Okay, so I was messing around on the court the other day, you know, just getting some shots up. And I got thinking about Kevin Durant, specifically that super smooth jumper he has. It looks so effortless when he does it, right? Especially that pull-up.
Getting Started – The Idea
I decided, why not try and copy it? Just for fun, see if I could even get close to the feel of it. It wasn’t about making every shot, more about understanding the mechanics he uses. Seemed like a good way to spend an afternoon practicing.
First Attempts – Clunky and Awkward
So, I started dribbling, trying to do that quick stop and rise up like KD. Man, it felt weird at first. My feet felt tangled, the motion wasn’t smooth at all. I was thinking too much about it, probably.
- Dribble felt okay.
- The stop? Not so quick, more like a stumble.
- The rise up? Felt rushed and off-balance.
- Shot? Mostly bricks, hitting the front rim or way off left.
Breaking It Down
Alright, clearly just trying the whole thing at once wasn’t working. I had to break it down. Watched some mental replays of him shooting.
Focus Point 1: The Footwork. He stops on a dime, gets balanced super fast. So I just practiced that. Dribble, plant, get set. Over and over. Without even shooting sometimes. Just getting that base solid.
Focus Point 2: The High Release. This is the big one, right? He shoots it way up high, makes it tough to block. I started just focusing on getting the ball up high before the release, even if it felt unnatural. My normal shot isn’t like that.
Drilling and Feeling It Out
Spent a good chunk of time just on those two things.
First, footwork drills. Dribble left, stop, rise. Dribble right, stop, rise. Trying to make the stop quicker, smoother.
Then, added the shot, but really focusing on that high release point. Had to consciously lift my elbow higher than usual. It felt really strange, and honestly, my shoulder started feeling it a bit. It’s a different muscle use.
Lots of misses. Like, a LOT. Airballs, clanks off the side of the rim. But every now and then, one would feel a little better. The timing would click just for a second.
Small Progress, Still Grinding
After maybe an hour or so, I started to feel a tiny bit more comfortable. Not KD-level smooth, obviously, not even close. But the motion felt less… forced? I hit a couple where the stop felt quick, the rise felt okay, and the release was high. They actually went in! That felt pretty good.
It’s tough, though. That shot requires serious coordination and rhythm that he’s perfected over years. It looks simple, but getting the flow right, especially off the dribble, is hard work.
Definitely not something I mastered in one afternoon. But it was a cool practice session, trying to dissect and copy one of the greats. Gonna keep working on that high release point, see if I can make it feel a bit more natural over time. It’s a fun challenge.
