Keldon Johnson is quietly reviving a lost art in the NBA

Oh, the patented hook shot. It seems like such a lost art in the NBA today. Gone are the times when centers ran to the post each possession to tussle with defenders and get to that move. Now everyone's focused on spacing the floor or finding their interior offense through the pick-and-roll.

There are a select few who are keeping the hook shot alive in this new world of basketball. Of course, Nikola Jokic has it in his scoring arsenal, as he's one of the few elite deep post-up threats left. But what if I told you that there is someone else who has been more efficient with the move than him?

Keldon Johnson is that someone. It's been an eventful year, to say the least, for the seven-year vet. Amongst all of the headlines, he's the league's most accurate hook-shot maker, draining 67.8% of his attempts through the season, as pointed out by Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers on The Athletic's YouTube NBA show.

Keldon is showing us an underrated scoring attribute

There's a real significance behind KJ's stifling accuracy on his hook. Of course, he's known for his elite-level athleticism at the wing position, a trait of his that caught the eye of San Antonio's front office in 2019. He attacks the rim with such energy and aggression at any opportunity he gets.

Sometimes players with this athleticism lack touch, leading to wild shot attempts off of drives. This is where KJ separates himself. He can couple that high-octane style of play with a level of gracefulness in his finishes, and the hook shot is a vehicle for this.

I scraped through footage of some of Johnson's best-scoring performances this season, and it tracks. He can drive full speed to the rim, pivot, and spin into the shot over defenders. You can also find him snagging offensive rebounds, taking a pound dribble, and flipping the ball into the basket over outstretched arms.

Johnson has been a well-above-average finisher at the rim and in the paint all year long, and his elite touch on the seemingly outdated hook shot has been a driving factor behind this.

Keldon Johnson plays with controlled chaos

KJ's touch and efficiency on this move are just a small example of the beautiful duality in his game. Few players in the league can match such aggression with good control on the court.

For example, his high-pace, attack-first approach does not negatively affect how well he keeps command of the basketball. He's averaging just 0.8 turnovers per game through 23 minutes of play on the season.

This season has been an eye-opener for those who were previously unfamiliar with KJ's impact. Not only has he been extremely unselfish, continuing to accept his role as sixth man, but he's also showing real offensive brilliance.

The Spurs have polished drivers

Keldon's efficiency in the paint adds to a trend across this Spurs roster. This team has what I like to call "polished drivers." Their lineup boasts a cavalcade of players who aren't just amazing at beating defenders off the bounce but are extremely wise and graceful with decisions once they touch the paint.

De'Aaron Fox has made a living off of this throughout his career. We're also seeing it from the rookie Dylan Harper, who has a deep bag of pivots and pump fakes that get defenders off balance and set up easy interior looks.

There's a reason the Spurs have been one of the most efficient teams in the NBA on two-pointers. They have a perimeter attack that knows how to do their work off the dribble, and it'll pay dividends in the postseason.