Which Attempts Separate Good Scorers From Great Ones
Scoring in the NBA looks effortless to the average person, but real fans know just how much skill it takes to land those three-pointers. The hardest shots demand timing, balance, touch, and a little nerve, all while elite defenders do everything possible to ruin the moment. With that, we thought it was high time to introduce you to just how tough some of these shots can actually be!
The Fadeaway Over Tight Defense
A fadeaway already asks a shooter to move backward and maintain accuracy, which is exactly as rough as it sounds. Add a long defender with a hand in the shooter’s face, and the degree of difficulty climbs even higher.
The Corner Three With No Space
The corner three may be shorter than other threes, but don’t let that fool you. The sideline and baseline leave almost no room for error, so a player has to catch, set, and fire without drifting out of bounds. When a defender closes fast, that tiny window feels even smaller, too.
The Running Floater In Traffic
Despite its name, a floater is one of the trickiest shots in basketball. The shooter usually takes it while moving downhill, with taller defenders waiting near the rim and help defenders swiping from behind. To make it work, the player has to judge distance, angle, and touch in one smooth motion, which is easier said than done.
The Step-Back Three Off The Dribble
This shot is part footwork, part balance, and part confidence. So, not for your everyday player! You’d need to sell the drive, create separation, and shoot from deep range without losing rhythm to make it work. There’s almost no margin for sloppy mechanics.
The Reverse Layup Around Rim Protection
A reverse layup can make fans erupt, but you need to land it first. The shooter attacks the basket, avoids the shot blocker by going under or around the rim, and finishes from an awkward angle with the backboard as a guide. When it works, it looks smooth. When it doesn’t, you could try doing it yourself and see why!
