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Retro Basketball Update--The Hook Shot Is Back
By Coach Randy Brown

In its heyday the hook shot was a thing of beauty to watch. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the ball down low everyone, including his defender, knew his famous hook shot was coming next. As his long arms hoisted the ball skyward, the ball seemly dropped from the sky into the basket. Many post players of that era followed with their own hook shot style. The world famous New York Knicks of the early 70's had four players use the hook, most notably Willis Reed. Bill Russell had his trademark rolling left handed hook that no one could stop. It became a favorite shot for players at all levels.

As the game evolved through the Michael Jordan-led 80's the hook became extinct. The new "shot of choice" became the jump hook because all players could shoot it in the lane. From 5-10 guards to 7 footers, all players now could score from the block.

Today's game is much faster, quicker, and stronger than the day's of Abdul-Jabbar. With this transition came the formation of different post shots, the three point shot, and the urgency of getting to the basket. Is the hook shot gone forever? Surely not. It remains an unstoppable shot around the basket that even the below average player can make with great efficiency. Because we live in a retro world, the hook is just storing up energy for its return.

Earlier this season Jemareo Davidson made a splash by bring the hook shot back in play. Davidson hit two sky hooks -- the signature shot of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar decades ago -- during the key second-half run in No. 8 Alabama's 70-55 victory over Oklahoma. "I'm just getting to where I was feeling comfortable," Davidson, who scored 17 points, said of the sky hook. "No one can block it so far."

One of the biggest fans of Davidson's new shot is Crimson Tide head coach Mark Gottfried. "I love it. It's a shot he can make," Gottfried said. "Nobody really shoots the hook shot anymore. It's a hard shot to block."

I thank Jemareo Davidson for re-introducing this great shot back in the game. Not only is it hard to defend but it is a very high percentage shot around the basket. When you begin to see the hook filter back into all levels, remember that you heard it here first.