The videos circulated on the internet. They showed Dwight Howard working on his jump shot with a shooting coach. Even during a promotional trip to China, Howard was shown working on his game with the coach.
On video, the results were positive of Howard consistently hitting mid-range jumpers. Howard has said he doesn’t want to be put in a box as just a traditional center who can only play out of the post.
“It’s all about being able to grow and just having confidence,” Howard recently told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Coach (Mike Budenholzer) has total confidence in me shooting the basketball. So, that’s not an issue. I think in the past I’ve started to shoot and then I’ve stopped. I can’t allow missing or anything like that to affect how I play on the floor.”
Last season with the Rockets, Howard had his highest field goal percentage of his career at .620. His average distance of a field goal attempt was 2.6 feet. His shooting percentage was .626 from 0-2 feet, .378 from 3-9 feet, .400 from 10-15 feet and .000 from 16 feet and up.
Don’t expect Howard to stretch his game to the 3-point line as a regular basis. However, he said his new on-court attitude will be important as he works to expand his game.
“It’s the mentality,” Howard said. “In my younger years, when I shot those shots I laughed and joked. I don’t think people took it serious when I did that even if I made it. If people see that I’m taking that part of my game seriously, then they’ll get used to it. I think it’s something that they’ve never really seen, especially since I’ve been playing in the NBA. It’s all about how I do it.”
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