Free Throw Shooting Research Paper
Some basketball players have strange free throw shooting routines. There are a number of reasons why they perform this act: they're meant to simply have a good grip of the ball (it can get real wet at times during the game), to establish a signature style, to improve free throw shooting, or being plainly superstitious. Who are these players? Let's check it out!
Reggie Miller would dip his hands into a bucket of powder (it's really salt) so he can have a better grip on the ball, step up to the line holding the ball on his hip with his left hand and place his feet about 12-14 inches apart with his right foot slightly forward. He then would raise his arm straight up towards the basket with his hand bent as if he had just released the ball. Then he would take three consecutive dribbles, sit back into a slight crouch and let it fly. This was his free throw routine every time he went to the 15 foot line. …show more content…
If only the NBA implemented an 8-second free throw shooting limit on ex-Utah Jazz and LA Laker star Karl Malone, he wouldn't have been able to make it in the nick of time. Malone takes a very long time to shoot his free throws and normally would exhaust the 10-second limit on shooting free throws. The routine is more superstitious than anything else. Karl Malone could be seen mouthing or uttering what appears to be a prayer (he refuses to tell reporters what he's actually saying) right before he shoots the ball.
Jeff Hornacek, who was one of the game's best perimeter shooters during his time, also has a strange free throw shooting antic. Whenever he shot free throws, he would bounce the ball a certain number of times, then rub his cheek with his right hand. This cheek-rubbing thing has made Hornacek one of the most colorful personalities in the NBA during his time. To prove his free throw shooting drama was effective, he has made 67 consecutive free throws, sixth-longest streak in NBA history and has shot 88% from the line during his entire 15-year career that included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns.
Gilbert Arenas' free throw shooting routine would include circling the ball around his waist before attempting a shot. This is the same routine used by Marlou Aquino when attempting a free throw. So far it has worked for Arenas. I can't say the same for Marlou Aquino. Arenas has been shooting better than 80% from the free throw line in his career.
Ex-Ginebra and Shell player Rudy Distrito would slightly bend his right knee before making a free throw.
This was a routine used by the "Destroyer" every time he visits the 15 ft area.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has what some see as a strange ritual - he sometimes hums David Hasselhoff's song 'Looking For Freedom,' which was a big hit when he was a kid in Germany, as he shoots free throws.
Jason Kidd blows a kiss to his wife Jumana and his family prior to shooting free throws. Jason could not remember when he started his free throw shooting routine. 'I started doing it and making some free throws so I continued to do it. I do it not just because of habit but to let my wife know I'm thinking about her.' It is said to bring him good luck during the games.
Detroit's Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, LA Lakers' Lamar Odom and Dallas Mavericks' Jerry Stackhouse quite also have their own styles of shooting free throws.
Rip Hamilton dribbles to the side. He breathes, dribbles twice down and one to the side before attempting a
shot.
Steve Nash licks his fingers and pulls back his hair before shooting a freebie. He still does the finger-licking but not the pulling back of hair because he has cut them short last offseason.
Lamar Odom has a very low dribble free throw routine that is awkward-looking. The same can be said of Jerry Stackhouse's low squat free throw routine that is surprisingly effective.
In his two PBA stints here, ex-Purefoods import Lenny Cooke always has amused fans because he appeared to be smelling his armpit prior to taking a shot at the free throw area. He really was kissing the tatooed image of Jesus Christ on his right upper arm.
Ex-Tanduay import (1987) Freeman Williams was shooting free throws at the right side of the circled 15-foot line, or a complete 45 degree angle from the center of the free throw area.
Ex-West Craven player Tony Jones has one of the most involved rituals at the free-throw line. The guard takes the ball from the referee, stands all the way in the left corner, dribbles the ball eight times, shuffles it around his back, spins the ball and then finally attempts his shot. He began the process early in his senior season after missing quite a few shots. After the season, his free throw shooting improved dramatically that he appeared intent on performing this act every time out.
But none of these probably compare to the free throw shooting act of Greg "Bo" Kimble. Kimble, a natural right-hander, always shoots his first free throw left-handed in memory of and as a tribute to his best friend and teammate Hank Gathers. Gathers, who was a prospective NBA first round draft pick, collapsed and died of a heart condition in LMU's semifinal against Portland during the 1990 West Coast Conference tournament.
Kimble carried the scoring load for Loyola Marymount averaging over 35 points per game to led his 11th seeded team on an amazing run to the conference finals that included a convincing win over defending champion Michigan. Gathers was also a natural right-hander but began to shoot free throws left-handed after struggling for some time shooting free throws right-handed.
Kimble was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 8th overall pick of the 1990 NBA Draft. He lasted only 3 seasons in the NBA averaging 6.9 ppg in forgettable stints with the LA Clippers and Knicks in a career plagued by injuries.
Reggie Miller would dip his hands into a bucket of powder (it's really salt) so he can have a better grip on the ball, step up to the line holding the ball on his hip with his left hand and place his feet about 12-14 inches apart with his right foot slightly forward. He then would raise his arm straight up towards the basket with his hand bent as if he had just released the ball. Then he would take three consecutive dribbles, sit back into a slight crouch and let it fly. This was his free throw routine every time he went to the 15 foot line. …show more content…
If only the NBA implemented an 8-second free throw shooting limit on ex-Utah Jazz and LA Laker star Karl Malone, he wouldn't have been able to make it in the nick of time. Malone takes a very long time to shoot his free throws and normally would exhaust the 10-second limit on shooting free throws. The routine is more superstitious than anything else. Karl Malone could be seen mouthing or uttering what appears to be a prayer (he refuses to tell reporters what he's actually saying) right before he shoots the ball.
Jeff Hornacek, who was one of the game's best perimeter shooters during his time, also has a strange free throw shooting antic. Whenever he shot free throws, he would bounce the ball a certain number of times, then rub his cheek with his right hand. This cheek-rubbing thing has made Hornacek one of the most colorful personalities in the NBA during his time. To prove his free throw shooting drama was effective, he has made 67 consecutive free throws, sixth-longest streak in NBA history and has shot 88% from the line during his entire 15-year career that included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns.
Gilbert Arenas' free throw shooting routine would include circling the ball around his waist before attempting a shot. This is the same routine used by Marlou Aquino when attempting a free throw. So far it has worked for Arenas. I can't say the same for Marlou Aquino. Arenas has been shooting better than 80% from the free throw line in his career.
Ex-Ginebra and Shell player Rudy Distrito would slightly bend his right knee before making a free throw.
This was a routine used by the "Destroyer" every time he visits the 15 ft area.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has what some see as a strange ritual - he sometimes hums David Hasselhoff's song 'Looking For Freedom,' which was a big hit when he was a kid in Germany, as he shoots free throws.
Jason Kidd blows a kiss to his wife Jumana and his family prior to shooting free throws. Jason could not remember when he started his free throw shooting routine. 'I started doing it and making some free throws so I continued to do it. I do it not just because of habit but to let my wife know I'm thinking about her.' It is said to bring him good luck during the games.
Detroit's Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, LA Lakers' Lamar Odom and Dallas Mavericks' Jerry Stackhouse quite also have their own styles of shooting free throws.
Rip Hamilton dribbles to the side. He breathes, dribbles twice down and one to the side before attempting a
shot.
Steve Nash licks his fingers and pulls back his hair before shooting a freebie. He still does the finger-licking but not the pulling back of hair because he has cut them short last offseason.
Lamar Odom has a very low dribble free throw routine that is awkward-looking. The same can be said of Jerry Stackhouse's low squat free throw routine that is surprisingly effective.
In his two PBA stints here, ex-Purefoods import Lenny Cooke always has amused fans because he appeared to be smelling his armpit prior to taking a shot at the free throw area. He really was kissing the tatooed image of Jesus Christ on his right upper arm.
Ex-Tanduay import (1987) Freeman Williams was shooting free throws at the right side of the circled 15-foot line, or a complete 45 degree angle from the center of the free throw area.
Ex-West Craven player Tony Jones has one of the most involved rituals at the free-throw line. The guard takes the ball from the referee, stands all the way in the left corner, dribbles the ball eight times, shuffles it around his back, spins the ball and then finally attempts his shot. He began the process early in his senior season after missing quite a few shots. After the season, his free throw shooting improved dramatically that he appeared intent on performing this act every time out.
But none of these probably compare to the free throw shooting act of Greg "Bo" Kimble. Kimble, a natural right-hander, always shoots his first free throw left-handed in memory of and as a tribute to his best friend and teammate Hank Gathers. Gathers, who was a prospective NBA first round draft pick, collapsed and died of a heart condition in LMU's semifinal against Portland during the 1990 West Coast Conference tournament.
Kimble carried the scoring load for Loyola Marymount averaging over 35 points per game to led his 11th seeded team on an amazing run to the conference finals that included a convincing win over defending champion Michigan. Gathers was also a natural right-hander but began to shoot free throws left-handed after struggling for some time shooting free throws right-handed.
Kimble was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 8th overall pick of the 1990 NBA Draft. He lasted only 3 seasons in the NBA averaging 6.9 ppg in forgettable stints with the LA Clippers and Knicks in a career plagued by injuries.