Kyle Korver sat and stared straight ahead. As he reflected Wednesday on the NBA-record streak of 127 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, one could almost see the thoughts and emotions turning in the head of the Hawks guard. Korver chose his words carefully to describe the journey that lasted nearly two seasons.
He is still kicking himself that it is over.
It made him a better basketball player.
You better believe opposing coaches and players were aware and tried to end it.
There were many times that it came close to ending.
Yes, there was a moment on the bench when he realized it was indeed over.
The following are excerpts from Korver’s interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the streak that ended last week in Portland, Ore. after he missed five attempts and did not play the entire fourth quarter of a 102-78 loss to the Trail Blazers.
Q: Now that it’s been a few days, what are your reflections on the streak?
A: I wish it was still going. I'm kicking myself. Did I do something to not prepare right? Was I not focused enough? I've been playing those games. I've just got to move on. I took pride in it. I tried to keep it going. I really tried. You try not to talk about it a lot and make a big deal about it because you don't want it to affect your team. But especially during the hard times we've had this year, it was what I locked myself into to keep myself going and keep myself motivated. So, I think it made me play better. Because I wanted to keep it going, I was more locked in. There weren't as many nights where I'd say 'I don't have it tonight.' I would say, 'Well, you've got to have it tonight. You've got to go out there a make one.' It was a good thing for me. It was something to be proud of.
Q: Did the streak ever become a distraction to the team?
A: No, I never felt that way. I don't think anyone else felt that way either. Guys were always aware of it. (Coach Mike Budenholzer) was aware of it. There was only one game, that Brooklyn game in London, that one felt a little forced. Other than that, I thought guys tried to get me a good look at a 3, but it was for more than the streak. It was for us trying to score and win games. That's part of what we do. I really felt it happened within the flow (of the game). How it ended, we were getting blown out, so I'm sure there was a bit of a dilemma. Coach didn't ask me, but I'm sure he thought this is how it's going to go. He talked to me afterward about it, just making sure I was OK.
Q: I understand players would say stuff to you, like you weren’t going to get a 3-pointer on them. True?
A: All the time. All the time. All the time. Guys would say stuff all the time. "It's not going to happen on me tonight. You are not getting it tonight." Records aren't supposed to be easy. They are supposed to be hard. It was good. It was a reminder to me that they were on it, and you have to be that much better tonight. Coaches would let me know that their team was aware of it. It was OK. I just went and did my job.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from the whole experience?
A: It was a long time. I tried to play it off, but I was aware of it every day, every game. I prepared for it every day. I didn't want to make a big deal about it, but I prepared for it every day. Now that it's not going on, it's really strange. A little of the pressure is off I suppose but not like bad pressure. It helped me be better. It really did. Some of the things were a little harder, a little more pressure. But that is what brings the best out in you. It was a good thing.
Q: Was there a moment on the bench when you realized it was going to end?
A: I was just pretty upset that we were down by 30. We get one or two nationally televised games a year, and we picked that one to get blown out. There was a moment, halfway through the quarter, when I was like, "You know what, I don't think I'm going to go back in the game. It's going to end like this. All right (laughs)." As I was walking off the court, it really happened. I didn't think, let's start a new one. It was just, "OK, it's done. It was good."
Q: Was the closest it came to ending the game in Orlando last year when (then-assistant coach) Bob Weiss’ wife during the game called to get you back in the game in the fourth quarter?
A: There were so many close calls along the way. The one 3 I made last year in Utah grazed the side of the backboard from the corner. The one 3 I shot. I don't even think I shot another one. It grazed the corner of the backboard, and it still went in. There were so many. The one in Sacramento at the beginning of this year, the 3 was fading out of bounds, both (along the sideline and the baseline). The one in Boston this year, I got fouled on it and that was the only one I made. There were so many close calls. The one with coach Weiss was just a great story. There were a lot of games when I only made one. And sometimes, you just miss. You know what I mean? Sometimes you just miss. If one of those shots didn't go in, it could have stopped at 60 or 70. There were a lot of things involved in it. I can beat myself up for the one game it didn't happen but there are so many games that it was a little bit of luck, a little bit of love from above, a little bit of a lot of things.
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