Ex TCU Star Earns Spot Among NBA’s Best Shooters

Former TCU basketball standout Desmond Bane continues to establish himself as one of the NBA’s most reliable perimeter threats, earning recognition in Bleacher Report’s ranking of the league’s top 30 shooters ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Bane landed at No. 19 on the list, which evaluated players primarily on their three-point shooting, with mid-range accuracy also factoring into the rankings. The recognition further highlights the shooting ability that has made Bane such a valuable offensive weapon since entering the NBA.

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"Because he's such a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat, opponents recklessly sprint at Bane if he receives a pass in space. Rather than take on a rangy wing by trying to shoot over the top, Bane has perfected the art of faking, calmly moving laterally and drilling the open look his patience created," BR writes. "Few shots fall as reliably as Bane's side-step three-pointer."

Over the course of his career thus far, Bane is shooting just over 48 percent from the field, and a very impressive 39 percent from beyond the arc. Since being selected with the last pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, he has been one of the most dangerous shooter in the entire NBA.

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Bleacher Report also highlighted Bane’s ability to create space with his signature side-step three-pointer. Rather than forcing a difficult shot when defenders close out aggressively, the former Horned Frog uses patience and footwork to manufacture cleaner looks. That combination of confidence and technique makes him particularly difficult to defend on the perimeter.

Bane’s shooting success dates back to the beginning of his NBA career. He and Duncan Robinson are the only players in league history to make more than 500 three-pointers during their first three seasons while shooting at least 42% from deep.

That early production helped establish Bane as one of the league’s premier young shooters, and he has continued to build on that reputation.

For TCU fans, Bane’s continued success provides another reminder of the program’s ability to develop players who can thrive at basketball’s highest level. After starring for the Horned Frogs in college, he has become an established NBA contributor with a skill set that translates to virtually any offensive system.

Now entering the 2026-27 season with the Orlando Magic, Bane will look to turn that shooting consistency into another productive campaign.

Although No. 19 places him outside the league’s elite shooting tier, Bane’s career numbers and sustained accuracy make a compelling case for his standing among the NBA’s most dangerous marksmen.

As the new season approaches, the former TCU star continues to prove that his shooting ability is one of his greatest strengths—and a major reason he remains a player opposing defenses cannot afford to leave open.