The Elite Nine: Unpacking The Rarity And Requirements Of The NBA 50-40-90 Club

As of December 2025, the NBA's 50-40-90 club remains the most exclusive and revered statistical achievement for shooting efficiency in professional basketball. This achievement—shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line over a single regular season—has been accomplished only 13 times by just nine different players in the history of the league. It is a benchmark that demands an unparalleled blend of high-volume scoring, court versatility, and mental fortitude at the free-throw line, separating the game's greatest marksmen from even the most prolific scorers.

The 50-40-90 club has become the unofficial gold standard for offensive perfection, a statistical trinity that simultaneously measures proficiency from close range, mid-range, and long distance. The newest confirmed member is a testament to the club's exclusivity, proving that this feat is not just for superstars, but for any player who can master the art of efficient scoring at an elite volume. The last two seasons have seen several close calls, but the membership roll remains stubbornly short, underscoring the near-impossible balance required to join this pantheon of shooters.

The Definitive Roster: All 9 Members of the 50-40-90 Club

The 50-40-90 club is one of the rarest feats in all of sports, with only nine players having achieved it in NBA history since the three-point line was introduced in the 1979-80 season. Canadian guard Steve Nash leads the way with four seasons, followed by the legendary Larry Bird with two. The most recent confirmed entry comes from a role player who perfectly executed his offensive game plan.

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Here is the complete list of the nine players and the 13 seasons they achieved this statistical milestone:

• Larry Bird: 2 Seasons (1986-87, 1987-88)
• Mark Price: 1 Season (1988-89)
• Reggie Miller: 1 Season (1993-94)
• Dirk Nowitzki: 1 Season (2006-07)
• Steve Nash: 4 Seasons (2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10)
• Kevin Durant: 1 Season (2012-13)
• Stephen Curry: 1 Season (2015-16)
• Kyrie Irving: 1 Season (2020-21)
• Malcolm Brogdon: 1 Season (2022-23)

The Newest Confirmed Member: Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23)

The most recent player to punch his ticket into the club is Malcolm Brogdon, who achieved the feat during the 2022-23 season with the Boston Celtics. Brogdon finished the year shooting 48.4% from the field, 44.4% from three, and 90.1% from the free-throw line. While his field goal percentage was slightly below the 50% mark, he was officially recognized as a member because he qualified for the NBA's official leaderboards, which use slightly different criteria for the 50-40-90 distinction than the simple percentage minimums.

Why is the 50-40-90 Club So Exclusive? The Volume Paradox

The extreme rarity of the 50-40-90 club stems from what is known as the "Volume Paradox." To be a high-volume scorer, a player must take difficult shots, which naturally lowers their field goal and three-point percentages. Conversely, players who shoot high percentages often do so because they take fewer, easier shots. The 50-40-90 club requires a player to be both a high-volume scorer and an elite-percentage shooter.

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The unofficial, but widely accepted, minimum requirements for a player to qualify for the percentage leaderboards—and thus the 50-40-90 club—are:

• Field Goal Percentage (FG%): A player must have at least 300 Field Goals Made (FGM) for the season.
• Three-Point Percentage (3P%): A player must have at least 82 Three-Pointers Made (3PM) for the season.
• Free Throw Percentage (FT%): A player must have at least 125 Free Throws Made (FTM) for the season.

These volume requirements ensure that the achievement is earned by players who carry a significant offensive burden, not just those who take a handful of shots per game. For a point guard or a wing scorer like Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry to maintain a 50% FG while taking contested shots, and still hit 40% from deep, is a testament to their skill and shot selection.

The Modern Chase: Who Can Join the Club Next?

As the NBA game continues to emphasize three-point shooting and overall efficiency, the list of players who come close to the 50-40-90 mark grows longer each season. However, the free-throw percentage (90%) remains the most challenging hurdle for even the league's best shooters. The 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons have seen several stars hover around the mark, keeping the conversation fresh.

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Prominent players who have been 'on pace' or narrowly missed the mark in recent seasons include:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA): The Oklahoma City Thunder star has been a constant threat, showcasing elite mid-range and free-throw prowess. He has been closely monitored for a potential entry, demonstrating the necessary high-volume scoring to qualify.
• Nikola Jokic: The two-time MVP frequently posts incredible field goal and three-point percentages, often exceeding 55% FG and 40% 3P. His free-throw percentage, however, typically sits in the low-to-mid 80s, keeping him just outside the club.
• Tyrese Haliburton: The Indiana Pacers' dynamic guard is a perennial 40%+ three-point shooter and a high-efficiency finisher. Like Jokic, his free-throw percentage needs a slight bump to reach the elite 90% threshold.
• Klay Thompson: The Golden State Warriors sharpshooter publicly stated his goal to join the club in the 2025-26 season, a testament to the achievement's prestige, even for a player with multiple championships.

Beyond the Numbers: The Broader Context of Shooting Efficiency

While the 50-40-90 club is a celebrated metric, the modern NBA utilizes more advanced statistics to measure overall offensive efficiency. The rise of the True Shooting Percentage (TS%) offers a more comprehensive view, as it accounts for the value of three-pointers and free throws in a single formula. However, TS% lacks the prestige and simplicity of the 50-40-90 benchmark.

The club's influence has also spread beyond the NBA:

• The 180 Shooting Club: This unofficial metric is sometimes used as a shorthand for 50-40-90, where a player's three percentages (50+40+90) must total at least 180.
• WNBA & G League Members: The achievement is not exclusive to the NBA. Elena Delle Donne, for example, joined the WNBA 50-40-90 club in 2019, showcasing that the standard for shooting perfection transcends leagues.
• The Paradox of the Big Man: Historically, the club has been dominated by guards and forwards (like Mark Price, Reggie Miller, and Larry Bird). Dirk Nowitzki remains the only true "big man" to join, highlighting the difficulty for centers to meet the high 40% three-point volume requirement while maintaining their interior scoring efficiency.

The 50-40-90 club will forever stand as a monument to precision, volume, and consistency. In an era where scoring records are constantly broken, the sheer difficulty of achieving this triple-threat shooting milestone ensures that the nine members—from the original legend, Larry Bird, to the newest entry, Malcolm Brogdon—will remain in a class of their own.