Although he never coached a bench, Fred Vinson has unquestionably become one of the most respected coaches in the entire NBA. Assistant coach of New Orleans for twelve years, the current right arm of Willie Green has become a reference in the development of shooting players. Focus on the man whispering in the ear of the snipers.
In the NBA, certain player-coach meetings have sometimes changed careers. However, among the many examples that punctuate the history and current events of our sport, Lonzo Ball is a textbook case. Expected at the turn when he arrived in the Big League, the former Lakers guard had to face sometimes violent criticism because of his shooting difficulties as well as his weird form. However, today, the vociferations no longer exist. And for good reason, today’s Lonzo has nothing to do with that of four years ago, who only converted 30% of his 3-point attempts, or 1.7 per game. During his time in New Orleans (2019 to 2021), LaMelo’s big brother never stopped improving. So, in the wake of hard work, Ball was amassing no less than 3.1 shots from the parking lot at 38% per game in the 2020-21 fiscal year (last season at NOLA). This year, the leader of the Bulls even rose to 42% for the same average of shots returned. Miracle ? Chance ? Of course not. Behind this exemplary development, there is a name that comes back mechanically: Fred Vinson. Official shooting coach of the Pelicans, the fifty-year-old has managed to change the mechanics of his foal, while allowing him to gain in efficiency. Possible results thanks to the devotion of the assistant, who personally took care of the new kid:
“Fred took care of me from my first day at the gym. It’s funny how he changed my shot gradually, day by day. For example, at the beginning he let me shoot by passing the ball to the left [Lonzo est droitier, ndlr.] and then little by little he redirected it to the right side, asked me to keep my hand up, to bend my knees. […] Much of the credit must go to Fred. »
– Lonzo Ball
Born in Murfreesboro (as you wish) in North Carolina, Frederick O’Neal Vinson has always been immersed in basketball. Official sniper of Georgia Tech in the early 90s, Fred managed to make a few appearances in the NBA, without ever really establishing himself in the League. After retiring in 2007, the one who passed through Nancy in France (yes!) joined the staff of the Clippers in 2008, to finally be appointed two years later assistant to Monty Williams at the New Orleans Hornets. This is the beginning of the love story between the franchise and the guy. Admittedly, the head-coaches succeed one after the other, but Vinson remains in his post, becoming the oldest member of the current staff of the Pelicans. However, when he arrived in 2010, the shooting specialist had a completely different role than today. Indeed, the profile of Fred pushes Monty to entrust him with the adaptation of young people to the NBA style of play. A role far from being uninteresting, but in which the assistant will not excel more than another.
#Hornets coach Fred Vinson giving Greivis Vasquez some last minute pointers before tonight’s clash w/ the #Magic pic.twitter.com/a3A0bLno
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) December 26, 2012
Without it really becoming official, Fred Vinson will start to focus on shooting the young players he coaches. Today fully recognized in this role, the one who is nicknamed “The Shot Doctor” has become a real shooting guru, to whom those wishing to progress on this aspect can turn with the assurance of having results. On the purely technical aspect, many testify to the coach’s way of doing things: daily work with drills early in the morning and until late at night and above all adapted according to the profiles. For Vinson, there are plenty of ways to shoot, and trying to get Zion Williamson to have the same shot as Brandon Ingram would be ridiculous. And since here we are all Hexperts of the orange ball, we never tire of a few explanations from the master himself:
“We are really on the small details. Most of the time it’s already trying to create an alignment, helping guys get into that alignment. Often, the bodies are twisted, the feet go all over the place, so we try to put everything straight. There are so many elements that depend on that, whether it’s the preparation of the legs and the power you’re going to get out of it. Without that, behind, your whole alignment will change because you will have to use your trunk more to shoot, and we don’t want to do that: we want to shoot from our legs. So that’s the first thing I look at the guys to see where they are and what we’re going to have to work on together. »
– Fred Vinson
And if Lonzo Ball remains probably the most striking example of Fred Vinson’s work, other patients have had the chance, and still have it, to be treated by “Doctor Tir”. From 29% in his rookie season, Brandon Ingram reached 38-39% from downtown between 2019 and 2021, while having tripled its volume of attempts in the meantime. Game day, rest, victory, defeat, home or away, nothing prevented Fred, Lonzo, and BI from working together in night sessions. The latter, however, saw his 3-point percentages drop this year (33%), no doubt due to the drop in the number of shots taken and the role of franchise player he had to assume. Drafted last year by the Pelicans, Herb Jones is another interesting case. Renowned for his defense, Herbert only shot 29% from 3-point range on average over his four years in the NCAA. What could be more normal than, thanks to Fredo, the latter punctuates his rookie campaign at 34% from afar, including 42% during the first round of the Playoffs? If the boy’s progress continues, he could well become the 3-and-D that New Orleans badly needs. We will also have to watch carefully the first performances of Zion Williamson – who recently signed a five-year extension with the franchise – in order to see the progress of the guy behind the arc.
Herb Jones and Fred Vinson working on the jumper pic.twitter.com/ivCDTrTWPk
– Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) October 2, 2021
Longevity, expertise, sympathy… Fred Vinson has today managed to make a resounding name for himself in the world of the NBA. Respected by his peers for his work, the latter is one of the most sought-after coaches in the entire League. It is no coincidence that when Stan Van Gundy left the Bayou franchise in 2021, the name of Fred Vinson was mentioned for his succession, supported by the head coach himself. Such confidence that the franchise did not hesitate to draft Dyson Daniels in eighth position, while the point guard only shot 25% from 3-pointers last season in the G League. A high-level defender, Daniels will, according to management, have plenty of time to improve his shooting with Vinson. When you get to the point of giving a damn about that aspect just because you know your coach is going to make it easy, it’s because the guy still has to impose.
Dyson Daniels rocks hard with Fred Vinson, the GOAT.
After making Lonzo Ball and Herb Jones players capable of shooting, we can’t wait to see the result on our aussie ????????. pic.twitter.com/IZJi5ax9Z8
— French Pelicans Nation (@Pelicans_France) July 5, 2022
At 51, the assistant coach of the Pelicans does not hide his desire to win a title as soon as possible, nor that of one day taking the lead of a team. If his name and his face are mostly unknown to the general public, the work of Fred Vinson nevertheless transpires throughout the League, and has done so for years. A job behind the scenes, meticulousness and consistency… in short, a real doctor’s job.
Source texte : ESPN, The Athletic, Bally Sports