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Oso Ighodaro, a rookie for the Phoenix Suns, has become an internet celebrity thanks to his three-point shooting. Many have drawn comparisons between Ighodaro’s mechanics and Shawn Marion’s notorious jump shot, but most have agreed that Ighodaro’s technique is even worse. Reacting online and engaging in mocking from fans who found Ighodaro’s form peculiar, Suns reporter Duane Rankin released a video of Ighodaro taking a shot from the left corner during their practice session before their game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Ighodaro’s shot is completely out of the ordinary. His release is clumsy and lacks the fluidity that most shooters aim for, and his stance and starting posture appear uncomfortable. A peculiar flip characterizes Ighodaro’s style, which fans found disconcerting, in contrast to the smooth follow-through that is typical of most three-point shooters.

“How the fuck did you manage to create a jumper that is worse than Shawn Marion?” was the direct response of one admirer. The unusualness of the form in comparison to the majority of NBA players was a point of agreement among the commenters.

“Shoots like a chemistry teacher visiting the hoop court at lunchtime,” another fan remarked, poking fun at how awkward Ighodaro’s performance looked in a business context. While making fun of the form’s apparent discomfort, one user asked, “Why it looks like it hurts to shoot?”

Even Shawn Marion wasn’t spared from the parallels. “This dude makes Shawn Marion look like Klay Thompson,” remarked another fan, highlighting the shoddy nature of Ighodaro’s shot. Even though it was funny, some fans pointed out that Ighodaro probably doesn’t need a good jump shot right now for his skill set. One admirer reminded the youngster that he is best at finishing near the basket rather than beyond the arc, asking, “Why does anyone care what his shot looks like?” because he is a lob finisher.

Still, most spectators agreed that this was a particularly ungainly shot compared to others in the league at the moment. One fan tweeted, “This has got to be the ugliest shooting stroke in the NBA,” expressing the general feeling on the internet.

Ighodaro had an outstanding first season, averaging 1.0 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting an astounding 66.7% from the field. He was selected with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Although he has made four appearances, he has only played 7.5 minutes each game and has been relegated to shooting from close range. Fans are hoping that 6-foot-10 Ighodaro can develop his perimeter shooting skills with coaching, but for now, his strengths are on defense and rebounding.

Despite having Devin Booker and Kevin Durant as starters, the Suns have given fans something to talk about outside game highlights thanks to rookie moments like Ighodaro’s viral shooting form.

A comedic subtext to Phoenix’s season has emerged: Ighodaro’s unorthodox shot form, which the team employs to showcase its young potential. With the help of the Suns’ coaching staff, the rookie will have to make some major changes to his game if he wants to learn how to shoot threes.