Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Trainer Hits Back At Iman Shumpert’s Shooting Criticism

Drew Hanlen defends Giannis Antetokounmpo after Iman Shumpert questions his shooting progress.© NDTV gallery

Giannis Antetokounmpo's jump shot has become a talking point in Miami, but his trainer is not buying the criticism coming his way. Former NBA champion Iman Shumpert recently questioned the progress Antetokounmpo has made with his shooting, despite the work he puts in during the offseason. Drew Hanlen responded by bringing up a comparison Shumpert may not have expected. The trainer pointed to the two players' field-goal records, while Antetokounmpo's numbers this season offer another part of the story. The Miami forward is averaging 28.9 points in his first season with the Heat, who have won four straight games.

Drew Hanlen's Pointed Reply

Gil's Arena shared a clip of Shumpert questioning Antetokounmpo's jump shot. Hanlen took the discussion to X and posted the numbers he felt were missing from the conversation.

“Let's check the facts: @Giannis_An34 is currently shooting 58.3% from the field & 53.7% from mid-range,” he wrote. “Iman Shumpert shot 39.1% from the field during his NBA career. He never shot over 42% in a season from the field.”

It was a direct response, and Hanlen did not need to add much else. Shumpert's career field-goal percentage was well below Antetokounmpo's current mark.

Backing Up The Numbers On The Court

Antetokounmpo's improvement is not limited to his overall shooting percentage. Last season, he made 28.9% of his attempts from 10 to 16 feet. That figure is now 50%. His accuracy from 16 feet to the three-point line has also jumped from 25.9% to 57.1%.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has spoken about the work Antetokounmpo puts into his shooting mechanics, particularly his balance and posture. He has also urged the forward to trust what he has been practising.

“When they're building that much of a wall and backing way off, those are just kind of rhythm, easy jump shots. When he steps in it with good posture, those are good looks for him.”

Antetokounmpo has scored at least 30 points in each of Miami's last three games. The Heat are now 7-6 after opening the season with four consecutive losses.