Ben McLemore considered best rookie shooter among first-year peers

Ben McLemore rises for the jumper against the Atlanta Hawks. (Photo: Jonathan Santiago)

Ben McLemore is the best shooter in the 2013 NBA Draft Class.  At least that’s what most of his peers seem to think.

Yesterday, NBA.com released the results from its rookie survey and the Sacramento Kings guard came in first when it came to the question of best shooter.  The survey, which took place at the NBA’s annual Rookie Photo Shoot in New York, polled 36 first-year players on their responses on a variety of topics, including most overlooked and best defender.

McLemore took 19.4 percent of the vote, just barely edging out Reggie Bullock of the Los Angeles Clippers, who finished with 16.7 percent of the final tally.  The Portland Trail Blazers’ C.J. McCollum and Tony Snell of the Chicago Bulls rounded out the top five.

The 20-year-old rookie out topped the vote among his peers despite shooting 7-of-36 from 3-point distance in five Summer League games last month.  In one season at Kansas, he shot 42 percent from beyond the arc on 174 attempts.

McLemore received votes for other topics as well.  They were:

  • Who will be the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year? (Finished 5th)
  • Which rookie will have the best career?
  • Which rookie is the most athletic? (Finished 3rd)
  • Which rookie is the best defender?

Fellow Kings rookie Ray McCallum also earned some recognition among his first-year peers.  McCallum received consideration in the following categories:

  • Who will be the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year?
  • Which rookie will have the best career?
  • Which rookie is being the most overlooked?
  • Which rookie is the best playmaker?
  • Which rookie is the funniest?

The results of the entire survey can be read at NBA.com.

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