[jwplayer rbM3uDBt]
Portland Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little put up over 11,000 jump shots this summer and improved his shooting form but it was a conversation with five-time NBA All-Star, and teammate, Damian Lillard that changed his approach to the game.
Little played sparingly this season with the Trail Blazers, logging just 48 appearances prior to the season suspension. His shot was perhaps the biggest knock against him entering the NBA Draft last year as he was an inconsistent shooter in college at North Carolina.
So, he went to work.
Little put up the most 3-pointers of any Trail Blazers player this summer, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. His new and improved shot earned praise from Lillard himself and that compliment helped spark a conversation between the two players.
“It turned out to be a pivotal moment for me,” Little said. “It was a great conversation, one that really resonated with me and changed my whole outlook. Ever since then, honestly, I’ve just been different.”
The work put in by Little resulted in an improvement of six to seven points on his 3-point percentage, according to the Trail Blazers’ shot data. Lillard said he noticed more arc on the shot, which has resulted in more accuracy. Lillard essentially told Little that he couldn’t be afraid to fail.
“Before that, I was shooting the ball well, and then he told me that, and … you know, Dame is such an inspirational guy,” Little said. “As opposed to just watching him play, if people had the opportunity to just sit and talk to him, it’s crazy how inspirational he can be. So, when he said that, I took it to heart and applied it.”
The improved shot hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts told reporters that he has noticed an improvement from Little and that he is playing with more confidence. Teammate Zach Collins said Little has played great in practice at the Walt Disney World Resort.
After playing a limited role with the team this season, it is unclear if Little will see a bigger role when the Trail Blazers resume play on July 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Once Little does play, though, fans may see a much different player on the court than they previously saw this season.
[lawrence-related id=20054,20045,19965]
[vertical-gallery id=14282]