When the NBA world said Stephen Curry changed the game of basketball, it was no exaggeration. With 3390 made regular season threes, he has etched himself as the greatest shooter in basketball history. In the process, he has also transformed the game and become a role model for millions of fans. However, despite all of his accomplishments and shooting prowess, a humble Steph believes Klay Thompson’s shot to be the ‘Prettiest Jumper’ in the league.
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The Splash Brothers have given the Golden State franchise much to cheer about for a decade. Klay Thompson, the other half of this dynamic shooting backcourt, has also made a name for himself through his shooting. Even though Curry is regarded as the best, Klay holds the record for most threes made in a single game (14), along with the most points in a quarter (37). The above achievements speak volumes of his ability to shoot the rock.
Stephen Curry calls Klay Thompson’s jumper the prettiest
Stephen Curry recently appeared in the show ‘Hot Ones’ by First We Feast and talked about the shooting mechanics of Klay Thompson. He gave his Splash Brother the props for having the best-looking jumper in the league while describing what makes it so special. Here is what the four-time NBA champion had to say:
“Klay has the most stacked kind of form, everything is in line. All of his angles are right. If I was going to take somebody who has never shot a ball before and put a ball in their hand, I would put you in Klay Thompson’s position. Everybody shoots differently but Klay’s is the one, if you just took a snapshot, it’s just right here. It’s pretty. I call it the ‘Prettiest jump shot’.”
If you have watched Klay shoot the ball, you know exactly what Steph is talking about. His form seems to be perfect. The way he gets into his shooting option is by establishing a firm base. The NBA star then rises in one motion keeping his hands at a perfect ninety-degree angle and releasing the ball with his wrist. It’s like a masterclass for the young kids trying to improve their game.
Even the former president of the United States – Barack Obama, had the same assessment as Stephen Curry. During their visit to the White House after winning the 2015 NBA Finals, the president announced Klay Thompson’s jumper to be more ‘pretty’ than his Splash Brother. The moment brought a huge uproar of laughter from the Golden State Warriors team.
How fast does Klay Thompson release the shot?
Not only does Klay have the best-looking jump shot, but he has the fastest trigger release in the league as well. In an analysis done by FiveThirtyEight, the Golden State player releases the ball within 0.79 seconds of catching it. The quick release puts into perspective why it becomes so difficult for the opposition to defend against him.
If the fact that he needs less than a second to get a shot-off wasn’t astonishing enough, the shooting guard converts them at more than 40% from the three-point line. A lethal combination of skills along with the greatest shooter by your side, has resulted in multiple NBA championships for the San Francisco franchise.
