Lonzo Ball Reportedly Watching Trebuchet Film to Improve Shot
LOS ANGELES, CA — Lonzo Ball has a notorious shooting problem. The point guard’s inability to score from range baffles Lakers staff and fans alike. A player that shot over 40% from the three in college, only made 41.7% of his free throws last season. Shaquille O’Neal claims that Lonzo Ball shoots worse from the free throw line than he did. Ball now goes into a critical offseason where the Lakers are expecting significant offensive development. This is also the 21-year-old’s first offseason in the NBA without any lingering injuries.
Many basketball analysts have blamed Lonzo’s unorthodox shooting mechanics for his offensive woes. Ball is a right-handed player that shoots from the left side of his body. This shot relies on a longer (more awkward) shooting motion and a less than optimal release point. Some critics are calling for the UCLA product to tweak his form.
However, Ball has rebuffed these detractors by hitting the film room. The point guard is dedicated to making his shot work in the NBA.
“This is the shot I’ve used my whole life and it works for me. I’ve just got to win the mental battle.”
It seems that Ball is taking inspiration from an unlikely source. Lonzo has reportedly watched hours upon hours of medieval trebuchet film. He claims the siege weapon displays the optimal release point and power of launched projectiles.
“I first saw one of these things in Game of Thrones. I didn’t really pay attention to them until I saw them launch a barrage of fire balls at the wight walkers. Those things were so far away! I thought no way a trebuchet could do that in real life. But then, I started doing some research. I barely watched the rest of the episode I was so engrossed in my investigation. Did you know a trebuchet could throw a 300 lb. stone 1000 feet? That is insane! There’s just so much to learn from the trebuchet. It turns out, I already kind of have trebuchet mechanics. I hope that by further studying these mechanics, I can optimize my own ability to launch the basketball into the hoop.”
The Lakers organization have rented a working replica of the contraption for Ball’s own personal use. Lonzo has also requested a weekly stipend of 200 watermelons for a “basketball related scientific study.”