5 Former Houston Rockets that had unusual shooting forms

Houston Rockets with Unusual Form No. 4: Mario Elie

When Mario Elie joined the Houston Rockets in 1993, it was a match made in heaven. Elie found a team that was going to give him meaningful minutes while the Rockets got a tough-minded slasher and shooter to spread the floor for Hakeem Olajuwon.

With his competitive fire and tough defense, Elie rightfully earned the nickname of Junkyard Dog by his teammates, playing a key role in both of the Rockets’ championships in 1994 and 1995.

Elie’s jump shot was reliable, but his form was far from conventional. Including the word “jump” might even be generous to his shot, as it was always more of a set shot in which he barely left the ground.

Of course, it’s now my unwritten rule to show Elie’s biggest shot as a Rocket every team I spend more than a sentence on the three-time champion, so without further adieu:

While it’s hard to see here amid all the excitement, Elie always had a slower release than most but always seemed to get it off without a hitch.

Mario shot 48 percent from the field throughout his career with the Rockets, which was the highest percentage he shot for any of his six teams.

Next: An Insanely Slow Release