Donovan Clay’s free-throw technique is anything but conventional. Standing at the line, he leans far to the left, his right shoulder almost square with the rim. When he shoots, the ball travels back across his body on a diagonal path that looks wrong—until it drops through the net.
Not once did his shot look clean leaving his hand. There’s a hitch, a moment of uncertainty, as if the ball might veer off in any direction. But when the game was on the line, Clay’s unorthodox form held up. He went 5-for-6 from the line, including a critical free throw late in the game to secure the win.
It’s a reminder that when it comes to free throws, style points don’t count. Whether it’s a textbook motion or Clay’s across-the-body release, the only thing that matters is the ball finding its way home.
