New Orleans Pelicans: 15 greatest scorers of all-time

Despite failing to score with the volume of a true elite scoring option, Jamal Mashburn had the talent of a player in that category, proving over the course of his decade-long career to be one of the more underrated talents of his generation.

With the build of a prototypical small forward, Mashburn found it incredibly easy to score from nearly any spot inside the arc. He was tremendous in the high post, capable of creating any and all types of shots, ranging from fadeaways over either shoulder to one dribble step backs with a hand in his face.

It didn’t matter whether or not the defender stuck with him on all his attempts to get open, Mashburn was just one of those guys who simply didn’t seem phased while under duress and was more than willing to take that type of shot with the clock winding down despite the low probability of it falling through the net.

Mashburn’s outside shot was an integral part of his repertoire during his first run in New Orleans, and it helped him even more when it came to getting to his sweet spots on the court, but the touch from outside inexplicably disappeared the following season, not that it affected his ability to get buckets anyway.

He would average 21.5 points per game with the Hornets and would make his only All-Star team as well in 2003, working more like a volume scorer compared to an efficient one with only a 41.6 conversion rate from the field.

Yet, there’s something to be said for a tough shot taker and maker who doesn’t really care about numbers, whose only mission is to put the ball in the basket as many times as possible over the course of a game. Those are the types of guys you may not love but come to appreciate for their unwavering confidence.