Kobe Bryant’s pull-up jumper is a work of art. While the consistency of it falling has dropped off in recent years (although in his last five games his outside shot has been on target again), his fundamentals in keeping his balance while throwing his defender off is something to be studied by young wings.
Or, Kobe’s daughter.
Baxter Holmes of ESPN had this great note in a story on Kobe dunking for the first time this season (hat tip Eye on Basketball and Complex).Bryant lined up for free throws and stared across the court to his smiling wife and two elated daughters, the youngest of whom, 10-year-old Gianna, was especially excited.
“We were shooting not too long ago and she was shooting one-dribble pullups,” Bryant recalled. “I asked her where does she get that from? She said, ‘From watching you.’”
“I didn’t know she was paying attention that much,” Bryant continued. “I watch her play and she has the same mannerisms. She’ll sit there and bite her jersey and all this other stuff. That’s a beautiful thing.”Her coaches may not love her taking pull-up jumpers quite yet, but nature over nurture. And every league is a make-or-miss league, if she’s knocking them down nobody will care.
