NBA Shooting Coach Dave Love (@coachdavelove) talks Shooting Periodization, Touch & The Future of Shooting

NBA shooting coach Dave Love joins Coleman and Tyler for one of the deepest conversations we’ve had on shooting development. Dave breaks down shooting periodization, quantifying touch, movement coordination, skill adaptability, the massive misconceptions coaches still hold about shooting mechanics and much more.

He shares stories from working with Aaron Gordon, Tristan Thompson, and other NBA clients, while also offering incredibly practical guidance for coaches working at every level.

This one’s a masterclass.

00:00 – 06:00 | Introduction & Dave’s Background

• Dave Love’s career overview
• How he got into NBA shooting development
• Early mistakes and breakthroughs

06:00 – 23:00 | Shooting Periodization Explained

• How periodization applies to skill development
• The three phases:
  • Movement Coordination
  • Skill Adaptability
  • Performance Training
• Why weak shooters shouldn’t jump into “game-like” training
• The challenge point and avoiding overload

23:00 – 38:00 | Touch, the C-Curve, & Shot Adaptation

• Dave’s research on touch
• Why good shooters adjust angle & velocity together
• Why inconsistent shooters adjust in opposite directions
• How constraints and variability train touch
• Practical examples for coaches to use

38:00 – 59:00 | Self-Organization, Constraints & The Sandbox Analogy

• Why self-organization is NOT “do whatever you want”
• How constraints shape learning
• The sandbox:
  • Walls = boundaries
  • Center = functional variability
• Giving players freedom inside structure
• Avoiding over-coaching explanations

59:00 – 1:13:00 | Case Studies & Coaching in High-Performance Settings

• Aaron Gordon’s transformation
• Tristan Thompson switching hands
• Campazzo and the 50–40–90 season
• Adapting training when you can't add load
• Individualizing intention within team drills
• How to guide players without changing the drill

1:13:00 – 1:26:20 | Future of Shooting Research & Final Takeaways

• The next frontier: studying ball biomechanics, not just form
• Spin axis, ball path, and straight-line set point
• Why the field still misunderstands “smoothness”
• Final advice for coaches at all levels
• Where to find Dave Love and his resources

You can find Dave on all socials @Coachdavelove, check out his website "coachdavelove.com" and make sure to check out his podcast - The Coach Dave Love Podcast

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Also, check out Coleman's new book!!

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Basketball-Blueprint-Holistic-Adaptable/dp/B0G34LSST6