The 5 Levels of Scoring was created and coined by Jason Roberts on Clubhouse in October 2021. Here are the 5 levels of scoring in Basketball.

The 5 Levels of Scoring in Basketball.

Through countless conversations on clubhouse, beginning October 2021, the 5 Level guys have experienced a ton of close-minded questions and rebuttals. 

The 5 Levels of Scoring framework is in its infancy. It’s not yet a precise science. But we have principles that guide our thinking.

There are 3 factors that determine if a player gets “credit” for being a scorer at a particular level – 2 quantitative and 1 qualitative: (1) volume of shots in that level, (2) efficiency in that level, and (3) how opposing coaches/players think about a player as a threat in that level.

There is some combination, yet specified, that determines if a player gets credit for that level.

So here are the 5 different levels of scoring in Basketball  :

At the Rim – the 1st Level

At the rim is basically shots made at the rim, or in the restricted area. Shots at this level are typically an assortment of dunks and layups.

The 5 Levels of Scoring in Basketball.

Guards generally score in this level after driving the basketball from the perimeter, while bigs also tend to score at this level after utilizing various post moves. 

Floater Range – the 2nd Level

The floater range is an area on the court that is approximately 3-9 feet from the basket. This is the area on the court where floaters are generally taken, but any type of shot can be taken from the floater range. I added this range because of the prevalence of guys scoring in this range in the last 10 years.

To be clear, there have always been guys who score in the floater range. But with the advent and popularization of the floater shot, more and more guys are now able to use their feathery touch to score in this range.

The floater range takes a different skill set and a different type of touch to perfect, when compared to finishing at the rim or in the mid-range (next section). Hooks shots, baby hooks, push shots, floaters, etc. are all shots that are utilized in the 2nd level.

Tony Parker was an amazing floater range scorer and really was the pre-cursor to the floater range explosion. 

Mid Range – the 3rd Level

Mid range has historically been a fundamental part of the game. Guys like Lamarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan were (and some still are) elite mid-range assassins.

The 5 Levels of Scoring in Basketball.

However, if you look at a shot chart from today’s NBA, you will see that the mid-range is almost dead. But no one disputes that the mid-range is a level, so we can move on. 

Traditional 3 Point Shot – the 4th Level

This is also an undisputed level of scoring. Since the advent of the 3 point line, the three point level has been an absolute consensus. 

This level may arguably be the most influential in all of basketball today because in a game where nearly 40 percent of shots come from 3 now, shooting variance allows for more upsets, comebacks, and blowouts.

Nothing embodies the phrase it’s a make or miss league more than the 3 point revolution. 

Deep 3 Point Shot – the 5th Level

Guys like Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, and Trae Young have made reputations for being able to score from this level.

You literally have to guard these guys from the moment they cross half court due to their ability to shoot the ball from the 5th level. Damian Lillard famously and hilariously sent Paul George and OKC Thunder home on a shot from the 5th level.

The 5 Levels of Scoring in Basketball.

While these guys are the ones who shoot it most frequently, they aren’t the only guys who can take and make shots from the 5th level. Look no further than the OKC vs Lakers game in the earlier 2021-2022 season.

SGA sent the Lakers packing while calling “game” from the 5th level. Maybe if Avery Bradley had been given a proper scouting report on SGA, he would’ve known to press up just a bit more.

As more and more guys start to work on their 5th level scoring, the 5th level will be obvious to all. Just because it’s not the entire league shooting this shot, the level still exists.

By Rishabh

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