It turns out that shooting underhand free throws isn't the only thing Canyon Barry has in common with his famous father.
Barry scored 15 of Team USA's 21 points in their first victory in the 3x3 basketball pool, a close 21-19 win over France. With Jimmer Fredette out with an injury, the American team gutted out a win without any substitutes, thanks to Barry's shooting, which was pretty good overhand as well.
Canyon Barry puts the team on his back to get the USA men's 3-on-3 team their first win
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) August 2, 2024
—15 of the 21 points
—4 two-pointers (they play 1s and 2s)
—game-winner
—4 underhanded free throws pic.twitter.com/26lcsTjp7o
Barry sunk four shots from distance and made the game-winning layup after France cut the American lead to a single point. Just like his father, Hall of Famer Rick Barry, Canyon shoots free throws granny-style, the out-of-fashion approach that made the elder Barry the fourth-best free throw shooter in NBA history (and tops in ABA history).
It was appropriate then that Canyon set up his own game-winner with a pair of underhand free throws, shocking the home French team and delighting fans who love throwback basketball. No word on whether Canyon will play Team USA's next game in Chuck Taylors or petition the Olympic Committee to replace the hoops with peach baskets.
Canyon won't have much time to rest after his heroic effort. Team USA's next game against last-place China started just four hours after their early game against France. But he's given his team a chance to stay alive and sneak into the semifinals with two more wins on Sunday.
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