The guard is enjoying a strong start to life in the EuroCup
'Captain Hook' Zavier Simpson embraces the Cluj challenge
Trademarks
2 Mins read
Everybody wants to be unique in their own way. Zavier Simpson is no exception, and he has managed to stand out from the crowd for several reasons. One of them is due to his trademark move, which he started by accident but became a usual routine in finding his route to the basket.
The hook shot was first turned into a trend by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in the ‘70s. Before him, other dominant paint inhabitants such as Wilt Chamberlin and George Mikan used to surprise opponents with their high-shooting arc towards the rim. Moving forward, Bob Lanier, Vlade Divac, and Yao Ming continued the tradition. You must have noticed something: these are all centers.
For somebody who doesn’t prioritize his game near the basket, especially if undersized, intentionally choosing to go for a hook shot may not be the first of his thoughts. Instead, the 27-year-old overseas rookie coming from Lima – not in Peru, but Ohio – thinks differently.
“It all started back in 2016-17, my first year in college. I was getting my shots blocked a little more often than normal,” Simpson recalls to Eurohoops’ Cesare Milanti. “Once, I made a hook shot by accident on a fast break – it went in. I felt well with it, despite never having worked on it before.”
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