"Over the summer, the Spurs worked to change Richard Jefferson's head. They also changed his bank account.

When they asked to change something even more sacred — his jump shot — Jefferson was ready to draw a line in the sand.

He had shot the same way for nine NBA seasons, same grip, same release. It had worked out well for him.

Spurs coaches, like counselors at some youth basketball camp, wanted to tinker with all that.

"It was tough, but I bought in," said Jefferson, who took an immediate pay cut to return to the Spurs in July. "I trusted the coaches, and wanted to do what they needed me to do."

The changes, under the watchful eye of coach Gregg Popovich, shooting coach Chip Engelland and player development coach Chad Forcier, were subtle.

Jefferson shifted his release from above his head to out in front. He now begins his shot from a deeper crouch, his knees bent and permanently prepared to fire.

The results have been self-evident.

Barring a complete tailspin over the final 18 games, Jefferson is set to produce — at age 30 — the best 3-point season of his career. He is shooting 43.8 percent (106 of 242) from beyond the arc, four points better than his previous high of 39.7 percent set in 2008-09 with Milwaukee.

Heading into tonight's game against Sacramento, Jefferson ranks sixth in the NBA in 3-point accuracy.

It has been an astonishing evolution for Jefferson, from high-flying dunker to earthbound marksman. For that, Popovich credits Jefferson's trip to summer school.

"Most players aren't too interested in having a coach change this, that or the other about them," Popovich said. "He was unemotional and selfless in that regard. He didn't worry about what somebody might think." "