Louisville’s Chinanu Onuaku experiments with underhand free throws
The big man shot 47 percent from the line. So when practice started this year, Pitino called the sophomore to his office. Pitino had cut a video for Onuaku of Hall of Famer and legendary underhanded free throw shooter Rick Barry. Barry, who remains mystified at the resistance to his style, still ranks third in NBA history, converting 90 percent of his free throws during a 14-year career.
Pitino suggested Onuaku give it a try, and to Onuaku’s credit, he didn’t laugh. Instead he studied the film and mimicked the style. (It’s actually nothing like most people think. Your hands don’t go under the ball but actually over the top of it. The secret is getting a good backspin on the toss.) The first time Onuaku stepped to the line in practice, squatting down for the toss, his teammates cracked up.
They don’t laugh anymore. Onuaku, who said he can’t remember the last time he shot the ball underhanded, hopes the hecklers will be stunned into the same silence.
