Welcome to the NBA Hater Report, your source for the most controversial players, teams, and league trends stirring up debate. If you’re optimistic, beware—this is for the real skeptics.
One-footed three-point shots have become a trend in the NBA. I recall Stephen Curry pulling off such a shot in the 2013 playoffs against the Spurs. He was on fire and could have shot left-handed to make it legit. Everyone laughed because that was typical Curry—unexpected and unconventional. But no one thought such shots would become common.
Players like Victor Wembanyama, Trae Young, and LeBron James occasionally attempt them, but LaMelo Ball takes it to another level. Almost all of his step-back threes are launched from one foot, often looking like variations of these awkward shots. Even when catching and shooting from two feet, he sometimes resorts to a one-legged shot.
I’m not a traditionalist insisting everything be done by the book. Innovation is vital in sports, just like in life. Stephen Curry reinvented the game with his unique shot selection, proving that challenging norms can lead to success. But success matters—the results for Ball’s one-legged threes aren’t great. He’s shooting just 28% on threes overall, with step-back threes at about 25.9%, and dribble threes at 27.5%, according to NBA.com.
Ball started this trend seriously last year, especially on pull-up jump shots off the dribble, where he hit 28%. He uses these shots to create rhythm or space but given his inconsistent shooting, relying on unsteady forms seems risky.
Despite the visual spectacle, Ball doesn’t take many shots compared to others. This doesn’t mean he’s not talented—he’s a key player and the Hornets perform better with him on the court. Yet, over his career, he hasn’t hit the league-average for three-point shooting since year three, and his numbers have declined, hitting a low this season while increasing his one-legged attempts.
Moving to the Warriors, their old days of reckless passing didn’t matter because of their offensive firepower, but now they’re smaller, less athletic, and struggle offensively when Stephen Curry sits. Their main issue is ball control—they turn it over more than last season, with turnovers accounting for 16.2% of possessions, the fourth-worst in the league. Steve Kerr acknowledges that limiting turnovers is crucial to winning more games. Currently, the Warriors are 10-1 when winning the turnover battle but 1-9 when losing it, a big reason why they might only be a .500 team this season.
The Warriors’ risky style of fast pace and needle-threading passes either creates beautiful plays or disastrous turnovers. This season the downsides have been costly.
The Clippers have fallen from offseason winners to one of the league’s biggest disappointments, losing 15 of their last 17 games. Injuries to Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones Jr., plus Kawhi Leonard’s limited impact, have contributed, but even with Leonard on the floor, their performance is subpar. Harden is playing well but growing frustrated.
This floundering team owes the champion Oklahoma City Thunder a 2026 first-round pick, a very valuable asset given the draft class’s talent. If OKC can capitalize on this pick and maintain success, it could reshape the league’s future. Moreover, OKC also owns Utah’s 2026 pick under certain conditions, adding to their influence.
The 76ers’ recent decision to give Joel Embiid a three-year, $193 million extension has drawn criticism. They had two years left on his current contract with a player option and could have waited to assess his health. Embiid’s limited availability and declining impact this season—only seven games played and poor defensive ratings—raise questions about whether he justifies this massive contract.
Adding to their woes is Paul George’s huge contract, and the fact these two stars have rarely been on the court together this season. While signing George made sense at the time, the Embiid extension seems premature and could hamper the Sixers financially for years.
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Fan Take: This report highlights the evolving nature of NBA playstyles and the high stakes of team management decisions. Fans should watch closely, as how players like LaMelo Ball adapt and how franchises address their weaknesses could define the league’s competitive balance for years to come.
