After the home game against the Jazz, although Kelden Johnson only shot a three-pointer with 33% shooting in this game, after this game, he topped the league's three-point shooting rate with 47.2%.
KJ, who had a cold feel at the beginning of the season, found his three-point shooting sensation in mid-November, and in the games that followed, he managed to incorporate accurate three-pointers into his arsenal.
At present, he averages 3.3 three-pointers per game and can shoot 1.6 shots, which is a big improvement in both production and quality compared with before.
When it comes to the improvement of spurs players' ability to shoot outside, fans who are slightly familiar with this team can associate a name - Chip England. Over the years, the legendary shooting coach has brought amazing shooting performances to many Spurs players.
Tie the two fingers of the auxiliary hand together – this is the secret of the progress that Chip brought to Kelden Johnson, of course, the progress today is inseparable from the sweat that KJ dripped in the training gym.
After making adjustments to the tie-up opponent type, KJ's three-pointer had an immediate effect, and since mid-November, KJ has become a reliable three-pointer for the Spurs.
In the process of change, KJ naturally encountered some trouble, because the two fingers of the left hand were tied together, the left hand dribbling of the roast chicken was greatly affected, and it also brought a lot of trouble to the young man in those games.
Fortunately, the adjustment is only temporary, and Kelden has freed his fingers in recent games, but the shooting percentage of the 3-pointer has not fluctuated.
And the 3-point improvement has also brought a lot of convenience to the impact basket that he has always relied on. In the past, opponents only had to resist his breakthrough, and now they have to focus part of their defensive attention on KJ's shooting, which gives Roast Chicken's offense a more diverse choice.
This third-year player became one of San Antonio's most important players this season.
Like his big brother Dezhangtai Murray, Kelden Johnson has always been able to show his new progress in the new season. Last season, Kelden Johnson showed his tough undercover power, and in last season's game, rushing to the top of the box to flip the opposite center to make a layup was KJ's reserved program in the game.
And this season, after the pain and run-in at the beginning of the season, Kelden Johnson showed that he has become an outside heavy gunner in the team.
Improvements in KJ's three-point ability have further cemented his position within the Spurs. A significant portion of the Spurs' positional offense this season is initiated by the blocking between the guard and the center, and there are usually some shooting opportunities outside the three-point line on both sides, and there are enough three-point shooting rates to better ensure the team's offensive efficiency.
Last season, KJ was in the team's number four spot most of the time. While he lost weight somewhat this offseason, with the arrival of McGond Motte and Diop's occasional appearance in the team's rotation, Kelden was given some chances in the number three position.
For the Spurs, it's a wonderful thing that Kelden was able to shoot high-quality open three-pointers. On the one hand, San Antonio has always been the team in the league that hits the bottom of the three-pointer, but in the team's tactical system, it is very important to be able to shoot three-pointers and open up enough space.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that Kelden Johnson is an important part of the future of this team, and the obvious improvement in the three-point shooting is more indicative of the momentum of this player's efforts and more possibilities.
Of course, this is Kelden Johnson's third season, he is still at the beginning of his career, and there are more games, more cheers, more challenges waiting for him in the future.
It's just getting started.