Retro Basketball Update – Shooting Hook Returns

At its peak, the hook shot was a beautiful thing to watch. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dropped the ball, everyone, including his defender, knew that his famous hook shot would follow. As his long arms lifted the ball skyward, the ball apparently fell from the sky into the basket. Many pole players of that era followed their own style of hook shooting. The world famous New York Knicks of the early 1970s had four players using the hook, most notably Willis Reed. Bill Russell had his trademark rolling southpaw hook that no one could stop. It became the favorite shot of players of all skill levels.

As the game evolved through the 80s led by Michael Jordan, the hook became extinct. The new “shot of choice” became the jump hook because all players could shoot on the line. From 5-10 guards to 7 footers, all players could now score from the block.

Today’s game is much faster, faster and stronger than Abdul-Jabbar’s day. With this transition came the formation of different shots to the post, the triple and the urge to reach the basket. Is the hook shot gone forever? Probably not. It’s still an unstoppable shot around the basket that even the below-average player can take with great efficiency. Because we live in a retro world, the hook is only gathering energy for its return.

Earlier this season, Jemareo Davidson caused a sensation by putting the hook shot back into play. Davidson hit two hooks in the sky, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s signature shot decades ago, during the key second-half run in Alabama’s No. 8 70-55 win over Oklahoma. “I’m getting where I feel comfortable,” Davidson, who scored 17 points, said over the sky hook. “Nobody can block it until now.”

One of the biggest fans of Davidson’s new opportunity is Crimson Tide head coach Mark Gottfried. “I love it. It’s a shot you can take,” Gottfried said. “Nobody actually shoots the hook shot anymore. It’s a difficult shot to block.”

I thank Jemareo Davidson for bringing this great shot back into the game. Not only is it difficult to defend but it is a very high percentage of shots around the basket. When you start to see the hook filter again at all levels, remember that you heard it here first.

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