Remember back when people criticized Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin for being unable to shoot, saying he was nothing more than a dunker?

How times have changed.

Griffin has not only moved away from Los Angeles and developed a jump shot but he has actually become a legitimate threat from three-point range, shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc this season.

Boston Celtics head coach says that the Pistons big man had no choice but to hone his three-point shot to remain a threat from all over the floor and that teams have to guard him on the perimeter as a result:

“He had to increase his range to really be considered a threat at the highest level out there. Now he is,” said Stevens, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “You have to be out there. You have to guard him beyond the line, and that makes it really difficult when he starts setting picks or playing with the ball in the pick-and-roll.”

As for Griffin himself? He is entirely comfortable shooting triples, an amazing change from a guy who could barely even make a free throw over his few years in the league:

“It’s something that I worked on and I feel comfortable doing,” said Griffin. “And I think for our team this year and this time of the season, I think it’s been somewhat necessary. … I think I’ve done it in a bigger sample size this year, but it’s something that I’ve done in the past. It’s something I’m comfortable with. It’s worked pretty well for us.”

Griffin is averaging a career-high 25.1 points per game in Detroit this season.