Free throws aren’t typically noteworthy.

However, when Canyon Barry stepped to the line during Friday’s Team USA’s 3-on-3 men’s basketball practice, players paused as they watched Barry’s unorthodox underhand form at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center ahead of this summer’s Paris games.

“That’s an 85 percent shot right there,” Team USA assistant 3-on-3 coach James Fraschilla said to staff as they watched on the sidelines. “If it goes in, that’s all that matters right?”

Right.

And Barry’s underhand free-throw attempt – commonly referred to as the “granny shot,” made famous by his father and NBA legend Rick – swished through the net as players jokingly celebrated Barry’s successful attempt.

“It always catches me off guard,” teammate Jimmer Fredette said. “It’s a unique style of shooting free throws, but it’s very effective. We’re trying to get more people to do it, especially people who are not great free throw shooters.”

The men’s 3-on-3 team hopes to capture gold in their first Olympic appearance and are comprised of Fredette, Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis.

After USA earned silver medals in Vienna, Austria, in June 2023 during the FIBA tournament, the men secured gold at the Pan American Games last October in Santiago, Chile.

Shortly after their success at the Pan AM Games, FIBA announced that the United States received an automatic spot at the Paris Olympics.

“The United States is one of three countries that has qualified for the Paris 2024 Games based on FIBA [3-on-3] world ranking as of Oct. 31, and will bypass next year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments,” FIBA said in a press release.

The United States did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 – which were played in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic – and realize they face pressure to win this year.

But the Cheyenne Mountain alum said they’re not ducking it.

“I don’t think there’s more incentive. I think we’re as incentivized as we can be with the opportunity to represent your country,” Barry said. “For the U.S., gold is the standard and the expectation and that’s what we’re going to strive to bring home. At the same time, 3-on-3 is a super volatile and fast-paced sport.”

That’s an aspect Fredette understands well.

Fredette, who was drafted 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2011 NBA Draft, boasts a wealth of experience on the court.

The former BYU standout has played overseas for teams such as Panathinaikos in Greece and the Shanghai Sharks in China.

But Fredette leaned on his teammates while adapting to the subtle differences of 3-on-3 versus 5-on-5.

“These guys are the ones telling me, ‘I’ve played against this guy 100s of times. This is what he does,’” Fredette said. “They’ve played 3-on-3 a lot longer than I have, so I’ve been trying to learn and be a sponge and put in my two cents when I see something I feel can help us now that I know the game a lot better.”

Those improvements spilled onto the court in Santiago as the men’s team finished 5-0 en route to a gold medal.

Barry believes they can continue to shine and bring home gold in their first Olympic competition.

But he realizes a victory in Paris isn’t just about the team’s success.

“At the end of the day we represent the entire country and that’s the beauty of the Olympics,” Barry said. “You’re bringing together some of the best athletes from across the globe, different cultures, different races and ethnicities. You’re competing under a banner of sport and unity. …To be able to represent that, that’s who we’re trying to bring the gold medal home for.”