In basketball, the term gravity is used when describing situations in which players without the ball draw defenders to them, simply as a result of their shooting ability being a known threat. This in turn helps their teammates access more open shot opportunities themselves. As the offensive player is deemed a threat by the defending team, the defense collapses in on the player, hence the player is described as having gravity on offense.
Stephen Curry is a commonly cited example of a player with high gravity
Popularized in the mid-2010s, the term is commonly used when describing a player's off-ball shooting ability.[1] The term gained popularity as Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors began to develop into an MVP-caliber player, helping establish the Warriors as an NBA dynasty.[2] Curry has since become a commonly cited example of a player who exhibits a great amount of on-court gravity.[3] Fellow NBA player CJ McCollum suggested that Curry cannot be guarded with just one person, stating "He's a galaxy, he's a planet, he's a solar system. Everything revolves around him."[4]
Context and determinantsedit
While on offense, each player has gravity at varying levels. In addition, the ball itself has gravity as there is "the need to pressure the ball-handler and keep him from getting a wide-open shot."[5] Similarly, the basket also has gravity, "since the highest-percentage shots tend to be taken from close range."[5]
A player with high shooting ability has a high amount of gravity when off the ball.[5] Gravity is contextual to a player's role within their team's offensive gameplan, as well as their on-court location. ESPN writer Kevin Pelton elaborated on this, writing "A put-back specialist with limited range has almost no gravity when he plays on the perimeter, but high gravity inside the paint because of the threat he poses on the offensive glass."[5]
^O'Connor, Mike (September 5, 2017). "The Markelle Fultz Debate: Gravity and the Kobe Assist". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^Esnaashari, Farbod (June 6, 2022). "Draymond Green Says Warriors Offense Started With Steph Curry Over Kevin Durant". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^Dierberger, Tom (June 6, 2022). "Viral screengrab perfectly shows Steph's inconceivable gravity". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^Helin, Kurt (July 17, 2022). "McCollum on guarding Curry: "He's a galaxy, he's a planet, he's a solar system"". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^ abcdPelton, Kevin (October 22, 2014). "Explaining 'gravity' in basketball". ESPN. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
March 16, 2024
gravity, basketball, basketball, term, gravity, used, when, describing, situations, which, players, without, ball, draw, defenders, them, simply, result, their, shooting, ability, being, known, threat, this, turn, helps, their, teammates, access, more, open, s. In basketball the term gravity is used when describing situations in which players without the ball draw defenders to them simply as a result of their shooting ability being a known threat This in turn helps their teammates access more open shot opportunities themselves As the offensive player is deemed a threat by the defending team the defense collapses in on the player hence the player is described as having gravity on offense Contents 1 Use and history of term 2 Context and determinants 3 See also 4 ReferencesUse and history of term edit nbsp Stephen Curry is a commonly cited example of a player with high gravityPopularized in the mid 2010s the term is commonly used when describing a player s off ball shooting ability 1 The term gained popularity as Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors began to develop into an MVP caliber player helping establish the Warriors as an NBA dynasty 2 Curry has since become a commonly cited example of a player who exhibits a great amount of on court gravity 3 Fellow NBA player CJ McCollum suggested that Curry cannot be guarded with just one person stating He s a galaxy he s a planet he s a solar system Everything revolves around him 4 Context and determinants editWhile on offense each player has gravity at varying levels In addition the ball itself has gravity as there is the need to pressure the ball handler and keep him from getting a wide open shot 5 Similarly the basket also has gravity since the highest percentage shots tend to be taken from close range 5 A player with high shooting ability has a high amount of gravity when off the ball 5 Gravity is contextual to a player s role within their team s offensive gameplan as well as their on court location ESPN writer Kevin Pelton elaborated on this writing A put back specialist with limited range has almost no gravity when he plays on the perimeter but high gravity inside the paint because of the threat he poses on the offensive glass 5 See also editOutline of basketball Small ball basketball References edit O Connor Mike September 5 2017 The Markelle Fultz Debate Gravity and the Kobe Assist The Athletic Retrieved May 5 2023 Esnaashari Farbod June 6 2022 Draymond Green Says Warriors Offense Started With Steph Curry Over Kevin Durant Sports Illustrated Retrieved May 5 2023 Dierberger Tom June 6 2022 Viral screengrab perfectly shows Steph s inconceivable gravity NBC Sports Retrieved May 5 2023 Helin Kurt July 17 2022 McCollum on guarding Curry He s a galaxy he s a planet he s a solar system Yahoo Sports Retrieved May 5 2023 a b c d Pelton Kevin October 22 2014 Explaining gravity in basketball ESPN Retrieved May 5 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gravity basketball amp oldid 1156339741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
