Brittney Griner, the No. 1 pick of the WNBA Draft and new starting center for the Phoenix Mercury, received a huge lesson on Wednesday, in both a literal and figurative sense.
NBA Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar worked with Griner on learning his patented skyhook, the most difficult shot to block in NBA history. For years, Jabbar was able to use that hook shot to shoot over the tallest defenders standing in his path. The skyhook shot made him a nearly invincible offensive force and allowed him to age gracefully. In his career, Jabbar made 19 consecutive All-Star teams, six MVP awards, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and is the NBA's career leader in points scored with 38,387.
Griner, who is six feet, eight inches tall, will have many of Jabbar's advantages in the WNBA, owing to her uncommon height. Of working with Jabbar, Griner said, "I went to legend school today and it was awesome. "I was star struck right there. You know it when I don't talk; I like to talk and you know I'm star struck when I'm just listening. I hit you with the yes sir, yes ma'am, I'm definitely star struck."
Jabbar said Griner was picking up the shot nicely. "She did start to get it, how I used it," he said. "Not everybody uses the same tool in the same way, so you've got to make adjustments to that. But I think with her potential and willingness to learn, she'll do well."
Griner admitted that she is far from mastering Kareem's vaunted weapon, but said once she gets the hang of it she will unleash it on opponents. "You'll see some hooks, but to do a true skyhook, that's going to take a while to get it down perfect," she said. "But you'll definitely see once I get a feel. I definitely want to get that in there."
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