NBA Today: The Four Best Jump Shooters

Some say the game today is all flash and that fundamentals have gone out the window.

And some would be right. The game has certainly changed throughout the years to better utilize the freakish athleticism that has become abundant in recent years. Why would a guy like Lebron take a jumper when driving to the hole is an option?

You really can't blame coaches for attacking the rim and getting more efficient shots, but at the same time some of us will always favor the good old days when a pretty jump shooter was the best friend of every coach.

Maybe I'm just being a little nostalgic, but I miss seeing a team full of guys who can shoot. I'm sick of seeing NBA players who can't even make a free throw.

When highlight reels are made you pretty much see nine dunks and a game winning jumper. Don't get me wrong, I love dunks, but at the same time I miss the pretty J's of yesteryear.

Great Balance, squared up, elbows in good position, and a great follow through. Not all four of these guys do all of those things to perfection, but that doesn't make their shot any less pure.

"You don't call a shooter great because of his form," Ray Allen said. "You call a jump shooter a great jump shooter because the ball goes in."

So here's a little throwback to the good old days. The best jump shooters of TODAY:

Ray Allen

For years Sweet Ray has been draining jump shots like they were going out of style.

Combining excellent fundamentals with a lightning quick release has allowed Allen to hit his two point jumpers at a 49% clip last year, good for second in the NBA.

According to Allen, "Two most important things in jump shooting are making sure you get your knees bent and allowing you to get lift."

"You should shoot your jump shot the same way every time whether you are standing in the corner or you have a 7-footer standing in your way, you should get lift every time"

As a result of his fast release and lift, Allen rarely has his jumper blocked.

The only real downfall are that his mechanics aren't perfect in the traditional sense since his ball doesn't have much rotation, but as Ray said "Yeah, but you aren't supposed to hit the rim".

Steve Nash

Nash gets most of his shots off the dribble, which is more difficult than spotting up, yet he still manages to have near perfect form on every one.

He gets decent elevation and his form is near perfect. His release is not the fastest, but because he's not a spot up shooter he still manages to get it off by being so effective off the dribble.

"I'm not sure if (I have the best form). I think that a lot of guys have terrific form in our league, but that's a nice comment...Consistency with my technique and a consistent rhythm are important. I think the two are two different components. The technique can be the same, but if your rhythm's off it's not very good."

Maybe that's why he always hits the bottom of the net.

Peja Stojakovic

Peja goes against Allen's rule of lifting every time. At 6'10 with arms to match, Peja has been among the leagues best shooters for years. Although the rest of his game has slowed down, his shooting remains among the best in the NBA.

He has a history of screaming randomly and is notorious for avoiding contact. Perhaps that explains the superfast release and two inch leap. Maybe he's just trying to get it over with as fast as possible so nobody bumps him.

His form is anything but perfect. In fact, it's one of the oddest in the league, but you cant argue with the results.

"I've had a lot of people tell me it's not a good-looking shot," Stojakovic said. "It looks weird, and I am leaning to my left, and my hand goes all the way right. The finger is kind of going this way. But I think the shot is going from your head and how much confidence you have. The ball rotates out, like a screwball. But I am focused on the rim and the basket, and it's about confidence."

For how complicated it sounds, he certainly makes it look easy.

Michael Redd

Redd has a sick left—handed jump shot that he can launch with remarkably little space. His fundamentals are perfect, and the results certainly show.

Long considered one of the best shooters in the NBA, many would be shocked to learn that he struggled with his shot when he got to the NBA.

"I crack up when people consider me a shooter," Redd told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Redd said he refined the shaky shot with the help of former Bucks players, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, who were his teammates as a rookie. He learned he needed to get his shot off quicker against the talented players in the NBA, so he worked to speed up his release.

It showed in his second and third year when he hit threes at a remarkable 44% rate. He never got that high again since opposing defenses started making him their number one priority, but he still has that same sweet stroke today.

notable all time greats

Larry Bird

Reggie Miller

Rick Barry

Drazen Petrovic

Mark Price

Steve Kerr

John Paxson

Sam Cassel