So what, what was it that you decided because you're able to shoot from, you know, within your jab from here and get it off quick?

When did you develop that?

Or why did you develop that?

I've always worked on quick releases.

So even in the gym training, I would just bounce the ball real hard and try to just, wherever the ball goes, I'll try to shoot from there.

So I'll bounce it right in all one motion, just go.

And I started doing that just over the years and it just started, it started coming natural to me.

Yeah.

So even in my jab, if I jab without a drill, if I jab, I know I'm jabbing and going right up.

So I'm actually looking at the rim as I'm jabbing.

But you were probably taller most of your life, right?

You're a big, big kid.

Yeah.

For the most part.

So why was it that, because I think that's interesting.

A lot of kids, maybe they get away with things and they don't have to work on it.

With you being bigger, you maybe didn't have to develop that quick shot, but it became part of your DNA.

Why was that?

I just, I never was, I never was strong enough to get somebody off of me.

So that was, I needed a, I needed a quick trigger.

And I developed that at a young age, playing against older guys, knowing that I couldn't get around older guys or get my shot off.

So I knew I had to get it, get the trigger right.

Oh, you talked about a drill you did.

I want to know what you, because you were talking about that pickup drill.

Was it what we did there?

Or was it something else?

It was that.

It was that.

So at the end of every workout, I'll just pass it and I'll just raise and go from wherever on the court.

So I build, I build reps, but I also build strength in there.

So I'll start as close, just quick, raise it, raise it quick, raise it.

I'll have him pass it and I'll throw it, quick.

All right, let's do it.

So that helps me on one dribble pull-ups.

Why is that?

Because it gets, it gets my legs, it gets me balanced.

So I'm raising it to the shot.

So if I'm going, that hard bounce is getting me.

So you're essentially trying to, just so, like if there's a player at home, you want them to go with the momentum of the ball?

Yes.

Or do you want it, you don't want it to stop?

I want you to find your strength.

Because a lot of times, when I first started, this was hard to do.

Like one motion.

So I would catch, I would hit, and then I would have to set and go.

But as I kept doing it, raising right up.

Raising right up.

Raising right up.

So let's, let's go through just a couple then.

Let's go through a short-range version.

We'll stay here.

We'll go through short-range, mid-range threes, okay?

So let's go, you want to go two each way, or how do you usually do it?

Yeah, that's cool.

We can do that.

Okay.

Let's go two bounces each way.

Two bounces?

You see, that's the hard one.

Yeah, there you go.

I got you.

One.

Here we go.

Left.

One more.

Left.

Good.

Okay.

Now let's go two.

You said that's harder, right?

Yeah, two is harder.

Cool.

Okay.

See?

It's harder because you're pounding the first one, and you're trying to pound the second one to meet you at the same time to go up.

So the second dribble, the first dribble is important, but the second dribble is the most important.

Okay.

Nice.

Good, good, good.

Going left.

Nice, Melo.

Good.

Okay, same thing.

Threes, just one dribble.

One dribble.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Okay.

Same way?

One more each.

Good.

Good.

Good.

More left.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

So I think what... And this is something I like to teach too, but I call it your flow into your shot.

So what I try to explain to people is when you shoot, there's this natural rhythm, right, that goes up with it.

And that's something that you just do a little bit quicker.

So it's because your feet are already set, usually.

So how did you...

In terms of your shot being quicker, is there anything you focus on at a younger age?

Or is it just you just had to work on getting it off against a lot of these guys?

I just had to work on quicker release, because I was slower when I was younger.

So a lot of times if I go, guys will be right there, I got to fade, bump.

So I just want a quick release.

So if I go, no matter where the ball goes, I'm able to, if it go here, I'm able to go here.

If it go this way, I'm able to shoot.

So your pickups is something we talk a lot with.

Can you explain to them or to me what it is?

Because I can always hear your offhand picking up.

So what is your focus on that?

My focus is on the dribble, I'm picking it up.

I already know where the ball is at, how the ball feel.

So that's the key too, understanding the feel of the ball.

But that's just more walking around with the ball.

Now if I go and pick up, it depends on where the defender is at.

If he's in front of me, I just want to get my shoulder by him, then I can fade.

That's all I want to do.

Get this shoulder by him off that one dribble.

Now I beat you, I shot fade, I'm still on balance to bump you.

I can spin back off of that.

So it's different options.

So on this one, you're going to work, you talked about your natural kind of like bounce into it, right?

So you're going to do that.

I'm going to mess with you with my hands.

So sometimes it's low, high, sometimes I'm reaching.

You just got to get to your spot and be able to pick up from different angles and shoot.

So we just got four to five makes on this.

All I want you to do though is stay in one area.

So you can't go forward or backwards.

And I can't move my feet, but I can move my hands.

Copy.

Okay.

Good.

Nice.

That's good.

Just got the elementary school.

Tip that one.

That's the toughest one.

Nice.

Two.

Ooh.

Three.

Good shot.

One more.

One more.

Nice.

Good job.

That's one.

Ah.

Good shot.

Two.

I had that one.

Two.

Nice.

Three.

That's tough.

Ah!

That looked good.

That looked good.

Two more.

Good last one.

Come on, Miller.

Don't do that.

That's disrespectful.

Don't do that again.

Ah.

Good.

One more make.

One more make.

Nah.

One more good make.

I'm not giving you that one.

Flat.

Shot.

Free throw.

Shot.

Make two.

Good job.

I'm Candace Parker, and this is Through the Lens.

Yep.

Yep.

Nice.

I'm behind him, too.

Like, I see Cam Reddish.

Don't ever doubt me.

Don't ever doubt me.

Ooh.

You got me right here.

I'm just going to take you down.

Now.