Player Preview - Jason Kapono - 9/16/2009

SIXERS.COM will preview each of the team's current players leading up to the start of Training Camp. Today, a quick look at Jason Kapono.

Let's take a quick look at a couple facts:

FACT: Jason Kapono enters this season tied with Steve Kerr for the highest 3-point percentage in NBA history (45.4% 3FGs).

Needless to say, it's understandable why the Sixers traded for Kapono back in June.

Kapono gives the Sixers an immediate 3-point threat; one they really haven't had since the departure of Kyle Korver in December of 2007.

The 28-year-old Kapono has never shot lower than 40% from behind-the-arc in any of his six seasons in the league. While with Miami in 2006-07, he shot a blistering 51.4% from 3-point range, the fifth-highest percentage in a single season in NBA history.

Of course, Kapono led the league in 3-point shooting that season, and in the following season, 2007-08. He also won the NBA's 3-point contest during All-Star Weekend in both those years as well.

Kapono isn't a high volume shooter. He doesn't need to be. His presence on the court alone forces the opposing defense to respect his range, thus spacing out the court and opening up opportunities for his teammates. In other words, Kapono is just what the Sixers needed.

While the entire Sixers team is sure to reap the benefits of playing alongside a shooter of Kapono's caliber, Elton Brand may have the biggest smile on his face of them all. Any potential double teams of Brand in the post while Kapono is on the court are bound to have dire consequences for the opposition.

Last season, the Sixers were 17-7 when hitting as many or more 3-pointers as their opponent and 18-5 when shooting 40.0% or better from behind-the-arc. Impressive numbers except when you consider that it's an 82 game season.

The addition of Kapono alone nearly guarantees the Sixers will have plenty of opportunities to improve upon those trends this upcoming season.