In the dynamic world of basketball, shooting form can be a make-or-break factor. The 2023-2024 NBA season showcased some of the most talented players but also highlighted the intriguing aspect of shooting technique. Dive into the top five players who stood out, not for their accuracy, but for the unorthodox nature of their shooting forms, which piqued the interest of fans for being outrageously ugly.
5. Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks, despite being an efficient shooter and an excellent defender, has one of the weirdest shooting releases in the league right now. It’s as if Brooks doesn’t give the ball a spin every time he shoots, which looks kind of funny.
Although, we’d like to give him some props because he still makes his long-distance shots even though it’s not the prettiest on the court. Hey, if it works for him and the Houston Rockets then that’s all that matters, right? Right now, he’s shooting 42.7% from three, which is very impressive for an NBA player.
4. Jaren Jackson Jr.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. may be an emphatic rim protector, but he’s got an ugly jump shot. Just imagine a form that mixes both styles of NBA legends Joakim Noah and Shawn Marion. Yes, it’s that ugly.
It’s either JJJ is trying to jump toward the rim or heave the ball away from his chest, which looks clunky at times. Regardless, Jackson Jr. is a decent shooter for a big man.
3. Cam Payne
A year ago, the Phoenix Suns both had Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne. The former had a sweet jump shot, while the latter, err, not so much. Cam “sideway shooter” Payne is a left-handed basketball player who likes to shoot sideways. Payne is already goofy enough but his bad shooting form makes him even funnier.
Regardless, has become more efficient through the years. In the 2023-2024 season, the 29-year-old point guard is averaging a career-high 45.9% in three-point shots, his best so far (not counting 2019-2020 because he played only 8 games).
2. Chris Boucher
Is it just coincidental that the players on this list are great shooters despite having the worst shooting forms? Toronto Raptors forward, Chris Boucher, is another perfect example of that statement.
The 2019 champion has an unorthodox and probably uncoordinated shot but still makes it anyway. However, in this season, Boucher’s production took a dip after playing fewer minutes due to the arrival of younger talents in Toronto.
1. Draymond Green
Is Draymond Green wearing a backpack during shootouts? Green’s forced jump shot has been cracking up his fans and haters because of the way it looks. It’s very obvious during games because he’s really now known to be the team’s scoring threat from behind the arc (we know who it is).
But, it seems that after putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold last month, Green managed to increase his contribution to the Warriors. Right now, he’s averaging 10 points per game (his best in the last six seasons) while shooting a career-high 44.7% from three-point land. That includes a 21-point performance against the Clippers on December 2, wherein the 2017 DPOY made 4 threes in 8 attempts.
