Why Everyone LAUGHS At The Underarm Free Throw... ??

Credits: NBA, FIBA Basketball, Basketball Champions League, GAMETIME HIGHLIGHTS, Wilt Chamberlain Archive, Business Insider, The Howard Stern Show The crowd burst into laughter the moment Chinanu Onuaku stepped up to the line and launched his free throw underhand like a child tossing a ball at the park. Fans mocked him relentlessly, convinced the strange-looking “granny shot” was embarrassing. But every time the ball left his hands, it dropped cleanly through the hoop again and again, silencing the arena one shot at a time. What looked ridiculous actually had science behind it — the underhand motion created a higher arc, letting the ball fall into the basket at a steeper angle and making the rim effectively feel bigger. Decades earlier, NBA legend Rick Barry had already proven how deadly the technique was, finishing his career with a staggering 90% free throw percentage. Even Wilt Chamberlain tested it in 1962, instantly improving his shooting and even scoring a historic 100-point game that same season. But despite the results, the basketball world still rejected it. Wilt eventually abandoned the underhand shot, not because it failed, but because he believed it made him look weak and unmanly compared to the traditional overhand form. Years later, another NBA superstar, Shaquille O'Neal, faced the exact same problem. Known as one of the worst free throw shooters in league history, Shaq was personally advised by Rick Barry to switch techniques, but he refused, saying he'd rather miss every shot than shoot underhand because it looked uncool. His weakness at the line became so bad that teams invented the infamous “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy, intentionally fouling him because they trusted him to miss. And so, even after decades of proof that the so-called granny shot actually works, most NBA players still avoid it — not because it’s ineffective, but because they’re too afraid of how it looks. . . . Fair Use Disclaimer This video is for educational and transformative purposes under the Fair Use Doctrine (17 U.S.C. §107). It includes original commentary, critique, and creative revision, adding value beyond the original material. Get in Touch: For any concerns related to copyright, credits, inquiries, or content removal, please contact me at: [email protected]