Alright, so I went out today wanting to try and replicate something specific. You see these guys in the NBA, and it looks so automatic. I had this idea stuck in my head: nail a Kawhi Leonard type of dunk.
Not one of those flashy, 360 windmill things. Just that powerful, controlled, often two-handed slam he does. Looks simple enough on TV, right? Just go up strong.
Getting Started
So, I headed to the usual court. Nobody much around, which was good. Less embarrassment for the likely failures ahead. Started with some basic warmups, stretching out, getting the legs loose. You gotta do that, especially when you’re not exactly 19 anymore. Then some easy layups, just getting a feel for the rim.
First few attempts at actually dunking? Pretty weak. It’s funny, you feel like you’re jumping high, but then you watch the ball just sort of bounce off the front rim, nowhere close. The coordination needed, man. It’s not just jumping.
The Process – Trying the Kawhi Thing
I started focusing on the approach. Kawhi seems to gather himself, a couple of strong dribbles, then that explosive leap. So, I tried that. Dribble, plant the feet, go up.
- Footwork: Tried to get that left-right gather step right (I’m right-handed). Felt awkward at first. Stumbled a bit.
- The Jump: Really trying to explode upwards. This is where reality hits. You think you’re getting up, but the rim still looks miles away sometimes.
- The Finish: Aiming for that strong, two-hand flush. On the attempts where I got close, I was mostly just barely tapping the rim with the ball, or maybe getting one hand over. Definitely no power like Kawhi.
It’s weird, you watch him and it seems almost effortless, just pure strength and control taking over. But trying to copy it piece by piece… it falls apart. You realize how much timing, power, and body control has to sync up perfectly in that split second.
I spent a good while on it. Probably looked ridiculous. Lots of missed dunks, some that barely grazed the net. A few that felt almost there, but still lacked that signature force.
What I Found Out
It’s way harder than it looks. Shocker, I know. But it’s not just the height. It’s the power you need to generate while controlling the ball and your body. Kawhi makes it look fundamental, almost basic, but the strength required for that ‘basic’ move is elite.
My legs started feeling heavy pretty quick. The repeated jumping takes a toll. Ended up just shooting some jumpers to cool down. Couldn’t quite nail that Kawhi dunk today. Maybe got a bit closer to understanding the effort involved, less about the actual successful dunk.
Guess I’ll stick to watching him do it properly on screen. It’s humbling, trying to replicate these pro moves. Gives you perspective.
