Tristan Thompson Attempting Possibly Unprecedented Crossover

This is very cool. Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson is making over his shot, and going from shooting southpaw to shooting right-handed.

Fear The Sword had some rumblings about this earlier this summer, when Conrad Kaczmarek spotted Thompson shooting free throws right-handed, but now Thompson is talking about the change — which may be unprecedented.

“I think it’s the first time ever in NBA history,” Thompson said of the change, and he may be right.

Jerry Colangelo, executive director of USA Basketball has been affiliated with the NBA since the mid-1960s and has seen everything the modern game has to offer, seemingly. Does he know of an NBA player switching his shooting hand mid-career?

“No,” he said flatly when I asked him. “There are a lot of players who work hard so they can finish equally well with both hands, but as far as changing the hands they shoot with? I’ve never heard of that. That’s 1-in-1000 right there.”

I've certainly never heard of a player changing his shot hand outside of a video game, and Thompson even wanting to attempt it is pretty impressive. The proof will be in the results, but Thompson was bad enough at shooting ( under 40 percent from three feet and out in 2012-13, and just 36.3 percent on jumpers) before this switch that it almost can't hurt.

And, hell, shooting poorly with both hands would at least be a neat talent to have.

[ Sportsnet]

Photo: Charles Krupa/AP