Going Shot for Ugly Shot
Last week’s look at the strangest NBA player free throw routines touched on a related topic — some of the league’s ugliest shots. Now, keep in mind that an unorthodox shooting form, such as Reggie Miller’s jumper or even Rick Barry’s underhand free throws, doesn’t neccessarily have to be ugly. But let’s just say that you’d never want the following players to teach your kid how to shoot a basketball.
1. Chuck Hayes: It takes a special kind of ugly to knock Shawn Marion’s flick shot down to number two, but Hayes has earned that right. It would almost be cute if this was a video of a fourth-grader nervously shooting his free throws in front of a big crowd. But, no, this is an NBA player, and its downright disgraceful (although shockingly, he’s a 58% career foul shooter). Before it’s all said and done, he’ll shatter Anthony Mason’s record for most lane violations drawn.
2. Shawn Marion: I don’t think Marion needs an introduction here, since his name came to mind the second you read the title. He shoots the ball from below his shoulders, flinging the ball at the basket with his fingertips like a chest pass. It reminds me of someone playing hot potato with the basketball. But while it makes me cringe every time I see it, it’s also hard to argue with the results — Marion shoots a respectable 48% from the field and 34% from downtown.
3. Bill Cartwright: How bad was Cartwright’s free throw form? He retired in 1995, and Lil’ Wayne rapped about it a full decade later. Cartwright raises the ball with both of his arms outstretched, almost as if he’s about to shoot it underhanded, and then places it high over his head. He then goes into his two-handed release, just barely flicking his wrist on the follow-through. Amazingly, he once held the NBA record for most free throws made in a game without a miss (19).
4. Jamaal Wilkes / Marcus Camby: I’m grouping these two players together, since their forms are similar in a lot of aspects. Most notably, each shoots from behind his head, resembling a projectile fired from a catapult. Marcus Camby’s is slightly more pronounced, and he also takes the ball from the left side of his body, even though he’s a right-handed shooter. It feels like it takes a good 10 seconds for the ball to get from his hands to the rim.
5. Andris Biedrins: Biedrins has developed into a very solid player, perhaps even a borderline All-Star. But he really needs to work on that foul shooting stroke. Not only is his shot missing any semblance of an arc or backspin, but he also appears to just be pushing the ball forward with his left hand; there’s no visible guidance from his right hand whatsoever. And I don’t think I’ve seen a player get on tippy-toes to reach the basket. Maybe that’s the way they teach it in Latvia?
6. Charles Barkley’s golf swing: Yeah, I know it doesn’t take place on the court, but here’s a Hall of Fame NBA player, an exceptionally coordinated professional athlete, hacking away on the golf course. I’ve barely even touched a club and I’m pretty sure I could do better than that. It brings back memories of watching Tony Batista take a couple of check swings at the plate before grounding out to third base. Or even the immortal Chuck Hayes at the foul line.
7. Josh Childress: Study that photo for a minute, and tell me if Childress’ form doesn’t go against everything you’ve ever learned about shooting a basketball. His right elbow sticks way out to the side, and he ends up releasing the ball with one arm, refusing to use his left hand for guidance. It’s like an ‘if they mated’ mash-up of Shawn Marion’s chest pass and Andris Biedrins’ one-handed push shot.
8. Kevin Martin: Martin is one of the best up-and-coming players in the NBA, but his shot is as awkward as they come. The release at the top of his jumper appears to be almost picture-perfect, if only he didn’t shoot the ball from his side and swivel his hips as he stepped into his shot. Please allow me this opportunity to relive past Sacramento Kings glory and watch him go coast to coast for an incredible buzzer-beater against the Spurs in the 2006 NBA Playoffs.
9. Joakim Noah: Noah is certainly no stranger to ugly (cheap joke, but it is what it is). At the free throw line, he puts both of his hands on the side of the ball, and practically passes it towards the rim, a la Marion. He kinda shoots the way I used to when I was eight years old and didn’t have the strength to release the ball with only my right hand. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any video, so here’s the Noah stock photo we had on file.
10. Ronnie Brewer: Stop me if you’ve heard this story before: Brewer broke his arm as a kid in a terrible accident and developed an unusual shooting style because he can no longer fully extend his right elbow. The funny thing is, his stroke is highly effective, as he’s shooting at a 53% clip through his first 2+ seasons in the NBA. Then again, judging from this official team highlight video, he only scores on driving lay-ups and uncontested dunks (shot at the 1:20 mark).
Quick Hits:
*Manute Bol: Sure, you remember Manute Bol. But do you remember Manute Bol shooting threes? It’s best that you don’t…
*Bo Outlaw: Bo would be ranked higher if I could find any video of his horrid jumper.
*Desmond Mason: I saw him shoot free throws once and I don’t think I’ve been the same since.
*Shaquille O’Neal: obligatory.
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Maybe that’s the way they teach it in Latvia?
Is no teach in Latvia. Only forage for potato.
Two words. Chris Dudley.
LOL at AI saying “that’s a travel”
Also, Brewer is decent on jumpshots, but the majority of his FG attempts are at the hoop, where he is a SICK finisher.
You should really limit this to wing players. I almost assume that most bigs will have an ugly shot.
If you’re including bigs, how can you do so and not have Shaq on the list? He makes Biedrins look like Larry Bird.
Ever heard of Shaq?
@myke: To be honest, I don’t think Shaq’s form is all that bad, considering that the basketball looks like a grapefruit in his huge hands. That said, his free throws are damn ugly and deserve to be mentioned — I added my favorite clip at the end.
No list is complete without Chris Dudley, I have nightmares about that thing!
Rafer Alston shoots it almost exactly like Camby. He doesn’t have the long, slow and wristy windup that Camby has, but he too brings the ball up on the left side of his body and shoots it from his left ear.
Two shooters who are unorthodox more with their legs than with their arms and hands are Aaron Brooks and Luther Head. Traditional shooting theory teaches to jump and land at the same spot. These two guys pratically long jump a good three or four feet for their jump shots. I still wouldn’t it put it past Bruce Bowen to somehow get under them in the name of good hardnosed defense. What is it with the Rockets and funky shooting motions? In addition to Hayes, Head, Brooks, Carl Landry does the Biedrins/Hayes thing where he gets on his tiptoes at the moment he’s going to release the shot and almost falls backwards.
Lastly, David Robinson’s shot was very funky. He had a hitch in his motion, almost like a double pump and then he shot on the way down. I can’t believe he shot as well as he did and with good touch. He shot like someone inbounding a ball in soccer.
where is juwan howard? that hitch in his shot is the weirdest thing we’ve ever seen as NBA fans, no?
@st: Good call on David Robinson…it was almost like he paused in midair for a split second before shooting. I wouldn’t say it’s ugly or cringe-worthy though — more like unorthodox.
@john: I watched some youtube clips of Howard, and personally, I don’t think it’s that weird. Here’s one that has a few slow motion clips of his shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsDQNhFVkmk
Oh, and Dudley should’ve gotten at least an honorable mention, no doubt about that.
Anthony Mason had a real bad hitch.
@Ryan: Aw, hay-ell mothafuckin’ no!
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