In the NBA, shooting is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is the most efficient way to score points. A player who can shoot well from the field will be able to score more points per game than a player who cannot shoot well. This is because shooting requires less energy than other means of scoring, such as driving to the basket or posting up. Consequently, players who are good shooters can stay on the court for longer periods of time and thus have a greater impact on the game.
Another reason why shooting is so important in the NBA is that it opens up other areas of the court for other players. If a team has several good shooters, defenders will have to respect their outside shots and thus will not be able to collapse on the paint as much. This gives players who are strong inside scorers more room to operate and makes it easier for them to get open looks at the basket.
Finally, shooting is important in the NBA because it forces defenses to play honest. In other words, if a team has several good shooters, its opponents will not be able to double-team or otherwise focus their defensive efforts on one particular player without opening themselves up elsewhere on the court. Thus, having good shooters can make an entire offense more difficult to defend against.