Alright, so I’ve been messing around with trying to perfect my jump shot, and I decided to focus on Kevin Durant’s technique, specifically that “triple 90s” thing. It’s a whole process, but stick with me, and I’ll walk you through what I’ve been up to.
First off, I watched a ton of videos of Durant playing. I mean, hours. Slowing them down, pausing, rewinding, the whole nine yards. I was mainly looking at his form, especially when he was shooting those crazy clutch shots. It’s insane how smooth he is, even under pressure.
Triple 90s Breakdown
Then, I started trying to break down this “triple 90s” technique I’d read about. Apparently, it’s about getting three right angles: at your elbow, your knee, and your hip when you release the ball. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. Getting my body to cooperate was a whole other story.
- Elbow: This one was probably the easiest. Just make sure your shooting arm is bent at a clean 90-degree angle when you bring the ball up.
- Knee: This is where it gets tricky. You gotta bend your knees enough to get power, but not so much that you lose your balance. Finding that sweet spot took some time.
- Hip: This is the one that really threw me for a loop. It’s about how your torso aligns with your legs. It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference in your balance and the fluidity of your shot.
So, I started practicing, just mimicking Durant’s form as best as I could. I’d stand in front of the hoop, no ball, just going through the motions. I probably looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. I’d do it over and over again, trying to feel those angles in my body. At first, it felt super awkward and unnatural, like I was some kind of robot or something.
Next, I added the ball. Oh boy. That’s when things really got interesting. Trying to maintain those angles while actually shooting? Much harder than it looks. My shots were all over the place. Bricks, airballs, you name it. But I kept at it, focusing on that triple 90s.
Slowly but surely, I started to see some improvement. My shots were becoming more consistent, more fluid. I wasn’t thinking about the angles as much, it was starting to feel natural. Still not perfect, but definitely better. I could hit 3 pointers more consistently.
I even started watching some of Durant’s interviews and speeches. The guy’s a beast on the court, but he’s also got a really inspiring story, especially his relationship with his mom. It’s cool to see the human side of these athletes, you know?
I also remember seeing him say “I’m 6-9, though.” I can’t imagine how much harder it must be to master this technique when you are that tall.
Then I watched the “Swagger” series, which was loosely based on Durant’s experience. It was a good show, but didn’t really help me much in my quest of perfecting my jump shot. All it did was remind me how much work I have ahead of me.
I watched that game again when the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 118-113 and Durant drilled the biggest shot of his career. It’s crazy how he made such an iconic shot. I wonder if I will be able to do that one day.
Anyhow I kept practicing for days and weeks. I remember I spent 5 mins practicing that 2017 NBA Finals shot, and was able to land it a couple of times.
Then, I tried to cut the lead by two by hitting a jumper, just like him, but it was harder than I expected.
Anyway, this whole thing has been a fun project. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m definitely going to keep practicing. Maybe one day I’ll be able to shoot like KD. Probably not, but a guy can dream, right?
