via NBA.com/stats
I wanted to compare KAT's effective field goal % (shooting% that accounts for 3s; aka how efficient of a shotmaker you are) relative to other high usage players in the league. I used a baseline of 22.5% usage rate (KAT's career low) for each season and a games played minimum of 45 games (except for '20, '23, and '26). His career efficiency is astounding.
| Year | Usage Rate | EFG% | Ranking/Total | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 24.3 | 55.5 | 6th/75 | 93rd |
| 2016-17 | 27.1 | 57.6 | 5th/66 | 94th |
| 2017-18 | 22.5 | 59.6 | 3rd/73 | 97th |
| 2018-19 | 28.0 | 57.2 | 7th/74 | 92nd |
| 2019-20 | 27.8 | 60.0 | 1st/75 | 100th |
| 2020-21 | 28.6 | 55.5 | 17th/77 | 79th |
| 2021-22 | 27.2 | 59.1 | 2nd/67 | 99th |
| 2022-23 | 25.0 | 56.5 | 23rd/89 | 75th |
| 2023-24 | 26.8 | 57.5 | 10th/79 | 89th |
| 2024-25 | 26.5 | 58.4 | 7th/73 | 92nd |
| 2025-26 | 26.0 | 48.7 | 58th/67 | 15th |
For 7 out of his 11 seasons, KAT has been in the top 10% in EFG, and in the top 25% in EFG among high usage players. Keep in mind KAT's game consists of long distance 3s and layups, and yet he still manages to be amongst the league's most efficient players, up there consistently with the likes of Jokic, Curry, Durant, and Giannis. He even led the league in 2020. I think the slight drop-offs in 2021 and 2023 can be attributed to a career high usage and an adjustment to a new system/position, respectively. These pretty consistent career numbers make this season a complete outlier. He has dropped a near 10% in EFG and is close to the bottom of the league, among players like Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe, and Cade Cunningham. I believe KAT will get it together but even at his worst, I wouldn't have imagined this precipitous of a drop-off.
5 comments
Math stuff shows that this is completely abnormal, and he should bounce back
With all that said, offense is/was not the problem with the team. It’s always been the defense that’ll be the bottleneck
He’s a terrible defender though. Has no chemistry with Brunson offensively
None of this means nothing when he can’t guard the paint and ESPECIALLY the 3pt line
Cade is near the bottom in EFG? Never would have thought that..