Can this Average Guy Shoot 90% from the Free Throw Line? (Ft. Ray Allen) | Above Average Joe

To put it bluntly, Above Average Joe Clay Skipper got smoked when he took Joe Harris on in a 3-point contest. No surprises there, it wasn't an easy task. So this time we're toning the challenge down a bit. With the help of NBA legend Ray Allen and shooting coach Drew Hanlen, can Clay learn to shoot 90% from the free throw line on 50 shots in just one week?
With GQ Sports, the real action is off the field. Get an all-access pass to the world's coolest, most stylish athletes with original series like My Essentials, Actually Me, My First Million, Game Points & More. Watch a GQ editor try his hand at pro sports in Above Average Joe. And get an all-access look into how athletes shop, train, travel, and showcase their love of style, menswear, and sneakers.

[@jacksonmcgrath1124]

Ray Allen really killed this interview, a true legend that deserves more respect

[@btxb2882]

I’m a huge laker fan but Ray is one of my favorite players of all time. He has my utmost respect!

[@DirkvanBoxtel]

I'm a huge celtic fan but Ray is one of my favorite players of all time. He has my utmost respect!

[@crxbbing4904]

I’m a huge warrior fan but Ray is one of my favorite players of all time. He has my utmost respect!

[@vanillagorillaproductions8748]

I’m a huge bulls fan but Ray is one of my favourite players of all time. He has my utmost respect!

[@ontop2324]

Wtf is this reply section

[@coachswag8956]

poor guy didnt even have anyone rebounding for him during the 50 shots lmaoo

[@mastersplinter5966]

I was gonna say the same thing. He needs to redo this Challenge. You're losing your momentum if you keep leaving your Free Throw spot. Edit: He has to keep readjusting himself every time.

[@SaiyanAesthetics25]

Definitely, felt bad for him

[@TShorty929]

Fr, I self rebound bc I have to, but the camera could easily have been setup on a tripod and the cam dude coulda boarded for him

[@cudackedees3327]

In real game you get run full court and get fouled to get to shoot one or two so for an average joe picking up his own shot is actually very easy if you ever practiced free throw.

[@cudackedees3327]

Master Splinter If go pick up a made shot loses momentum for you than you don’t really have momentum.

[@DevonMessinger]

Even an average guy shooting 80% is pretty impressive

[@user-fy7uu1zd9q]

I wish I had 80% lol

[@IllShivyou]

ye

[@nope7540]

Sydney the is 2nd package at the office about the baseball tickets for the African American Museum for October should have told me early when you get to NYC 5

[@esamdotcom]

Tiffany Franklin bruh u need some punctuation and a grammar check cuz idk what u just said

[@f.schettino1779]

I do it but not every time

[@ZZ-us4dq]

The tough thing about free thows is the crowd and the fans Thats why the wnba have more players that have 90% free thows

[@calebadams2876]

Ouch.

[@minivanmilf4058]

Lol I was thinkin the same thing

[@mikescalia4017]

They also use a smaller ball in the same sized rim

[@MrDiMES123]

They use a smaller ball

[@captainobvious90]

They also play way less games, only 36 games

[@MrThyten]

If this man shot on a single rimmed hoop he would shoot 105%

[@jaydenle4250]

With the mask on, he looks like Aj Lapray 😂

[@trevellgrayjr8280]

Faxx!

[@epicexperiment7713]

With same hair style

[@YungKiwi_]

No cap

[@kareem4kt435]

Jayden Le no joke

[@idolsecond]

He would’ve made so many more shots without double rim.

[@thegregbradley]

Seriously, dude did this challenge on hard mode

[@sunrayyourmom]

What's with the double rim? Is it really harder

[@caqaf73]

@@sunrayyourmom pretty much it makes your ball bounce a lot more when it hits the rim, making it harder to make shots. If you've ever played basketball on outdoor hoops, you know the struggle.

[@zacmclaughlin3384]

For real man. It’s so cruel doing it on double rims.

[@cameronl1859]

@@sunrayyourmom it's a major difference. Double rims are strong and solid (meant to be able to withstand dunking) and cause a LOT more bounce. It's pretty common to see a shot go in off the rim on a standard hoop, rare to see on a double rim.

[@emilioibanez4981]

Wow Ray Allen's insight was so real I didn't expect such wise advise.

[@pgame20]

Real talk, Jesus Shuttlesworth is a WISE dude. When he says he wishes he knew earlier in career what he came to learn about the pressure and internalization aspects of shooting, he aint playing. In order not to fear those situations, one has to truly understand why they're scary. Dudes like Allen and Horry, they understand this deeply and implicitly. It's not even that they're "clutch", they just shoot exactly how they shoot. No. Matter. What.

[@ireneadler4925]

To everyone who says “players shoot worse when the crowd is watching and shouting” - this is a minor factor, and you’re missing th ebiggest factor. Everyone can shoot when their heart rate is at resting speed. Try running back and forth in the court and trying to lay it up, and then shoot. That’s why you also wanna practice fts in between tiring drills.

[@siukong]

I always shoot free throws at the end of my shootaround workout, when I'm close to gassed, as a cooldown.

[@ireneadler4925]

@@siukong that's the way it's supposed to be done. You can tell most of these people haven't played basketball lol :D

[@cameronl1859]

@@ireneadler4925 It's true that being tired makes free throws harder, but at NBA levels they're all physically strong enough to make that not too major of a factor. I think the pressure of the situation is what gets to them more than anything else. Each basket you make or miss impacts your career and the careers of your friends. Crowd probably doesn't play much of a part at all.

[@wilbursoderberg9533]

@@cameronl1859 Them being this fit means they can go fast and harder, their hearts are still racing at the end of it. You think runners are good after a marathon? you think swimmers are a fine after their race? no being the strongest and fittest means you go the hardest.

[@cameronl1859]

@@wilbursoderberg9533 Huh? No idea what point you're trying to make here

[@mateok1ng211]

For the wnba two factors come in play: 1. No fans no pressure 2. Ball is smaller

[@pittaaaabread]

TRUE the ball being smaller has a huge impact on the game because it makes it so much easier to get a good shot good and correct grip.

[@JR805x]

Exactly

[@epicexperiment7713]

For WNBA maybe the free throw line is even closer. NBA’s free throw line is further than normal one

[@davidadegboye773]

@@pittaaaabread not just grip, it has a similar effect to higher arc, increases the room for error since the diameter is just so much smaller

[@jaylenjames364]

Also because they are shorter. That is maybe the made reason tbh. Players like giannis and lebron should shoot free throws further away.

[@donali9020]

Dude shooting 80% on double rims that ain't easy

[@Robbieknowsball]

@RAK plug Nope he shot 83%

[@colemanfly3268]

Nah he shot 74%

[@SwishTalk1]

Ray Allen shares so much wisdom in this interview

[@taylorwhite3495]

He shoots his free throws like he's about to take a jumpshot

[@liamfrake3145]

he still drops his knees so low lmao

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

He does lol

[@Itssconnorr]

I love how his shooting pocket didnt change lmao

[@dawonger1]

😂😂😂

[@mattpack4425]

Or how he still bends his knees just as far

[@DJFisherBass]

Thought it was me 🤣

[@adamminix4598]

He’s got one of the goofiest looking free throws ive ever seen lol

[@eshwarsatheesh3050]

Ray Allen got that experience!

[@JeffII789]

Love to hear Ray's insight on ingame situations

[@freedadrive]

Ray Allen thinking he got a call about 1 free throw :DDD love it

[@loonaya]

People don't realize that if an NBA player shoots 80% in a game, he most likely shoots in the early 90s in practice. And guys like Ray Allen, who shot 90% in games, shot like 97 in practice.

[@jzmmm]

ray allen's insights were very interesting. good stuff

[@devilfriend]

Ray Allen made 240 out of 259 free throws in 2008-09 (95.2%), that's just insane.

[@mar21182]

The insane part of that is that he didn't lead the league that season. Jose Calderon shot like 97% that season (on far fewer attempts, but still enough to qualify).

[@robertbui9030]

@@mar21182 98.1% rounded up XD

[@andilemathebula8734]

Shout out to all the young hoopers looking to make it big. Stay grinding!!!!

[@EGarrett01]

12:32 Fay-teeg.

[@dukes1lv3r48]

Everett01 I was just about to comment that

[@SamMartinPeakPerformance]

shows how much of sports is psychological - choking is real!

[@RA-rt3vy]

Man didn't even follow through with the training. He stopped making them and went back to his old form.

[@KJ_XCV]

There's no failure its always a moment to learn. Wise words.

[@siukong]

This man's giving me Jerry Stackhouse flashbacks with that deep knee bend.

[@caponebd7941]

Free throws are so interesting as a player. I was mostly a defensive player off the bench for my high school, but I actually never missed a free throw in a high school game. I ended up being something like 46/46. In other leagues, I was usually a 75% free throw shooter, but for some reason, in high school games I felt like I couldn't miss.

[@michaelcurtin2325]

drew hanlen is legit, very knowledgable

[@Twiizzin]

Yo Scottie pippen had this video playing on a tv while someone made a house tour video lol “inside Scottie pippens Chicago mansion with an inside court”

[@camalex7782]

Seriously I've seen that video its so good

[@justinedanielorense9889]

that ray allen said in the beginning is true, when I got fouled and got to shoot 3 free throws I looked at my coach and I looked a the crowd who are chanting "miss the throw" and my heart was pounding really fast and I didn't hit a single free throw, I felt anxious and pressured everytime I went for a free throw

[@c.jarmstrong3111]

Shooting free throws in pressure moments is way tougher than people realize

[@brozors]

Muscle memory is an amazing thing.

[@HappyPandaP]

As soon as he hit 85% at the beginning, you knew it was going to go down later.

[@blueflame7423]

great advice by ray allen

[@alexanderaristo]

i really love ray allen speech

[@liamlaird1494]

Ray Allen is so wholesome after 19:40

[@-tee--bee-3230]

You needed someone to rebound fly you!! It’s very hard to stay in a rhythm, when you leave the line to get the ball..

[@bubkabubka]

Ray Allen so well spoken.

[@datharo5]

Seeing college aged Travis Knight with Ray Allen made me laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣 i just thought about the game he fouled out in like 4 or 5 minutes.

[@hanssoberano22]

2:05 looks like coach needs 90% more sleep😅

[@yesremote6575]

on a double rim too, good looks

[@danielisflying]

Ray allen with some great advice.

[@misapisa519]

that coach was super insightful

[@fatboyslim496]

I knew you weren't gonna hit 90% as soon as I saw the double-rim hoop for the final challenge.

[@nrghd8890]

man this is nba coach right there

[@-tee--bee-3230]

Ray Allen is a CLASS ACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JohnHReed-xp4dy]

I will NEVER forget being a Bucks fan and them letting Ray Allen go because his ankle injury made him a 'liability', (according to sports writers). He won 2 championships after. I reminded every doubter, every year, every All-Star appearance, both titles. His value was even beyond stats.

[@nicholaslu4069]

I remember that trade. Yall got back an aging Gary Payton if I remember correctly.

[@JohnHReed-xp4dy]

@@nicholaslu4069 Until recently, they made a lot of bad moves, but losing Allen was a long run of bad, especially for a guy who was on his way out of the league. Allen was a class act player

[@nicholaslu4069]

@@JohnHReed-xp4dy The bucks had some good players back then. Glenn Big Dog, Earvin Johnson, Mash, Jesus Shuttlesworth.

[@nicholaslu4069]

Nevermind Mashburn was never on the Bucks I just wikied.

[@lakeybakey2390]

I felt like he should have done this before he did the 3pt contest

[@nathangrimley7329]

There's a big difference between the hoop at the beginning and the double rimmed hoop at the end.

[@thetaingsto]

My boy Ray Allen looking like DMX

[@ashle9034]

Didn't change the shot pocket and knee bend nor the arm angle lmao

[@AFUnleashed4]

But on day 3 for swish you reverted back to your old form, the pocket and bend are nuts

[@beanie5851]

not gonna lie im pretty impressed how well he did. Dude KILLED free throw golf.

[@sacmusic857]

I want a coach drew for life

[@seanbarry1757]

1:40 that stat about devin booker is wrong, the person that is leading the nba in free throw pt, that’s Brad Wanamaker (player for the celtics)

[@seamuskelly9020]

I think at the time of recording he hadn't taken enough freethrows to qualify

[@seanbarry1757]

Séamus Kelly he takes around 1.9 freethrows per game, and he’s played in most of the games for the celtics so it can’t be that he didn’t take enough freethrows to qualify

[@heemanijaz6100]

Séamus Kelly 6

[@bassvog]

Once I made 50 consecutive free throws while I was playing a free throw competition with a friend. Back in the days... lol

[@jerome8930]

19:44 perfect mindset for young athletes

[@felipehernandez3540]

Ray is super Zen jaja

[@MJLee14]

Don’t matter how good your form is, a double-rimmed hoop is guaranteed to drop anyone’s percentages😂😂

[@ethanfrolo7667]

Really had to do this on double rim 😂

[@hamishmclaren1836]

Where can I find those shoes??

[@amirulakid9740]

He’s really funny

[@camejko]

He should have had a guy rebounding his shots. It makes a huge difference

[@georgesun4092]

9:18... hi AJ Lapray

[@donghwakim7066]

You might want to have a one motion shot

[@mli3083]

Mad props for doing this in a double rim. On a single rim he'd be at 70%

[@classic240]

Ray Allen is a cool dude

[@argh9743]

Now,some players need and feed off of that “radio”. For them,more of trash talk the better they go.

[@mehmeteminm]

In game FTs are always hard because they come 2 by 2. When u shoot in a row, its really easy to make +9/10 in practice, but most of the times a miss happens in the first or second shot. For in game FTs, you cannot adapt your shot between tries so its really tough to keep +90%.

[@NathanG24]

As this dudes shot came up his legs went down and then had like a slingshot shot, the ball should've came down and up in motion with his body to make it smoother, I used to do the same thing. Happens worse the further out you go

[@yaelrico9714]

Luka needs to watch this video ASAP

[@Go-Getter]

Steve Kerr use to release on his tippy toes, I picked that up and it was golden. Thank me later.

[@JacksonFTW]

"better than the men though." They use a smaller ball. More room for error. lol

[@mip1mip211]

not to mention the lack of crowd for a distraction

[@JacksonFTW]

@@mip1mip211 HAHAHAHAHA didn't even think about that.

[@adamhakla2669]

Not to mention that the wnba player dont play the same way as the nba player which means less fouls=less shots take

[@MrHifihifi]

There is a big difference in hitting say 80% free shows taking them at 2 or 3 shot intervals than 50 shots or in this case 25 shots in a row. Of course we're not talking about running around and getting hit in games and then shooting either.

[@MrTweaksTV]

i've hit 89 out of 100 FT's in my senior year in high school , with my coach overseeing the whole attempt , after he'd bet me that i would be under 50%. One thing that helped tho ...is the fact that we've used a total of 3 balls. Meaning that after each shot, now matter how far or Off..the ball would end , my flow and form would not be ruined, with coach immediately handing me another ball. The first 66 went in....all of them. This happened 21 years ago , and i still brag about it whenever torching kids in pick'up games 😂 It's definitely possible.

[@saby568]

you've never been outside of your house

[@utryping]

@@saby568 That comment was over 8 months old

[@saby568]

@@utryping my comment was over 4 months old 🤯

[@Sai4651]

0:43 - major reason why more women can shoot over 90% is because the WNBA ball is smaller than the NBA ball, since the size of the rim is the same, the ball is more likely to go in.

[@BryceRogers_]

The problem with this is Clay is already an above average joe in regards to free-throw shooting

[@mahbubsaite3079]

Could anybodu cmiw here, on the higher elbow part that was being corrected, he said that taking it a bit lower will "give more room for error"; does that mean " Even if there's error on the way to the follow through, the ball still going to make enough arc for a bigger chance to sink it in"?? Or was it the otherwise???

[@MrDane634]

You did this whole video and couldn’t get a decent net for the rim? Lol

[@2blacknines]

Mike Macdonald just had a $250000 bet that he could shoot 90/100 before the end of 2020. He just won the bet last week

[@dj_617]

Two most fundamental criticisms were not addressed: arm pocket and knee bending.

[@crxbbing4904]

Yes they were

[@sydguitar99]

Lowering the set point is the easiest way to improve your shot

[@john-sebastianbarrera1884]

Did he say fay-tigue? 😂 😂 (fatigue)

[@parris98457]

I dont even bend on my free throws, straight calf raise and shooting form. As simple as it gets

[@Larph13]

12:19 gonna clip this one...

[@hex-2748]

I'm just about 70% FT shooter. I can hit 90% of my practice shots but real game is just different. The tension and fatigue will get into you. Practicing free throws after a tiring game will help even just a dozen of shots.

[@jaddevine1851]

Hector Ritualo how many practice shots are you putting up a day?

[@hex-2748]

@@jaddevine1851 i actually don't count. I shoot till I'm tired or till I make my desired consecutive makes. I shoot until it feels like a second nature to make shost after shots. What I lack as a player when was still active was consistency in long range shooting. I'm too short and relies heavily on fast break layups and 3 v 2 situation. So I only score on lay ups and free throws. A reliable freethrow shooting and 3 pointers is a must on a short player like me. I also changed my shooting form many times. Watching basketball videos help me a lot to shoot in long range. Unfortunately, I didn't have a blessed genes. Scouts will always go for the big boys even they are not a good player. I think there mindset was like this. A short player even if he is good he can't get taller anymore. But a tall player who is really bad, he can still be trained to be a good player. In short, they always seek for players with potential/higher ceiling of improvement. That was so sad but I still play with my friends sometimes for fun and exercise.

[@dipper5835]

If you get fatigue during a free throw in game. Take the first few seconds to just relax and breath, don't rush yourself and you forget to relax

[@EltonAwesome]

not only me thought that was aj lapray

[@GaugeZrn]

Is it just me or did anyone else think he should be able to dunk with his height( my thoughts when i saw him) . Im new to this channel but i was interested when i saw it recommended to me bc ive played basketball for 7 years now and im 14. definitely enjoyed liked and subbed.

[@ADeep007]

WNB uses a smaller ball on the same size net lol. Obviously it would be easier.

[@dude31144]

GQ couldnt find one indoor court without a double rim?

[@Robzabest25]

maybe i have been too harsh on my fantasy team

[@kiefferwebb142]

Gets to final showdown, forgets all the things he learned and goes back to old shot. Need repetition and either watch your own practice tape back critically or have coaching.

[@TRUNGLE-qb3ps]

Gosh what are those black n white pair of shoes?

[@angelbg656]

Better than the men with a smaller ball and we don't even know how many shots they put up

[@chaseb9857]

Clay looks like Alex Smith and Justin Bartha had a baby

[@justinsbestlife4068]

I guess above average means access to the best shooting and coaching on the planet. Lol

[@chunchunmaru219]

Shot pocket didn't change.

[@samallardyce2522]

play safe, bank the shot 😅

[@bullshark3771]

When they say better than the men that’s because the ball is smaller and has the same size hoop giving more room for error. Also there is a smaller sample size due to a shorter season so it’s easier to go 18-20 than it is to go 90-100 since there are more times to screw up with a smaller margin for error.