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During his four years in high school, one year at UCLA and first two years in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lonzo Ball had one of the ugliest looking jump shots in basketball history. Yes, it was that bad.
However, through hard work and dedication, Ball has rebuilt his jumper and the results were paying off in 2019-20 with the New Orleans Pelicans before the season was suspended in March.
Prior to his first season with the Pelicans, Ball's shooting form involved him bringing his right hand across his body and releasing the ball to the left of his head. The former No. 2 overall pick shot just 38.0 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from beyond the arc and 43.7 percent from the free-throw line in his two years with the Lakers.
Those are dreadful numbers for any player, but especially for a point guard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJkEgtOT4Jk
However, with the help of Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson, Ball has modified his shooting form.
Lonzo is now releasing the ball on the right side of his head.
Ball was shooting 41.2 percent from the floor, 38.3 percent from 3 and 56.7 percent from the free-throw line in 56 games with the Pelicans in 2019-20 prior to Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 test. The third-year guard still has a lot of work to do, particularly from the charity stripe.
Point guards in the NBA are supposed to be the team's best free-throw shooters, not one of the worst.
@clutchstories REMEMBER WHEN: Lonzo Ball couldn't shoot? Well, now everything has changed. 👀 (@leslieeemichelle) #nba #clutchpoints #lonzoball #nbamoments #lonzo
Back in December, Ball spoke with Andrew Lopez of ESPN about his new shooting mechanics. The Pelicans are thrilled that Ball's shot looks a little more traditional.
“We just take it step by step,” Ball said. “It wasn't a drastic change from the beginning. I kind of got here and he (Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson) just started with my follow-through. We started with legs after that. Then we started from the left to the middle to get it to the right.
“I think now my shot is just more consistent. It feels the same throughout the game instead of how I had it last year when it was kind of adjusting throughout the game. It just comes with hard work. I'm going to keep working and hopefully [shooting percentages] will keep going up.”
Consistency will continue to be a challenge for Ball since he still has to get used to his new shooting form. Practice makes perfect, though, and no one can say that Ball hasn't been working extremely hard.
In total, Ball was getting at least 250-300 makes per day from deep with Vinson before and after Pelicans practice.
In the same interview with ESPN, Ball said he wants to be a 40 percent shooter from 3. Only time will tell if he can make that happen. However, the Pelicans know that Ball is going to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. The youngster has an incredible work ethic and won't stop until he's the shooter he wants to be.
The Pelicans are among the 22 teams scheduled to partake in the “bubble” games down in Orlando, Florida. Ball and New Orleans will be battling it out with the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The only way the Pelicans are going to clinch the playoff spot is if Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball play at an All-Star level.
