When it comes to sports, there's always that chatter from the sidelines-fans claiming they could outplay the pros. But what do the players themselves think? We took a dive into the minds of the Brooklyn Nets to get their take on just how many points the average person could realistically score in an NBA game.
Michael Porter Jr., one of the league's standout scorers this season, didn't mince words: “The average person would probably score zero points in an NBA game.” With his impressive stats-24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc-Porter Jr. speaks from a place of authority.
Nic Claxton, however, offered a slightly more optimistic view: “I think the average person could score like four points. [If] they get set up right, they can get a couple of buckets.” It's a nod to the notion that, under the right circumstances, a couple of points might not be entirely out of reach.
Rookie Danny Wolf chimed in with enthusiasm: “I love this debate. I think if you had to stand in the corner for an entire game, you could get a ton of shots up.
You’ll be able to get a few buckets. Starter minutes, they can probably get two points.”
While some players like Terance Mann weren't on board with this optimism, others like Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams saw potential in the average Joe. Sharpe suggested, “[If] you can shoot open threes from NBA range, you can get about six.”
Williams added, “Maybe two on like a fast break, cherry pick. Maybe two.
If they get four, that’s pretty impressive. Maybe a technical free throw, something like that.”
The consensus among Claxton, Wolf, and Sharpe was that, depending on positioning, scoring a modest two to five points wasn't entirely out of the question. Yet, the reality remains that scoring at the professional level is a monumental challenge for the untrained.
The gap in strength, conditioning, and skill is vast. The quality of defense and the pressure of the big stage are daunting obstacles for anyone not accustomed to the rigors of professional play. Ultimately, the average person is more likely to struggle than succeed in such an elite environment.