How to Shoot Like Craig Hodges
The three-time 3-point champion shares his shooting wisdom.
Craig Hodges was one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
He played in the NBA from 1982 to 1992 and competed in the NBA’s first eight 3-Point Contests (1986-1993).
He won the contest three times in a row (from 1990-1992) and holds the record for most consecutive shots made in a round (19). He’s also tied with Jason Kapono for most points scored in a single round (25).
Additionally, Hodges hit a career-high 5 three-pointers twice in his career.
This may not sound that impressive because of modern basketball and all, but Hodges did this at the tail end of his career, in 1989, when the most three-pointers made by any player in a single game that year was 8.
He also only took roughly three 3-pointers a game. So, for him to make 5, that’s skill.
Anywhoo, Hodges was on the All The Smoke podcast and shared with hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson the characteristics of a good shot.
“For me, there are three parts to your shot: foundation, form, and follow-through,” Hodges said. “And to be able to know how to rhythmically do that, to do it off the dribble, to do it off the catch. One of the things I ask somebody is what are you looking at when you shoot, you know what I’m saying? So, for me, I look at probably six inches above the rim. That’s what I’m focused on… No ball can go in that rim unless… you gotta have at least that much clearance.”
He added that a lot of young players look at the back of the rim when they shoot. He said this is bad technique because this will cause the shot to hit the front of the rim the majority of the time.
“I hear young folks say, ‘I’m looking at the back of the rim.’ You couldn’t be looking at the back of the rim because you’re not twelve feet tall. So, you looking under the rim. So, about 90 percent of your shots are gonna hit front rim ‘cause your eye is focused and your ball is going to go where your eye tell it to go.”
Hodges gave a masterclass on shooting in this segment, where he talked about the follow-through, rolling into your shot, and much more. So, I would highly recommend you watch the entire clip if you want to work on your shot.
How Hodges’ Political Activism Affected His NBA Career
Hodges played in the NBA for 10 years and believes he was blackballed in his final season due to his political activism.
After he and the Chicago Bulls won the 1991 NBA championship, the team was invited to the White House by George H.W. Bush.
During the event, Hodges, who was wearing a dashiki, gave Bush a handwritten letter that criticized the then-President’s administration for their treatment of the poor and minority communities.
A season later, after his contract ended with the Bulls, he wasn’t able to find a job in the league or even get a tryout, despite being one of the best perimeter shooters in the NBA.
“But then it becomes a problem because now when I say and when I write a letter to the President at 32 years of age, I can’t an agent to represent me in a union that is supposed to represent us,” Hodges said. “Once again, those who control the narratives -so, the narrative of me going to the White House in this manner, me having the audacity to write the President a letter…If they had tell me to come work out, I’d worked out anywhere. Anywhere. Let me go work out because this is what I do and y’all taking away from me the ability to earn a living for my family and the generations thereof.”
Hodges made a return to the NBA in 2005 when he became an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was an assistant there until 2011 and earned two more NBA championships (2009 and 2010).