Ray Allen's Jumpshot with the Miami Heat.

Ray Allen's Jumpshot with the Boston Celtics

Ray Allen’s statement about the hard work to develop a good jump shot pertains – exactly – to the years it took for Kenny Sailors to perfect his shot the way he wanted. He practiced and practiced on his own and over a decade – without any coach to help him. He just kept experimenting to make sure his shot was accurate and would clear taller defenders. He had no role model to follow, either.

No one else was shooting like Kenny did. All he had were the examples of one-handed shooters like Hank Luisetti. Watching Luisetti, above all others, convinced Kenny he was on the right track shooting with one hand, even though all the others were not shooting the true jump shot which Kenny pioneered and which is still used today.