Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Kobe was just special and there was just something behind him that no one else really ever had.
For us, Kobe Bryant was our version of Michael Jordan. Most of us didn’t really have the chance to watch MJ in action and this is why we all appeal to someone like Kobe Bryant. Growing up, Kobe is actually the reason why I fell in love with basketball so much. When I first started to fall in love with the game of basketball, I started off by turning on the TV and watching Kobe Bryant play in action. I am grateful that I turned on that TV one day and I managed to find a hero like him. He is the reason I fell in love with the game, and if it wasn’t for Kobe, my life would not be the same.
Kobe Bryant died at the YOUNG age of 41 in a helicopter crash just a few months ago. An NBA Superstar who is often bridged between LeBron James and Michael Jordan to be the best of the best. Kobe had only just retired THREE years before his death. On the court he will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game while winning FIVE NBA championships. Kobe has also won an Oscar for best animated short film titled “Dear Basketball”. He is a man of many talents and he deserves to be recognized. He is an inspiration to all, and everyone is inspired to one day hold his winning attitude of “Mamba Mentality”. Kobe Bryant is the reason why many have fallen in love with the game and he is the reason why my life is the way it is.
Kobe Bryant is just a genius and when it comes to shooting, every player should be following the principles behind Kobe’s jumpshot. It is something you need to absorb and understand. Kobe is one of the greats and he had to work hard to get to where he was. So many obstacles were in his way, but he always found a way to get through it. Kobe once said…
“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise”.
Kobe Bryant has played in the NBA for more than 20-years and I believe he could have played longer if it wasn’t for the injuries late in his career, slowing him down. Even in his last years before he retired, Kobe Bryant, The Black Mamba, was still considered to be one the greatest players of all time as he went out on his own terms scoring 60 points in his final game.
There are so many reasons as to why Kobe Bryant is a great shooter, but in this post I will be going through just a few of the different techniques Kobe uses when he shoots the ball. Learn why Kobe Bryant can hit clutch shot after clutch shot with a hand in his face. It didn’t matter, that shot was going in.
The Evolution of Kobe Bryant’s Shooting Form
In his early years as a rookie, Kobe Bryant was most known for his athleticism. People called this version of Kobe Bryant, “Frobe”. Obviously because he had an Afro in his early years, but also to be able to distinguish his athletic self. He used to go to the basket a lot and he really loved finishing around the rim, and dunking on people. He could still shoot that jumper like MJ in his young years but it wasn’t as developed as it is now during his first few seasons. As a matter of fact, Kobe Bryant is actually one of the youngest to ever win a dunk contest, so that right there shows you why he was such a great finisher around the rim at the time.
I used to watch Kobe highlights all the time when I first fell in love with Kobe. I would go on YouTube and I would watch highlight videos of him all the time, especially the ones with him and shaq, the ultimate dynamic duo.
As time went on, Kobe began to develop his jump shot and began to develop himself into a jump shooter. Most of his points throughout his career, after his early years in his career, came from his shooting, whether that’s from his signature fadeaways, or his contested threes. Kobe has the reputation of being a pure shooter.
In his career, Kobe Bryant has shot about 33% from the three point line and 45% from the field. These may not seem like HIGH numbers but you also need to take into account the degree of difficulty Kobe shoots his shots. With the chart below, you can also see how the number of three point attempts is much lower in his first season, and how the number of attempts begin to increase as he begins to develop. You should know that for a long time, Kobe Bryant actually held the record for most three pointers made in a game with 12 threes in one game. This was before the uprise of Curry and Klay, but for a while, he held that record. Kobe Bryant held this record since 2003, and up until 2016, there was no one who surpassed him besides Donyell Marshall who tied him with 12. With the chart below, you can truly analyze his stats and see just how good he truly was.
You can now see that later on his career, he began to develop his jump shot and started to be known as a pure shooter.
The question is, how did Kobe Bryant get so good at shooting the basketball?
Please make sure to watch these TWO videos down below. They both explain the evolution of Kobe Bryant’s game and the changes he made to his release to improve his shot.
Before I go on any further, I want to give a HUGE shoutout to [Splash Lab] and [Shot Mechanics] for the videos above to help you guys learn more.
Kobe Bryant’s Finger
Before I go on in depth, I want to talk about the finger in Kobe Bryant’s jump shot. The finger is the first thing you would actually notice in Kobe’s release when he shoots just because it is different from many shooters in the NBA. When Kobe shoots, he holds his index finger after he shoots.
Some people are not able to notice it but I am.
If you can’t see it, it is because you aren’t analyzing it deep enough.
The truth is that this isn’t something Kobe invented for his own form. He actually took it from none other than Michael Jordan, The G.O.A.T.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan’s games are VERY SIMILAR. They are both very similar in many ways and Kobe is probably the closest thing that we have seen to Michael Jordan. Now I know you LeBron James fans must be feeling some sort of disgust, but this isn’t a disrespect to LeBron. LeBron isn’t like Michael Jordan and he doesn’t want to be compared to him because he believes he is better than him. Now that doesn’t mean that Kobe wants to be like mike or be in his shadow, Kobe wants to be his own player as well. He just took some ideas from his idol. I mean Kobe once said…
“I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant”.
Jordan does this with his finger too, and you may see that in one of the videos above. Kobe respects MJ and he shows his appreciation by taking something from one of the greatest to ever play the game.
The reason why this is effective and helps, is because the index finger is supposedly the STRAIGHTEST finger in our hand, and we use our fingers to help us shoot. By releasing with his index finger, his shot can go STRAIGHTER.
He ultimately shoots this way because he wants his shot to be STRAIGHT. He wants to avoid shooting sideways.
So the question is why doesn’t EVERYONE do it.
The truth is, that it is VERY HARD and it requires a lot of practice. You have to be able to use your finger correctly to be able to use this method for your own benefit.
You need to make sure that the ball rolls off your index finger and not another finger.
This means that when you take a shot and hold your follow through, the index finger should end up being over and into the rim. It may sound easy but it is very hard to be able to shoot like that consistently but the benefits are very good. I have only seen Kobe and MJ shoot this way and they are both some of the greatest basketball players of all time, and not only that, they are the two best mid range shooters in the game, a lost and dying art.
Although the videos do a good job of breaking down his shot form, I want to go through it with MINIMAL detail.
Before you scroll down to learn more about Kobe Bryant’s shooting stance, make sure to check out Vert Shock, a vertical jump training program to help you not only jump higher but also dunk a basketball.
Shooting Stance
When you look at Kobe Bryant, he shoots his shot with a WIDE BASE. He also normally has his knees POINTING INWARDS
Alignment
When Kobe shoots the ball, his shooting shoulder, elbow and hip are ALL aligned. His forearm is also slightly bent pointing towards his shooting eye.
Before he shoots the ball he also aligns his body by turning his feet towards his non shooting side. Even when he is doing his fadeaway, his footwork is so good that he can align his body so quick for his release, and he can even align his body MID-AIR.
Kobe is known for taking difficult shots and when he does, he turns in the air to bring his shooting shoulder FORWARD.
Kobe Bryant also leads with his shooting side which is to the right. This means that his right shoulder, hip, hand, and foot are all further in front than his left side. Kobe only releases the ball once his shooting side is aligned towards the basket.
Setpoint
With Kobe’s jump shot, his set point is actually much higher and further back than most players. The ball is set back directly above his head. You can see how the midpoint of the ball is just right above his head which isn’t common.
Kobe Bryant’s elbow is also around his forehead level and the ball is above his right eye.
When Kobe shoots, he doesn’t have much arc with his shot. His elbow release is so high and is more so pushing the ball forward rather than in an upward arc. Kobe is considered to be a two motion shooter as he gets a lot of elevation in his shot, while also having a lot of finesse with his shot.
Kobe releases the ball right at the peak of his shot.
The Dip
Normally when Kobe shoots the ball of the catch, he dips the ball down to his waist before he attempts his jump shot. When Kobe does a shot off the dribble, he starts low and is always ready to shoot. He doesn’t need to dip because he is already low during an off dribble shot.
The Release
As I have explained above, Kobe Bryant releases off of his index finger. By doing this his shot is more straight. Kobe releases the ball with less arc and relies on his HIGH jumps. Kobe also tends to often jump forward when shooting the ball as well. Kobe also holds his follow through which is important with any shot. He holds his arm out very straight with his elbow being high above his head.
Kobe’s shoulders tend to go back on his shot, and he also sort of sweeps his feet forward. Kobe Bryant always makes sure to keep his eyes locked on his target until the ball actually goes in. He keeps his eyes on the back of the rim through the entire shot.
Hand Position
When kobe shoots the ball, his hand position is similar to the rules of B.E.E.F. His right hand is underneath the ball with his left hand being the support. When Kobe shoots, he tries to keep a gap between the basketball and his shooting palm. He also spreads his index finger out a little bit more and by now you should know why. Between his index finger and middle finger, you can see him making a wide V shape as well.
Final Thoughts
You need to remember that you shouldn’t try and copy Kobe entirely but rather try and take a few tips from him. Everyone has a different playstyle, everyone has a different body type with different heights and hand sizes. All of this matters in shooting. Kobe likes to take difficult shots that are contested and off the dribble. His shot is designed for himself and that is why it works. I just want to let you know before you decide to go any further.
Now that you have learned the secrets behind the jump shot of Kobe Bryant, don’t you want to be able to dunk like him too?
If you want to be able to dunk the ball but can’t seem to jump high enough or have the right vertical to dunk the way Kobe can, make sure to check out vertical jump programs such as Vert Shock. This vertical jump program is designed to help increase your vertical by at least 10-20 inches in just a matter of a few weeks. I have tried this program and have experienced positive results.
If you want to know more about Vert Shock, check out my full review here.