Published: November 23, 2009
After reading Chris Ballard’s book one of the things I’ve wanted to dig a little deeper into is the psyche of shooters. In specific, I want to know how these guys shake out of shooting slumps when there’s a ton of pressure for “shooters” to hit big shots.
With current 3-Point Shootout Champion Daequan Cook in town last Friday it gave me a chance to talk with Cook about what it’s like coming back from a shoulder injury, what he’s doing to get back into a groove shooting the ball and the touching story about how he “adopted” a family in Miami.
Ryan McNeill: You’re coming off a shoulder injury and six game in you’re percentage from the field isn’t as high as it was last season as you probably want it to be. Do you just keep shooting until your shots start dropping in games as they do when you’re shooting in an empty gym?
Daequan Cook: You said it best: I’ll just keep shooting. These last few games I’ve played I’ve started to get back into my rhythm and I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable. It’s just a matter of getting the same reps in during practices and getting my shoulder back to the way I’m used to shooting.
McNeill: You mentioned needing your reps which got me thinking to a chapter in Chris Ballard’s recent book where he was talking about muscle memory and other things shooters rely on. One thing in particular that stuck out was Steve Kerr writing F.I. on his kicks. Are there things you do to stay loose in games?
Cook: Not at all. Shooting is shooting. At the end of the day there isn’t really anything that I think about (when I’m shooting). Like you said, when I get my reps in it’s all about muscle memory in games. So the day we have off, like yesterday when we had a day off or during the practice time during the day of a game, I’m all about getting my reps up and making sure my shot is getting back to where I want it to be.
McNeill: Last season All-Star weekend was pretty big for you as you won the NBA’s three-point shoot out. What did that achievement mean to you? Did it help improve your confidence shooting the ball?
Cook: It mean a lot because it’s an honor and a privilege to be part of that and for me to get the opportunity to win the competition. It feels great knowing I’ll get to go down in the history books as one of the best three-point shooters in this game.
McNeill: Something else that stuck out from me about your past season was the fact you were given the NBA’s Community Assist award for 2009. What did that mean to you?
Cook: It means a lot because as a young player coming into this league I feel it’s important to do no lot, not just for my family, but for the Miami community as well. With me being part of the Miami community it’s important. A lot of people my age haven’t had the same opportunities so it’s important for me to help out however I can.
McNeill: You mentioned the community and helping them out which ties into the next thing I wanted to ask you about. One family in particular you’ve helped out is a family who lost their son who was planning on attending your basketball camp shortly before he died. When you found out about this you reached out to the family and I have you struck up a friendship with them. Can you talk a bit about that?
Cook: They mean a lot to me. Like I told his mother when I met her, she can’t get rid of me now. I’m part of their family and I mean that from my heart. We email each other from time-to-time just to check on each other to make sure everything is going well. It just means a lot to me to have the opportunity to be part of that families life now knowing I really touched their sons heart the way I did. So I feel like it’s important for me to stick around and continue to communicate with that family.
