Iverson Bomb

Iverson Bomb is a variation on the classic Iverson cut. The standard Iverson cut moves a scorer across two elbow screens to catch at the top of the key and attack downhill. The Bomb variant changes the finish: instead of catching to drive, the cutter fades back behind the second screen for a catch-and-shoot three.

The action works because defenses prepare for the standard Iverson catch. They expect the cutter at the top, ready to attack. When the cutter instead pops back to the wing, the defender — already in attacking-stop position — has to recover backwards. The shot goes up before the defender can contest it.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson built the modern version of the Iverson Bomb during the Warriors’ championship runs. The shot is most effective against teams that aggressively top-lock the standard Iverson cut, because top-locking commits the defender to the wrong direction for the Bomb counter.