LeBron James is shooting 41.2% from 3-point range this season compared to 34.8% career average. A record address for the King explained in particular by precise technical changes, implemented during dedicated training sessions. At 39, the Lakers winger once again proves that there is no age to progress.
If you’ve ever had fun imitating LeBron James’ shot, there’s a good chance you’ve leaned to the left so much that you were off balance. He managed to compensate thanks to exceptional sheathing and touch among the best on this beautiful blue planet. But all the same, it seems that this inclination could have influenced his percentages.
Since the start of his season, LeBron James has set the sights like never before. More than 41% average (on more than five attempts per match), this is a first for a player who is playing his 21st year in the Great League. And according to Second Spectrum Tracking (via ESPN), the orientation of his shoulders on his shots has changed by 7° this year, going from left to right. His hips went in the same direction with 6° of evolution. It’s hard not to see a cause and effect relationship there.
Another change highlighted by ESPN : the speed of his shot, especially in catch-and-shoot. On this gesture, always according to Second Spectrum Tracking, the ball leaves his hands 0.18 seconds faster than last season. He also had the slowest shot in the NBA on this type of 3-pointer in 2022-23.
When asked by analyst Doris Burke if these changes were intended, LeBron James replied:
“Of course it’s on purpose, I really try to have my right shoulder and my right arm aligned with the basket.”
The child from Akron also explains these changes by the improvement in his physical condition:
“I’ve been able to spend more time on the floor on the days we don’t play. My foot is much better. Last year I couldn’t spend too much time running or doing reps because I couldn’t anchor my foot as hard to the ground.”
More work and a better physique. A normal sentence for a 39 year old man in short. A difference from one season to the next which is notable since he only shot 32% from a distance last year (quite weighed down by injuries), a gigantic improvement.
This is one of LeBron James’ greatest strengths: adaptation, whether to his body or to his team. He often knows the workload he can put on himself and how he can use it to impact his teammates. Ask him to play playmaker, he will become the best passer in the League with more than 10 caviars per match, give him a break with his foot, he will find technical solutions to improve his shooting and significantly increase his success percentage.
If the evolution of his shooting is reflected too little in his team’s results this season, it could well be one of the elements that will make the Lakers dangerous during the Play-In next week. Probably opposed in a high-stakes match to the Splash Brothers of Golden State, he will be able to whisper in the ears of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson that this season, it is he who has the best 3-point percentage of the three.
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Source texte : ESPN
2024-04-10 16:18:00
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