Jayson Tatum Refuses To Claim Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Hook Shot Would Be Unstoppable In Today’s NBA

Kareen Abdul Jabbar’s iconic skyhook was practically unstoppable when he dominated the NBA in the 1970s and ’80s. With his arms fully extended, the 7’2″ center released the ball from nearly 12 feet above the ground. How can anyone stop that?

Even Abdul-Jabbar did not know the answer back then. “The skyhook was basketball’s version of the perfect strike in baseball — when properly executed, there simply was no defense for it,” he once said. But will it be as potent in today’s NBA, nearly half a century of evolution in the game later? Jayson Tatum, for one, doesn’t think so.

While on the New Heights podcast, Tatum was asked for his Mount Rushmore of NBA players. The Boston Celtics forward’s top four included his idol Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. His fourth pick was a surprise indeed — Abdul-Jabbar, a player who retired in 1989, nine years before Tatum was born. The choice, naturally, prompted questions on the Lakers legend’s signature hookshot.

Instead of sticking to the common notion that the skyhook was, is, and always will be unguardable, Tatum asserted that the shot would not be as elite now. He, however, reiterated that the great big man would still be a big threat.

When asked if the shot would still be “unstoppable,” Tatum said: “The short answer would be no, but would he [Kareem] adapt and still be effective? Yes. The game is not played like that today, but he was so talented and skilled that he would have found other ways to score.”

So, why doesn’t the iconic skyhook work in the modern NBA? The game has evolved since Abdul-Jabbar’s days. And the faster pace simply doesn’t allow opportunities for players to execute the hookshot. Half-court offenses are more sparse these days when compared to NBA basketball from decades prior.

Additionally, analytics play a more significant role in professional basketball today. And, teams are prioritizing perimeter shooting since it has been shown statistically that focusing on three-pointers yields a higher scoring advantage

But that doesn’t mean they don’t try; Nikola Jokic can sometimes be spotted executing variations of the hookshot. He just doesn’t reach the heights Abdul-Jabbar could when in full flow executing the shot. Tatum himself has tried the skyhook, experimenting with it in practice.

Jayson Tatum yells “Kareem” after hitting the sky hook
–#celtics #bostonceltics
⚡️ by @PrizePicks @Gametime pic.twitter.com/W64880MoRY

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) November 27, 2024

JT made his thoughts on Kareem’s skill level clear. He has utmost respect for the Lakers legend. And, as far as the disappearance of the skyhook is concerned, Abdul-Jabbar himself had spoken about it once.

Kareem’s thoughts on the skyhook’s disappearance

Abdul-Jabbar was once asked why no one has emulated his signature shot and attempted to learn the hook. He touched upon two points while answering.

First, he gave credit to Stephen Curry, whose shooting has revolutionized not just the NBA but the way the younger generation engages with basketball as a whole. “They want to go out there in the stratosphere and shoot three-pointers,” said Kareem during a 2017 interview.

The focus of developing players is, as such, away from learning a shot like his. The related second reason is that the game today just doesn’t use post play as much as in Abdul-Jabbar’s heyday. This was also part of Tatum’s argument.

The game may change, but excellent players will always find a way. Abdul-Jabbar acknowledged that he would have to change greatly if he was playing in today’s NBA, matching the assertion made by Tatum years later.