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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The three-point craze has swept the basketball landscape. After breaking the shackles of traditional role-based play, the new style offers even big men a chance to shoot it from deep. In the NBA, this license has resulted in top-notch long-range big men like Nikola Jokic and Karl Anthony-Towns. However, there are still examples of big men struggling to shoot from deep. But not to make even one three in a long career is certainly bamboozling.

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One of those big men may finally make his first one in the upcoming NBA season. He even makes a shot from the Stephen Curry range.

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Stephen Curry would be proud

Shaquille O’Neal was notorious for not being able to shoot three-pointers. He made just 1 in his career, which was a heave. His three-point mechanics were not up to the mark, signified by the hitch in his motion. However, for one NBA player, it doesn’t seem to be a matter of shooting style.

While 7’1” Center Rudy Gobert’s jump-shot motion is a tad slow for the current league, he has way better mechanics than Shaquille O’Neal. Despite that, he has yet to make a three-pointer in the NBA, which is a record for a current player.

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In a recent practice, away from intense NBA game action, he could make multiple long-range jumpers in a row. France National basketball team’s official handle, Équipe de France de Basket shared an Instagram showcasing Gobert’s prowess from deep in practice.

In this video, Gobert makes four threes in a row.

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One from the middle and three from the left wing. However, in his latest long-range shooting adventure, he did a Steph Curry. The Center made two half-court shots in a row.

In this video by 50 Nuances media, he is making these difficult half-court shows from either end. This brings cheers among his French teammates and they run towards him.

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Once again, the release motion and the follow-through look crisp, hinting that the Timberwolves big man is working on his shooting.

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It bears fruits recently for Gobert in an actual game.

Rudy Gobert’s barren field gets sprouted

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The French National team has gathered to practice and play exhibition games to prepare for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

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During a game against Montenegro, the Center received the ball from baseline after an out-of-bounds situation and nailed the jumper from around the middle area of the three-point line. This Shorts video by House of Highlights captures the moment.

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The work he put in was clear during the shot, as it was a properly executed play. The Center called making this shot, akin to losing virginity. A Google translation of his French statement after the game reads,Tonight, I feel like I lost my virginity”.

Will he finally lose it in an NBA game next season? Do share in the comments below.

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Written by

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Shubham Singh

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Shubham is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He became a fan of the NBA in late 2000s and his interest skyrocketed after Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks upset the Miami Heat in Six Games during 2011 NBA Finals. He loves looking into playing styles of different players and teams while also trying to analyse what circumstances shape a typical NBA game. With years of experience in content writing, Shubham focuses on providing unbiased and detailed articles that cover the essence of the game.

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Saumya Khanduja

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