The Science Behind Kyrie Irving's Step-Back 3-Point Shot | Sport Science | ESPN
Published May 31, 2023, 3:33 p.m. by Monica Louis
espn Sport Science looks at how kyrie irving's step-back 3-point shot has become nearly indefensible by players.
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one of Kyrie Irving's most lethal shots
is a step-back three from the right
place for me it's just an incredible
shot because I'm already lined up to the
rim and my elbows already pointed so
when I get it to con that area where
it's on my hip was just on morph it's a
straight shot you know it's almost
understandable for me so what makes this
shot virtually impossible to defend
we'll start with his ballin
[Music]
previous sports science testing revealed
that this four-time all-star has one of
the quickest crossovers in the league
and in fact he can execute a crossover
in as little as thirty five hundredths
of a second
any couple sets stick handle with a
lightning quick release we clocked at
under half a second compared to an
average NBA release
Irving's quick trigger can translate to
an extra fluid of separation from a
closing defendant now on a typical
jumper
Irving uses what's called a staggered
stance aligning is shooting shoulder
elbow and front hip with the rim that
unlike most right-handed shooters Irving
step-back is often a size F to his right
while this maneuver can create a foot
and a half more separation than a normal
setback it often leaves as hips
about 20 degrees off line so to
compensate for this power loss by the
misalignment herbing will increase his
knee flexion by roughly 15 degrees and
as he releases the ball
Irving frequently kicks his right leg
out like a tightrope walker using a
balance pole this shifts the center of
mass by an estimated nine inches
providing extra stability when shooting
and landing all told using fast and
precise adjustments like these Irving is
so far this postseason is knocking down
a ridiculous seventy three point seven
percent of his step-back jumpers that's
more than 30 percentage points higher in
Golden State's scepter
[Applause]
