Everyone is free to adopt their own free throw routine. Bounce the ball once, twice, three times, spin it around, pass it around the waist, or even kiss it… More than just a charm, this routine also allows you to enter into a certain state of concentration.
Among the most original routines, there is that ofAlperen Sengun. In Paul George’s podcast, the Turkish pivot confirmed talking to the ball before throwing it, a practice which dates from his rookie year in Houston. We regularly see him bring the ball to his mouth and whisper a few words to it before each attempt.
“This routine started two years ago. I talked to the ball all the time. I’m not going to tell everyone what I say, but I talk nicely to the ball and spin it around. A dribble and a shot. But if the ball doesn’t go in, I’ll speak badly to him next time. I speak really badly to him”he confided.
It must be believed that the ball does not really appreciate this way of doing things since Alperen Sengun has never been as clumsy with the free throw as at the start of the season. Already average over his two previous years, barely over 71%, he peaks today at a small 66.7% success rate from the penalty line. However, he does not plan to change his way of proceeding, and even had his best outing in the exercise against the Mavs, at 11/14!
“When I played in Turkey last year, my free throw percentage was 85-86%, something like that. I didn’t want to change it. Right now it’s not very good, it’s 65% or something like that, but I don’t want to change it,” he added. “Right now, I’m talking really bad to him! “.
| Alperen Sengun | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | HOU | 72 | 21 | 47.4 | 24.8 | 71.1 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 9.6 |
| 2022-23 | HOU | 75 | 29 | 55.3 | 33.3 | 71.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 14.8 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 14 | 33 | 56.7 | 32.3 | 63.6 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 9.1 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 20.2 |
| Total | 161 | 26 | 52.8 | 28.3 | 70.6 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 12.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
