Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving’s jumper has looked a lot better lately and he has his dad and Kobe Bryant to thank.
After the Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on November 10, Irving told reporters that he talked with his father, Drederick, about his shooting mechanics, which included a reminder to get his right elbow properly pointed. It’s a shooting tip Irving got from Bryant.
“Just get my right elbow pointed,” Irving said, via Grant Afseth of SI. “I talked to my dad a few days ago and he always loves to remind me to keep my right elbow pointed. That’s something that Kobe used to tell me as well just as a reminder. And then just take my time, get my feet underneath me.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Kobe Bryant, Dallas Mavericks Updates
Irving shot 3-of-7 from beyond the arc against the Toronto Raptors on November 8 and 5-of-9 from 3 versus the Clippers.
“There were times when I wasn’t landing on balance and it’s little things that probably the common fan wouldn’t see, but those who appreciate hoop culture can and those who appreciate my game can see some of the nuances of where my rhythm was a little off,” Irving said. “Sometimes, it could be the guide hand just staying on the ball a little bit more or floating left or floating right.”
Irving is averaging 21.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists on the season while shooting 43.0% from the floor, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 88.9% from the foul line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Kobe Bryant, Dallas Mavericks Updates
“Being a great shooter in this league is all about self-confidence, all about the work and time that you put in,” Irving said. “I’m staying consistent there and that’s where I want to feel good and just trusting that my teammates continue to find me and I’ll knock down the shots when my time is called.”
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