Perth Wildcats star Luke Travers explains change to three-point shooting while chasing NBA dream

Perth Wildcats star Luke Travers has revealed a new approach to training and clearer focus during games have been the key to his sudden three-point shooting transformation.

Travers made only one of his first 17 three-point attempts this season, leaving him at just six per cent from the perimeter.

But he drew a line in the sand following Perth’s loss to Sydney on January 30, in a match where he missed three long-range shots.

Since then, he’s played three games, taken 11 three-point shots and made six of them.

“Going through the little slump that I went through was always a confidence thing,” Travers said.

“It was more about shooting the ball to actually make it rather than shooting it because I was open. A big focus for me after that Sydney game was to always have my feet ready.

“After that Sydney game, it was a focus of mine to be the last off the court after training. Kev White has been huge with that. He’s always trying to help me out with everything.”

Travers is being closely monitored by NBA teams and knows he needs to prove to them that he can be a reliable three-point shooter.

The 20-year-old said the realisation that NBA players approach three-point shooting as if they have nothing to lose had made him feel more relaxed.

But Travers said missing so many shots earlier in the year had been worrying.

“It was definitely in the back of my mind,” he said.

“But I think I got some interest from not shooting the ball – I put myself on the radar with offensive rebounds and other things like that. So if a team wanted me, it would have been for those things, not to get up as many threes as I can. But it’s definitely helped.”

The Wildcats will enter Saturday’s match against South East Melbourne Phoenix knowing they’ve lost two games in a row. Travers said it had been difficult for everyone to accept.

“It was a tough one. We didn’t want to drop two in a row,” he said.

“We’re dwelling on this loss all week before our next game. It’s only adding that little bit of extra motivation.”