The inexplicable secret to unlocking Bruce Brown’s jumper was to introduce stakes — real or otherwise.
Shooting has never been his strength on the basketball court, even during his previous stint with the Nuggets, but he was especially raw as a burgeoning prospect at Vermont Academy. “He could not shoot in high school,” admits Alex Popp, his prep coach.
It’s easy enough for Popp to understand why that was. Brown had a gangly, disproportionate wingspan, great for ball-hawking (in basketball and football) but potentially obstructive to shooting mechanics. He also had enough natural talent relative to his peers that he didn’t need to rely on the 3-pointer.