King James Gospel
Fansided

Creighton University retires Kyle Korver’s jersey

By Doug Patrick

Cleveland Cavaliers Kyle Korver (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers Kyle Korver (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

The shot heard ‘round the league

The origin of Korver’s shot is based in tradition. Korver comes from a basketball family. His father and four uncles played Division III basketball, and his three younger brothers and female cousin played Division I hoops.

However, he credits his mother — who also played high school and college basketball — for his first steps towards success.

Korver remembers her saying, “Kyle, if you look at the front of the rim, you hit the rim. You look at the back of the rim, you hit the back of the rim. Look just over the front of the rim and the ball goes swish.”

Laine Korver clearly knew what she was talking about.

Throughout Kyle’s life, he has remained relentlessly focused on refining his shooting stroke.

To shoot the same way every time.

To become automatic from beyond the arc:

"“I think the secret to shooting is finding a shot you can make exactly the same every single time and then do it a whole lot. There’s no secret potion to it all. You just gotta find something, however, you are, like, whatever feels good to you, but shoot it so you can make it the exact same every single time.”"

This obsession with perfection has made him into one of basketball’s deadliest snipers.