(PROCESS)[I HAD TO CHANGE MY SHOOTING FORM.]

After I injured my right index finger in the 2009–2010 season, I knew my usual method would no longer work. Up until then, I’d always shot off of my first two fingers. After I hurt it, I had to start focusing on using my middle finger. The middle became my point of release, and I had to sort of let my index finger drift.

Making that change took a couple of practices. Not average practices, though. Days flooded with mental and physical work. I had to mentally download the software that was the new form, and then drill it in. I definitely got my one thousand makes in on each of those days.

People ask me if the change impacted my shot, if it made me a better or worse shooter. I can’t answer that. I can say that there are times when my index finger just went numb, when it had no feeling in it at all. I can also say that was still good enough to win another championship—and that’s the only thing that matters.