Kristian Ferrell
The hook shot is a fundamental basketball move, used by many NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It is a type of shot where the player, positioned close to the basket, gently tosses the ball over their shoulder in an upward arc. The hook shot is performed with one hand, while the other arm is used to create space between the shooter and the defender. The move is quite difficult to block, but only a few players have mastered it more than a few feet from the basket.
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What You'll Learn
How to perform a hook shot
A hook shot is a difficult but effective move in basketball, used by many NBA stars over the years. It is a one-handed shot, thrown with a sweeping motion over the player's head. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform a hook shot:
First, get low and wide, with your back to the basket and the defender behind you. Catch the ball with both hands, bringing it close to your chin, with your elbows bent. This will help protect the ball from any reaching defenders.
Next, you can make a fake move towards the baseline to throw off your defender. Then, jump and bring the ball up with both hands, keeping your body between the ball and the defender. It is important to keep your body between the ball and the defender throughout the move.
Once you are in the air, take your non-shooting hand off the ball and snap your wrist to complete the shot. The shooting arm should travel in a graceful, sweeping motion, finishing with a flick of the wrist. The shot should be released when your arm is at its highest point, above your head.
Finally, be ready to rebound. Even the best hook shot shooters don't land all their attempts, so always be prepared to rebound the ball if you miss. As soon as you shoot, plant both feet on the ground and turn towards the basket to prepare to receive the ball if it bounces off the backboard.
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The jump hook
The shooting arm's elbow is "locked" into position next to the body, and the shooting arm is extended away from the hoop and the defender on about a 45-degree angle. The shooting motion is then begun by lifting the shooting arm up and over, or "from ear to ear". The ball is released from the fingertips with a snap of the wrist, much like a jump shot. The jump hook can be performed with either hand.
A good low post player can keep the defender guessing by mixing up the jump hook with other moves, such as the baseline drop-step, the up-and-under, and the turn-and-shoot. The jump hook is a more popular style of hook shot due to the increasingly physical nature of low-post basketball. It has been employed by many players, including centers Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. According to Hakeem Olajuwon, it is a "necessary shot that every center should have", because it is very difficult to block.
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The sky hook
Abdul-Jabbar's signature sky hook was performed by catching the ball and pivoting on the non-shooting foot. Instead of keeping the foot on the floor, he would jump off the floor while extending his shooting arm high, releasing the ball among the clouds, well above the rim line. This move was extremely difficult to block as Abdul-Jabbar's height and long reach gave him an advantage. The sky hook was so successful that it helped him score more points than anyone else in the NBA, solidifying his legacy as the league's second-place all-time leading scorer.
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History of the hook shot
The hook shot in basketball is a play where an offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, uses a sweeping motion of the arm farthest from the basket to throw the ball in an upward arc. It is performed with only one hand, while the other arm is used to create space between the shooter and the defensive player.
The hook shot is said to have been performed for the first time during official games in Eurobasket 1937 by Pranas Talzūnas, a member of the Lithuania basketball team, which went on to become the champions. Former Harlem Globetrotter Goose Tatum is also often credited with inventing the hook shot, as he was known to shoot them without even looking at the basket. The hook shot later became a staple for many players in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Over the years, the hook shot has evolved, with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers turning it into the unstoppable "sky hook" in the '80s. The 7-footer would catch the ball and pivot on the non-shooting foot, jumping off the floor while extending his shooting arm high. This variation of the hook shot was extremely difficult to defend against, with the only options being to deny Abdul-Jabbar the ball, double-team him, foul him, or hope that he would miss. The skyhook name was coined during Abdul-Jabbar's time with the Milwaukee Bucks by the team's radio announcer, Eddie Doucette, who remarked that "that hook was so high that it was coming out of the sky".
Another NBA great, George Mikan, developed a devastating hook shot while playing for DePaul University in the mid-1940s. Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal are among those who have since developed variations on the footwork and hand maneuvering necessary to land the shot. James Harden, during his time with the Houston Rockets and the Brooklyn Nets, also turned the usual hook shot strategy on its head by using his closer arm to make the shot.
The jump hook, a variation where the player jumps off using two feet instead of one, has become more popular due to the increasingly physical nature of low-post basketball. This style provides better balance and a quicker release, although the shot is not released from as high in the air. Notable players who have employed the jump hook include Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, and Hakeem Olajuwon, who considers it a "necessary shot that every center should have".
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Famous hook shot players
The hook shot is a type of basketball shot where an offensive player throws up a single arm over their head sideways to make a basket. It is performed with only one hand, while the other arm is used to create space between the shooter and the defensive player. The hook shot is quite difficult to block, but only a few players have mastered it more than a few feet from the basket.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Playing for teams like UCLA, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar's signature move was the skyhook, a variation of the hook shot that involves jumping off one foot while perpendicular to the basketball hoop. Standing at seven feet two inches tall, Abdul-Jabbar's height, combined with his skyhook, made him the National Basketball Association's second-place all-time leading scorer.
- James Harden: During his time with the Houston Rockets and the Brooklyn Nets, Harden employed a unique hook shot strategy. Instead of creating distance between himself and his defender, he used his closer arm to make the shot, often drawing fouls from the defense and enabling him to shoot free throws accurately.
- Magic Johnson: One of the most famous Los Angeles Lakers players, Johnson was a leading scorer, repeat MVP, and an excellent hook shot player. In the 1987 NBA Finals, Johnson's hook shot won Game 4 of the playoffs by a single point against the Celtics.
- George Mikan: Mikan, an NBA legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, is known for developing a powerful hook shot while playing for DePaul University in the mid-1940s.
- Shaquille O'Neal: O'Neal is a well-known center who has employed the "jump hook," a variation of the hook shot that involves jumping off two feet instead of one. This style provides better balance and a quicker release, making it a valuable move for centers.
- Michael Jordan and LeBron James: Up-and-coming high school basketball players, NCAA luminaries, and NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James have also been known to include well-executed hook shots in their gameplay.
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Frequently asked questions
A hook shot is a type of basketball shot where an offensive player throws the ball with one hand in an upward arc over their head and perpendicular to the basket.
The primary reason for shooting a hook shot is to keep the ball high and away from the defender.
The fundamentals of a hook shot include using your body to block the defender, then throwing the ball up with one hand in a sweeping motion.
After catching the ball, bring it to your chin with your elbows bent. Then, take a big step to create space between yourself and the defender. Finally, jump and bring the ball up with both hands, then release with one hand in a sweeping motion.
Some well-known basketball players who have mastered the hook shot include George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James.
