Brandon Jennings: "It’s easier to be KD, Bron, and etc, You gone need a a lot of training trying be Steph Curry though"

[DroseReturnChi]

Jennings didn't think this through.

You can train to be Steph Curry. You cannot train to be LeBron.

That was literally the point Jennings was trying to make.

not everyone can become kd, lebron with just training while more nba players and d1 players emulate steph.

[Jay 20]

I get what he is saying. Because Steph isn't as naturally gifted/athletic he has had to work harder at the skills of basketball in order to have the dominant impact that he has. But I do not want to take anything away from LeBron or KD or players like them. Yes they have some natural gifts that possibly gave them a head start on their journey to where they are now but there's no doubt in my mind they have become more skilled players then they would have been, through hard work and dedication to their craft.

[lars_rosenberg]

If it was easier to be any of them, wouldn't there be more of them?

LeBron especially. Dude is the most scrutinized player I've ever seen in any sport ever

There aren't many of them because people with that size and athleticism is extremely rare. It's like 0.01% of the population.
Curry body type is rather normal, he's just a tall and agile guy, like 5% of the population.

[michaelm]

Yeah maybe it is all nurture over nature, but the guy is the son of great NBA shooter. There has to be some kind of gene that was passed down with great hand-eye/Spatial coordination.

That might be true but he practiced shooting in NBA enviroment since he was little kid. The work he put in shows.

I think of it this way.

If you're in the top 1% on the planet in terms of eye hand coordination. Could you shoot free throws like Curry if you worked harder than anyone ever in the history of the world? No...ZERO chance. If you're in the top .1%...maybe.

But now here's the thing...you ALSO need to be in the top 10% in height. Have elite endurance. And also have the stability and ability to hit those 3's in game...

Sure 1 in a billion people might have a shot. But that's it! You can't train to be Curry anymore than being Lebron's size, height, and weight.

Over the next 1,000 years maybe 15 people can be Lebron and 20 can be Curry. But it's that small.

Basically agree in terms of the current gene pool from which basketball players are drawn, but there might be rather more if everyone in the world played basketball and had adequate nutrition etc.

[KrAzY3]

The people trying to credit Curry's skills with genetics are kind of funny to me. Obviously you have to be a superior athlete to be in the NBA, the worst athlete in the NBA is probably going to be better in every possible way to the best athlete in our average pickup basketball game. That's just how that works.

Tell me this, how did Michael Jordan's children do in the NBA? Size is the most valuable genetic gift when it comes to basketball, someone here once posted a stat basically showing you were a certain height your chances at playing in the NBA became exponentially higher. So sure, good hand eye coordination is great and all but just sheer size is the most valuable thing.

LeBron as far as I can tell is not just stronger than most people in the NBA, he's one of the fastest and has one of the best verticals. He's about as big as you can be and still keep those attributes. I don't think Curry can physically beat him in anything short of endurance and may be reflexes. Durant is a freakish combination of size and skill but we all know if Curry had that kind of length it would be magical and he would probably be the GOAT.

Also the post about shooting free throws and all that is nonsense. Best free throw shooter ever wasn't even a professional basketball player. Free throws are a skill, you learn to be good at it. There are short fat guys without a professional athlete in their entire family tree that are better at free throws than 90% of the NBA.

[chilluminati]

Dumbest **** i've heard in a while. Acting as if KD doesn't live and breath basketball everyday. To be that good takes countless hours put in everyday. Hate it when scrubs downplay greatness by acting as if it's all unexplained talent. Lebron and KD are that good because they put the work in.

Came here to say this. Plus, this screams little man complex. Brandon, your insecurities are showing.

[Effigy]

'Easier'? I forget, did Lebron or KD grow up in NBA locker rooms and receive training from NBA players and coaches from the time they were children?

Nobody had it easy. We are talking 3 of the 15 best players ever. They all earned their way to that achievement through a ton of hard work and practice, and yes, a large helping of good fortune.

[dhsilv2]

That might be true but he practiced shooting in NBA enviroment since he was little kid. The work he put in shows.

I think of it this way.

If you're in the top 1% on the planet in terms of eye hand coordination. Could you shoot free throws like Curry if you worked harder than anyone ever in the history of the world? No...ZERO chance. If you're in the top .1%...maybe.

But now here's the thing...you ALSO need to be in the top 10% in height. Have elite endurance. And also have the stability and ability to hit those 3's in game...

Sure 1 in a billion people might have a shot. But that's it! You can't train to be Curry anymore than being Lebron's size, height, and weight.

Over the next 1,000 years maybe 15 people can be Lebron and 20 can be Curry. But it's that small.

Basically agree in terms of the current gene pool from which basketball players are drawn, but there might be rather more if everyone in the world played basketball and had adequate nutrition etc.

Sure, but I'd guess we'd see more lebron's the curry's if we did that. Africa might have 40 new lebrons. I don't think we'd see 40 curry's.

[dhsilv2]

The people trying to credit Curry's skills with genetics are kind of funny to me. Obviously you have to be a superior athlete to be in the NBA, the worst athlete in the NBA is probably going to be better in every possible way to the best athlete in our average pickup basketball game. That's just how that works.

Tell me this, how did Michael Jordan's children do in the NBA? Size is the most valuable genetic gift when it comes to basketball, someone here once posted a stat basically showing you were a certain height your chances at playing in the NBA became exponentially higher. So sure, good hand eye coordination is great and all but just sheer size is the most valuable thing.

LeBron as far as I can tell is not just stronger than most people in the NBA, he's one of the fastest and has one of the best verticals. He's about as big as you can be and still keep those attributes. I don't think Curry can physically beat him in anything short of endurance and may be reflexes. Durant is a freakish combination of size and skill but we all know if Curry had that kind of length it would be magical and he would probably be the GOAT.

Also the post about shooting free throws and all that is nonsense. Best free throw shooter ever wasn't even a professional basketball player. Free throws are a skill, you learn to be good at it. There are short fat guys without a professional athlete in their entire family tree that are better at free throws than 90% of the NBA.

lol, it takes elite genetics to be an elite free throw shooter, just like darts or other dexterity based things. Curry combines that with ELITE height...top 10% on the planet, and insane endurance, again top top top level. It isn't like Curry is JUST a great free throw shooter but he's got that in combination with all those other skills. Over simplifying what he's doing is just childish.

[UcanUwill]

I think of it this way.

If you're in the top 1% on the planet in terms of eye hand coordination. Could you shoot free throws like Curry if you worked harder than anyone ever in the history of the world? No...ZERO chance. If you're in the top .1%...maybe.

But now here's the thing...you ALSO need to be in the top 10% in height. Have elite endurance. And also have the stability and ability to hit those 3's in game...

Sure 1 in a billion people might have a shot. But that's it! You can't train to be Curry anymore than being Lebron's size, height, and weight.

Over the next 1,000 years maybe 15 people can be Lebron and 20 can be Curry. But it's that small.

Basically agree in terms of the current gene pool from which basketball players are drawn, but there might be rather more if everyone in the world played basketball and had adequate nutrition etc.

Sure, but I'd guess we'd see more lebron's the curry's if we did that. Africa might have 40 new lebrons. I don't think we'd see 40 curry's.

I dont know, the whole new generation grew up on 3s, sure not everyone who just train will be Curry, but some will.

[dhsilv2]

Basically agree in terms of the current gene pool from which basketball players are drawn, but there might be rather more if everyone in the world played basketball and had adequate nutrition etc.

Sure, but I'd guess we'd see more lebron's the curry's if we did that. Africa might have 40 new lebrons. I don't think we'd see 40 curry's.

I dont know, the whole new generation grew up on 3s, sure not everyone who just train will be Curry, but some will.

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

[UcanUwill]

Sure, but I'd guess we'd see more lebron's the curry's if we did that. Africa might have 40 new lebrons. I don't think we'd see 40 curry's.

I dont know, the whole new generation grew up on 3s, sure not everyone who just train will be Curry, but some will.

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

He is 90.8% career FT shooter, which is incredible, but not something we havent seen. Nando De Colo is 93.8 career FT shooter in Euroleague, and his worse shooting season in like 8 years of playing there was him shooting 90.8%, in you exclude this season so far where hes 87%.

[dhsilv2]

I dont know, the whole new generation grew up on 3s, sure not everyone who just train will be Curry, but some will.

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

He is 90.8% career FT shooter, which is incredible, but not something we havent seen. Nando De Colo is 93.8 career FT shooter in Euroleague, and his worse shooting season in like 8 years of playing there was him shooting 90.8%, in you exclude this season so far where hes 87%.

Again he's the best free throw shooter in nba history on volume. Which means he has to have the freak athletic ability to be IN the nba AND do that...

[JonFromVA]

I grudgingly went with agree, fact is being really tall improves any players chances of playing in the NBA. otoh, I was tempted to go with No because really tall / long-limbed players have their own challenges mechanically they have to overcome. I think being smaller / more compact makes it easier to shoot and dribble, etc, but due to the difference in population the competition is much greater.

So, it's easier to be a big 7 foot stiff than a 6-foot player ... but to get to LeBron or KD's level? I'm not sure there's a difference. It makes me wonder, LeBron once said he wished he'd stop growing at 6'6", not only was the MJ's height but I think he felt he'd be able to do things at that size he'd no longer be able to at 6'8"+.

Anthony Davis may have some PG skills thanks to playing PG before his growth spurt, but do we think he still moves around the floor as easily as he did when he was 6'3" ? I wonder.

[KrAzY3]

I dont know, the whole new generation grew up on 3s, sure not everyone who just train will be Curry, but some will.

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

He is 90.8% career FT shooter, which is incredible, but not something we havent seen. Nando De Colo is 93.8 career FT shooter in Euroleague, and his worse shooting season in like 8 years of playing there was him shooting 90.8%, in you exclude this season so far where hes 87%.

This free throw stuff is so silly. It's all skill!

"Tom Amberry was an American podiatrist who is best known for holding the Guinness world record for most consecutive free throws made, having made 2,750 of them in a row in a span of 12 hours over the course of November 15, 1993 at the age of 71."

A 71 year old podiatrist made 2,750 in a row! What are these guys smoking that they are saying only elite athletes can do this. An old dude with a different profession made thousands in a row. It is not a genetic trait only elite athletes have! Do they realize how many physical attributes are lost at the age of 71? You can still make thousands in a row if you are capable of repeating the same step over and over.

[Pelly24]

I get the thinking behind this, but man, Steph's release is so quick it's like he doesn't even need time to aim lol. I'm certain that's something that simply cannot be trained. It's genetics.

[bbalnation]

Eh. This is my opinion.

Its not about easier. Nor is it about which one needs more training. Its more about how one trains.

Steph was selective with what he trained on, and from an early age. He had the privilege and wealth to do so through his family. Everyone knows about that summer when one of the best 14 year old shooters in history reworked his shot over a summer, with a hired basketball trainer working with him every day. Steph continues to train smartly for his body, relative to the rest of the league, offensively and defensively.

You could say the same thing about Lebron though. Once he had access to the same types of resources, he began to train meticulously. Hes a smart worker. He takes care of his body to a point where we dont appreciate that this is his 19th year doing this. I remember Kobe doing what he was doing in his last couple years before the injuries and we were in awe. What Lebron is doing isnt just because of genetics. Its unfair to say it is.

From a basketball POV: look at his jumper. He has a near half court jumper now too. You've gotta respect him from three. You want him shooting it instead of driving, but you can't leave him open. He may never be Steph, but he also wasn't gifted with the same privileges that Steph was: and thats okay... life is that way. Lebron did QUITE okay for himself, and hes got some size and weight on him to say the least lol, in an NBA thats 6'6? on average.

I dont think its as simple as Brandon is saying, but I understand what hes trying to say. What Steph is doing is spectacular. But I appreciate what KD and Bron have done and are doing too.

KD is automatic these days. Can't discredit that.

[UcanUwill]

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

He is 90.8% career FT shooter, which is incredible, but not something we havent seen. Nando De Colo is 93.8 career FT shooter in Euroleague, and his worse shooting season in like 8 years of playing there was him shooting 90.8%, in you exclude this season so far where hes 87%.

This free throw stuff is so silly. It's all skill!

"Tom Amberry was an American podiatrist who is best known for holding the Guinness world record for most consecutive free throws made, having made 2,750 of them in a row in a span of 12 hours over the course of November 15, 1993 at the age of 71."

A 71 year old podiatrist made 2,750 in a row! What are these guys smoking that they are saying only elite athletes can do this. An old dude with a different profession made thousands in a row. It is not a genetic trait only elite athletes have! Do they realize how many physical attributes are lost at the age of 71? You can still make thousands in a row if you are capable of repeating the same step over and over.

FT is skill and psychological thing, but I guess the guy meant that there are very few people to have stamina to play NBA game and still shoot over 90% from the line, all fatigue and tension considered what comes to being there in the game.

[dhsilv2]

Free throws aren't new...he's the best free throw shooter ever. It isn't like he's just some 3 point guy...he's the freakest freak we've ever seen as a shooter. Not 3 point shooter, but shooter.

He is 90.8% career FT shooter, which is incredible, but not something we havent seen. Nando De Colo is 93.8 career FT shooter in Euroleague, and his worse shooting season in like 8 years of playing there was him shooting 90.8%, in you exclude this season so far where hes 87%.

This free throw stuff is so silly. It's all skill!

"Tom Amberry was an American podiatrist who is best known for holding the Guinness world record for most consecutive free throws made, having made 2,750 of them in a row in a span of 12 hours over the course of November 15, 1993 at the age of 71."

A 71 year old podiatrist made 2,750 in a row! What are these guys smoking that they are saying only elite athletes can do this. An old dude with a different profession made thousands in a row. It is not a genetic trait only elite athletes have! Do they realize how many physical attributes are lost at the age of 71? You can still make thousands in a row if you are capable of repeating the same step over and over.

You think the 71 year old isn't a genetic freak too? Shaq's still 7 feet all and a freak despite being too old to play in the league.

[Haldi]

The people trying to credit Curry's skills with genetics are kind of funny to me. Obviously you have to be a superior athlete to be in the NBA, the worst athlete in the NBA is probably going to be better in every possible way to the best athlete in our average pickup basketball game. That's just how that works.

Tell me this, how did Michael Jordan's children do in the NBA? Size is the most valuable genetic gift when it comes to basketball, someone here once posted a stat basically showing you were a certain height your chances at playing in the NBA became exponentially higher. So sure, good hand eye coordination is great and all but just sheer size is the most valuable thing.

LeBron as far as I can tell is not just stronger than most people in the NBA, he's one of the fastest and has one of the best verticals. He's about as big as you can be and still keep those attributes. I don't think Curry can physically beat him in anything short of endurance and may be reflexes. Durant is a freakish combination of size and skill but we all know if Curry had that kind of length it would be magical and he would probably be the GOAT.

Also the post about shooting free throws and all that is nonsense. Best free throw shooter ever wasn't even a professional basketball player. Free throws are a skill, you learn to be good at it. There are short fat guys without a professional athlete in their entire family tree that are better at free throws than 90% of the NBA.

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