Kyle Korver is super scientific about shooting 3-pointers

By Stanford Crissey | Feb 3, 2015

Jan 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) during warm ups before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver is scientific when shooting three pointers.

The Atlanta Hawks recently had their 19-game winning streak snapped, but the fact that they had such a winning streak at all is due in large part to the play of swingman Kyle Korver. Korver has been in the NBA since 2003, but he’s never been better than he is right now; he leads the league with a three-point shooting percentage of 53.7% and is on pace shoot at least 50% from the field, 50% on three-pointers and 90% on free throws, a feat no one has accomplished in NBA history.

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So how has the 34-year-old Korver achieved such success in this, his 12th NBA season? Well, Korver says he has perfected the art of shooting the three into a 20-point checklist, which is as follows:

1. Wide stance.
2. Exaggerated legs.
3. Drop through heels.
4. Engage core.
5. Slight bend at waist.
6. Up strong.
7. Elbow straight.
8. One hand.
9. Fingers spread.
10. Slight pause.
11. Elbow up.
12. Land forward.
13. See the top of the rim.
14. Ball on fingertips.
15. Strong shot.
16. Shoulders forward and relaxed.
17. Ball and arm risen straight.
18. Hold the follow through.
19. Keep the release point high.
20. On turns, square shoulders.

That’s an awful lot to remember in the span of about five seconds, but this mathematical precision may explain why Korver has mastered the three-pointer.

It would be a surprise if many other NBA players had checklists like this to follow. Michael Jordan may have had one, but all 20 steps would have been “be Michael Jordan.”

For the full story on Korver, including how he formed this checklist, Jeff Zillgitt’s piece can be found here.

[H/T: Yahoo! Sports]

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