With his 72% shooting success rate and his three 3-point attempts last season, Walker Kessler limits waste as much as possible in his offensive game. His coach, Will Hardy, even wanted him to let go a little offensively, that he not be afraid of making mistakes, but the pivot seeks efficiency above all.
To weigh even more in attack, the Team USA player must not only use violence, but also change his shooting mechanics. This is the observation he made during the offseason. He therefore worked to change his gesture, which tends to go too far behind his head.
“Every mechanic is different, but mine is like a catapult movement”he compares for the Salt Lake Tribune. “There’s not a big curve and little touch. »
Another point to improve: its supports. Stephen Curry has demonstrated it for a long time, shooting is not just a matter of gestures with the arms and hands, the feet are fundamental.
“The top of the shot is important, but the base is the main thing, for me anyway,” confirms Walker Kessler, who notably has to spread his legs more when he shoots. “If I manage to feel my legs well, to concentrate on my support, then often my shot is much better. I feel good, I really have confidence in my shoot. Now we have to see him in a match situation. »
“He’s going to be open, teams are going to leave him free, so if he wants to shoot, he can do it”
Will he have the green light to try his luck more behind the arc? Yes, Kelly Olynyk already answers, after seeing his teammate take four 3-point shots during the preseason.
“He’s probably more willing to do it now and obviously we want him to shoot when he’s open,” ensures the interior. “His movement is good, the rotation of the ball is good. It all looks good. He put in a lot in training. It’s just a matter of finding the right timing in a match. He’s going to be open, teams are going to leave him free, so if he wants to shoot, he can do it. »
Lauri Markkanen, who also changed some elements of his actions at university then in Chicago, is delighted to see “Walker Kessler working every day and putting shots on me”.
The Finn also reminds us that these changes are often long-term issues, and that we must therefore be patient before seeing concrete results. “But who knows how great a shooter he can become from distance? »he concludes about his teammate.
| Walker Kessler | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | UTH | 74 | 23 | 72.0 | 33.3 | 51.6 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 9.2 |
| Total | 74 | 23 | 72.0 | 33.3 | 51.6 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 9.2 | |
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.
