While the Los Angeles Lakers remained adamant during Lonzo Ball’s time with the franchise that his jumper need not be changed, the New Orleans Pelicans took the complete opposite approach from day one of acquiring Ball. And though the changes were never drastic, it has produced improved results this season as Ball is shooting a career-best 38.3% three-point percentage.
Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson began working with Ball from the first day he stepped back into the gym after recovering from his ankle injury. The changes came day-by-day as Vinson focused on moving Ball’s shot from the left side of his face to a more centralized spot.
On JJ Redick’s podcast this week, Ball talked about the process he and Vinson went through to change Ball’s jumper during the preseason.
“It was a lot of work and I’m still working on it today. Fred (Vinson) got me basically from the first day I came into the gym. It’s funny how he changed my shot. He did it day-by-day. He made me shoot on the left the first day and he slowly moved it over. He’s like ‘Keep your hand up, bend your knees more.’ I mean, it’s still a work in progress. It’s tough to change a shot and get it perfect as the season’s going on so some games it feels good and some games it doesn’t feel as good. Credit to the coaches though and you guys, especially you. You gave me a lot of confidence telling me to shoot. You always tell me to shoot even when it’s not a good night for me.”
The changes did not reap immediate dividends as Ball shot just 34.3% from behind the arc in his 11 games in October and November. However, Ball has seen progressive improvement each month of the season, culminating in a March in which he hit 22 of his 43 three-point attempts.
Redick asked Ball if his new form was on his mind during the beginning of the season and how his mental approach to his jumper has changed as the season has progressed.
“For sure. All the work I’ve put in to get where it is today. Now I’m feeling like this is how I used to shoot, hitting six threes a night, when you’re open take it. Obviously, in the beginning it was a little tough because it just didn’t feel right, like it’s not how I shoot. But now it’s definitely how I shoot so I’m happy with it.” “In high school and in UCLA, I used to always (drive) going left and do the step back just because it was right there. But now it’s like I can go right now but my stepback isn’t as good as it used to be. I feel like over time it’ll balance out but obviously it was a big change just because at one time I was shooting on the left (side of my face) and now I’m shooting on the right.”
Ball has taken significantly fewer step-back jumpers this season and has turned those into more attempts at the rim. Ball has taken 144 attempts at the rim and though it is not a season-high, it was on pace to be such. Ball has also driven to his left more this season than in last season, though by just a marginal amount.
No matter how it’s sliced, though, Ball is having a career-best season shooting the ball with his new form.
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