Survey: 1 in 3 NBA Fans Think Their Three-Point Shot Rivals the Pros

A new survey from ActionNetwork.com polled 4,398 NBA fans representative of the US adult population on how they think they'd actually perform against the pros, asking whether they could sink a half-court shot, how many buckets they'd score against an average pro in pick-up, and how their three-point shot compares to a pro's.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 2 in 5 NBA fans (41%) believe they could sink a half-court shot
• Over half of male fans (55%) think they could make the half-court shot, more than double the rate of female fans (24%)
• Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers fans are the most confident fanbases on the half-court shot, with 57% of each believing they could sink it, compared to just 27% of Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns fans, the least confident fanbases
• Surprisingly, nobody (0%) said they couldn't score a single bucket against an average pro, with fans expecting to average 2.4 buckets
• 1 in 3 fans (34%) think they could score 3 or more buckets in a pick-up game against an average pro
• Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers fans again lead the league, averaging 2.9 expected buckets against a pro, compared to just 1.7 for Indiana Pacers fans, the lowest of any fanbase
• Nearly 1 in 3 fans (31%) rate their three-point shot as on par with, or even better than, an average pro's
• Brooklyn Nets fans are the most confident fanbase of all on the three-point shot, with 64% rating theirs as better than, the same as, or almost as good as a pro's, compared to just 17% of Milwaukee Bucks fans, the least confident fanbase

ActionNetwork.com spokesperson comments

"A survey of over 4,000 NBA fans, representative of the adult US population, shows that fans aren't short on confidence in their own game. 2 in 5 fans (41%) believe they could sink a half-court shot, and that number jumps to 55% among men, more than double the 24% of women who say the same. Surprisingly, nobody surveyed expects to go scoreless against a pro, with the average fan backing themselves for 2.4 buckets, and 1 in 3 (34%) think they could hit 3 or more. Perhaps most strikingly, nearly 1 in 3 fans (31%) rate their own three-point shot as on par with, or better than, an average pro's.

Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers fans are the most confident fanbases on the half-court shot, with 57% of each believing they could sink it, compared to Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns fans, the least confident on this at just 27%, while Brooklyn Nets fans also lead the way on the three-point shot at 64%, compared to Milwaukee Bucks fans, the least confident fanbase here too at just 17%."

Question 1: Could you sink a half-court shot?

Despite being one of the toughest shots in basketball, 2 in 5 fans (41%) believe they'd make it, with confidence highest among men (55%) and under-55s generally, while fans 55+ are far more doubtful (25%). On the half-court shot, Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers fans are the boldest fanbases, with 57% of each believing they could sink it, more than double the 27% of Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns fans who say the same.

Question 2: How many buckets could you score against an average pro?

Not a single fan said they'd fail to score, and the average fan expects 2.4 buckets, with 1 in 3 (34%) predicting 3 or more. Younger fans are especially confident, with 63% of 18-24s expecting multiple buckets, nearly double the 35% of fans 55+ who say the same. Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers fans are the most confident fanbases here too, averaging 2.9 expected buckets against a pro, compared to Indiana Pacers fans, the least confident of any fanbase at just 1.7.

Question 3: How does your three-point shot compare to a pro's?

Nearly 1 in 3 fans (31%) say their three-point shot is better than, the same as, or almost as good as a pro's, with confidence strongest among 18-24s and 25-34s (47%), against just 18% of fans 55+. On the three-point shot, Brooklyn Nets fans stand out as the most confident fanbase by far, with 64% rating theirs as better than, the same as, or almost as good as a pro's, compared to just 17% of Milwaukee Bucks fans who say the same.

METHODOLOGY

• The survey was conducted in October 2026
• The sample comprised 4,398 US NBA fans
• All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2023) and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines (2023)

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