By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Erik Murphy is an exotic blend. Born in France, he has dual American and Finnish citizenship and is also able to shoot three-pointers like a premier shooting guard, despite being 2.08 meters tall.
In the modern basketball era, of course, there’s nothing unnatural about a power forward shooting the three. On the contrary, it’s vital for every player at this position to be able to knock it down. Still, Murphy ended 2018 with a number that will be remembered. As Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt enter the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 on the back of a respectable 6-4 regular season record, Murphy leads the competition in three-point shooting efficiency with a mind-boggling 72.7%.
It’s not a typo. Murphy attempted 33 threes over nine regular season games and made 24 of them. And while there are 10 EuroCup players shooting 50% or better on threes – as well as five in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, nobody else comes near Murphy’s number. To be exact not even Murphy comes near himself since he is currently shooting a solid, but unspectacular, 34.5% in the German League.
The 72.7% is an absolute record and also a vast improvement compared to his 28.9% in the EuroCup back in the 2015-16 season with Besiktas Istanbul. For the record, so far this season in the Murphy is shooting much better on threes compared to his 58.0% on two-pointers and his 72.7% on threes can be compared to his 78.9% on free throws.
As a result, Murphy is the top scorer of the balanced Skyliners offense, averaging 16.1 points per game; he was the fifth best scorer in the regular season – and second-best among those whose teams advanced to the Top 16.
For Murphy and co., the Top 16 starts with an all-German League duel between Skyliners and ratiopharm Ulm. This season marked the first time that the club from Frankfurt reached the Top 16 in six tries and Murphy’s amazing shooting has been a major reason why.
Photo credit: Fraport Skyliners