Shaedon Sharpe’s Quiet Struggles Are Limiting His Rise as a Basketball Star

Shaedon Sharpe has shown notable improvement recently, generating cautious optimism for the Portland Trail Blazers despite their 10-16 start this season. As a former No. 7 overall pick, Sharpe remains the most promising candidate to become a superstar on the current roster.

His progress in three-point shooting, currently at an impressive 48.4% in December, has driven this uptick in performance. However, experts warn this level is unsustainable and likely to regress. To sustain and grow his impact, Sharpe needs to refine other facets of his game, particularly his shot selection.

Analysts Zach Lowe and Michael Pina highlighted Sharpe’s shot decision issues on The Zach Lowe Show. Pina characterized Sharpe’s shot selection as disappointing and noted that Portland’s offense lacks a point guard who can calm and organize the play. He said, “The outlines of a superstar are still there… but I just wish the decision making was a little better.”

Lowe agreed, pinpointing Sharpe’s frequent off-the-dribble midrange jumpers early in the shot clock as a critical weakness. “You just need to bag the off-the-dribble 18-footer with 15 or more on the shot clock,” he remarked. “It doesn’t go in enough… and there are too many of them.”

Sharpe often plays as a matchup nightmare due to his size, athleticism, ball handling, and finishing skills. However, taking contested midrange shots benefits the defense more than his team. Analytics confirm these contested midrange jumpers are among the least effective shots in basketball.

Lowe suggests Sharpe should drive to the basket more, playing to his strengths as a downhill attacker. He noted, “He can get to the basket more than he thinks he can.” Coaching staff could emphasize this approach to maximize Sharpe’s natural abilities.

At just 22, Sharpe has time to improve his decision-making skills, which are vital considering he carries the highest usage rate on Portland’s roster this season. His offensive efficiency is key to the Trail Blazers’ success moving forward.

The improvement in three-point shooting is encouraging, but Sharpe’s future star potential hinges on smarter shot selection. This development will unlock his unique strengths and confirm whether he’s Portland’s long-term star at the shooting guard position.