Should J.J. Starling Be More Aggressive? Syracuse Faces a Pivotal Question
J.J. Starling entered this season with expectations as high as the Dome’s ceiling.
A Preseason All-ACC Second Team selection and a former McDonald’s All-American, Starling was expected to be one of the engines driving Syracuse basketball back into national relevance. But ten games into the 2025-26 campaign, the senior guard’s role in the offense has taken a surprising turn - and not necessarily in the direction many anticipated.
Last season, Starling was Syracuse’s go-to guy. He took 16 shots per game and carried a usage rate that ranked among the top 50 players nationally, per KenPom’s %Shots metric.
This year? That number has plummeted to 9.5 attempts per game, and his %Shots has dipped from 31.8% to 24.2%.
He’s now fourth on the team in that category. For a player who was supposed to be the focal point, that’s a sharp drop.
So what gives? And more importantly, should Starling be doing more?
The Case for More Starling
Let’s start with the voice that matters most - head coach Adrian Autry. After Syracuse’s recent home loss to Hofstra, Autry didn’t mince words.
“He just needs to keep being aggressive,” Autry said. “He’s a guy that can get going. We need him to be aggressive.”
That’s not coach-speak. That’s a call to action.
With Donnie Freeman sidelined due to a lower-body injury - and no clear-cut alpha stepping up in his place - Syracuse has lacked a go-to scorer. That’s where Starling comes in.
He’s been that guy before. He knows the role.
And he’s got the skill set to take over a game when he’s locked in.
Starling himself acknowledged the need to strike a balance.
“Obviously, with the player I am and what I’m capable of, there’s got to be moments I pick up myself to where I got to be aggressive,” he said. “Not even just scoring, but making the right read and stuff like that. So I got to do a better job with that.”
This is a player who finished as a top-10 scorer in the ACC last season. Syracuse’s offense, especially with Freeman out, was built with the idea that Starling would be the face of the program. The guy with the ball in his hands when it matters most.
And right now, the offense needs a spark. Through 10 games, Syracuse ranks 107th in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
The Orange are 6-4, with a frustrating home loss to Hofstra highlighting the inconsistency. They’re not dominating the teams they should, and they’re not finding a rhythm offensively.
If ever there was a time to unleash your best scorer, it’s now.
The Case for Caution
But here’s the flip side - and it’s a big one.
Starling might be talented, but he hasn’t been efficient. Last season, despite leading the team in scoring, his true shooting percentage (TS%) was just 48.7% - second-worst on the team, ahead of only Kyle Cuffe Jr. This year, that number has dipped further to 46.8%.
That’s despite some improvements. Starling is shooting a career-best 33.0% from deep and a solid 42.1% from the field overall.
But his free throw shooting? That’s a glaring issue.
He’s hitting just 40.0% from the line - a number that makes it tough to trust him in late-game situations, let alone build an offense around him.
For a guard who thrives on getting downhill and drawing contact, that’s a problem. If opponents know they can foul him without much consequence, it changes how he’s defended. And it limits how effective he can be when attacking the rim.
Starling himself seems to understand this.
“There’s going to be some nights when I’m off, I might take five shots,” he said. “Might be some nights where I’m clicking and I might take 12, it just can’t go off of that.”
That’s a mature perspective - but it also hints at a player who may not be ready (or willing) to force the issue offensively.
Metrics back that up. EvanMiya’s Offensive Bayesian Performance Rating (OBPR), which evaluates a player’s overall offensive impact, ranks Starling fifth on the team - behind Freeman, Nate Kingz, Naithan George, and William Kyle III. Even with Freeman out, Starling hasn’t been Syracuse’s most impactful offensive player.
And with Freeman expected to return by the start of conference play on December 31, Starling’s role could shrink even further.
A Complex Equation
This isn’t a simple “more shots equals more wins” scenario. Starling is one of Syracuse’s most gifted scorers, but he’s also one of its least efficient. Increasing his volume could lead to more points - or it could just mean more empty possessions.
Last year, with Starling carrying the load, Syracuse ranked 106th in offensive efficiency. This year, with him stepping back, they’re 107th.
That’s not a huge swing either way. But it does suggest that the offense hasn’t found an identity - with or without him as the lead option.
And that’s the crux of it. Syracuse isn’t just searching for wins.
They’re searching for answers. For an offensive identity.
For a player to step up and take control when the game gets tight.
Starling has the tools. He has the experience. But whether he’s the right player to lead this version of the Orange - especially with Freeman’s return on the horizon - is still up for debate.
What Comes Next?
There’s no easy fix here. Syracuse is a team in transition, still trying to find its footing under Autry. But with a four-year NCAA Tournament drought looming large, the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Orange need someone to step forward. Whether that’s Starling embracing a more aggressive role, or the team finding a more balanced offensive rhythm, remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that this question - should J.J. Starling be more aggressive? - isn’t just about shot attempts.
It’s about identity. It’s about leadership.
And it’s about whether this Syracuse team can find its way before the season slips away.