth all-time on the league’s three-point percentage list, hitting at a career 43.4 percent clip, and ranks second in the category among active players behind only Warriors guard Stephen Curry (.440). Kapono led the league in three-point percentage with the Heat in 2006-07 (.514), and again the following season as a member of the Raptors in 2007-08 (.483), becoming the only player in NBA history to lead the league in the category in back-to-back seasons.
Originally selected by the Cavaliers in the second round (31st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Kapono won an NBA championship as a member of the Heat in 2005-06. The Long Beach, CA, native and UCLA alum last appeared in the NBA with the Lakers during the 2011-12 season.
Kapono will wear uniform #22. The Warriors roster currently stands at 19 players.