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Wait, What Kind Of Sorcery Is This? DeAndre Jordan Is Suddenly Able To Make Free Throws
When the Dallas Mavericks (finally) signed DeAndre Jordan earlier this summer, they knew what they would get. So it seems!
Blocks, rebounds, defense, great field goal percentages and awful free throw percentages, possibly leading to hack-a-DeAndre tactics. Well, this didn’t turn out to be the reality.
While Jordan ideed brought all the positive aspects of his game with him to Dallas, it seems as he also got rid of his biggest weakness – free throw shooting. This is actually unbelievable.
Just take a look at Jordan’s free throw percentages in his previous NBA seasons (all with the Clippers).
- 2008-09: 38.5% FT
- 2009-10: 37.5% FT
- 2010-11: 45.2% FT
- 2011-12: 52.5% FT
- 2012-13: 38.6% FT
- 2013-14: 42.8% FT
- 2014-15: 39.7% FT
- 2015-16: 43.0% FT
- 2016-17: 48.2% FT
- 2017-18: 58.0% FT
In only two of his 10 seasons with the Clippers, Jordan averaged (slightly) better than 50% from the line, making him one of the worst free throw shooters in NBA history. In these 10 years, he made 1,714 out of 3,071 shots from the line. That’s 44.2%. Until now!
Through his first seven games with the Mavericks, DeAndre has shot an unreal 81.3 %. It’s not like he’s not taking a lot of free throws either. He made 26 of his 32 this season.
The reason? Attention to footwork. Jordan is now separating his feet, for more balance at the line. Will he be able to continue with that percentage or is it a fluke? Only time will tell.
