Add Reggie Miller To The List Of Larry Bird-Influenced Shooters
If you’re at all familiar with Reggie Miller’s jump shot from the former Indiana Pacer’s playing days, it didn’t look at all like Larry Bird‘s. But that doesn’t mean Miller — No. 6 on the NBA’s list of all-time three-pointers made — didn’t try to emulate Bird.
In a recent interview as a guest on the Dan Patrick Show, Miller went into some detail about the art of shooting, including his own journey to become one of the greatest three-point shooters in the history of the game.
“I was unorthodox,” Miller said. “I had my elbow out. It wasn’t textbook. As long as your shoulders are in line with the rim, it doesn’t matter if your elbow is. I copied a lot of shooters, Larry being one of them.”
Miller said that he particularly copied Bird when moving to his right to launch a shot. Longtime Celtics fans will know that Bird often brought the basketball up around his right ear before his shot release. While Miller didn’t end up mirroring this technique, his bent right elbow was a different kind of quirk.
Miller also named Steph Curry as his best shooter of all-time in the interview with Patrick, not that that’s going out on much of a limb.
What Reggie proceeded to say about Curry’s form was a bit surprising, though.
“Curry isn’t a textbook shooter, but we know he’s the best shooter of all-time, and it goes in,” Miller said.
Isn’t a textbook shooter? It seems like Curry’s form is pretty much perfect, but will give Miller the benefit of the doubt on that one.