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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shaquille O'Neal once revealed his list of superstitions - "If I missed one of those things, I always felt I was going to have a bad game"
Shaquille O'Neal once revealed his list of superstitions - "If I missed one of those things, I always felt I was going to have a bad game" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Professional athletes and their superstitions are not a new concept, whether it be basketball or any other sport. Despite all their success and dominance, most NBA legends, like Shaquille O'Neal, are often susceptible to superstitions. And though subjective, some of these beliefs and practices are strange, to say the least. Advertisement There has always been a divided stance when it comes to following superstitions, even among players themselves. However, few of them have turned into their signature move, such as LeBron James doing the chalk toss or Stephen Curry sprinting down and up the court. While these were the evident pre-game routines, some escaped the public eye. One such case was that of Shaq, who had a list of compulsions to follow, fearing he would have a bad game otherwise. Interestingly, he also had something for free throws. "I tried to develop a superstition on the free throw line, and then when I make one, I try to do the same thing, but then when I missed, you don't have to change it up again," the career 52.7 percent FT shooter disclosed. Advertisement Shaq further added, "Other than that, I'll have to have four pieces of gum right before the game. Put the gum under the seat. I have to wear two pair of socks and I don't have to drive the same way every day….It does have power over you because if I miss one of those things, I always felt like I was going to have a bad game". Strangest superstitions among NBA players Regardless of whether a player is a rookie or an established superstar, practicing superstitions has been observed across all strata of players. To each their own, but some strange habits did raise eyebrows, even for legendary Michael Jordan, who wore UNC practice shorts under his NBA uniform throughout his entire career. Advertisement One of the greatest shooters of all time, Ray Allen, had a particular routine he adhered to, which seemed pretty hectic and compulsive, starting with a nap from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a chicken and rice lunch at 2:30 pm. He would then shave his head and would be on the court at 3:30 pm, ready for a three-hour warm-up. Nonetheless, stars like Jason Terry crossed the line, wearing the game-worn shorts of his opponents and sleeping. Some other eerie habits included Caron Butler chewing about 12 straws and chugging two litres of Mountain Dew. No right or wrong answers There is no denying the divisive nature when it comes to the topic of superstition. The most recurring argument against it is that such habits are often viewed as a sign of vulnerability. Nevertheless, there was no harm in having a belief system, but the question remained as to where one would draw the line. Advertisement There are many stories about players and their superstitions, but there was always a section that never followed any of them as well. Hall of Famers, like Charles Barkley, never really indulged in such traditions. While there will always remain conflicting theories about following rituals, professional athletes should never let them overpower their talent and hard work. Success was never guaranteed when it came to following certain traditions, Shaq's free-throw shooting being the prime example. Related: "Three guys that I could just not stop. I couldn't guard them" - Shaquille O'Neal names the big men who gave him the most trouble This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
The Quiz #430 - What Time Is It? Game Time!
How well do you know your free throws from fumbles? Take The Quiz: Sports Edition. Play. Share. Listen with FOX News' Host of The Will Cain Show, Will Cain.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unbothered by ‘free throw merchant' chants: ‘I don't care'
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't mind the new label he's earning in Minnesota. After all, it's working. The Oklahoma City Thunder star and league MVP, after he led the team to a narrow 128-126 win over the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night, said the 'free throw merchant' chants he's been getting aren't bothering him. If anything, it's the opposite. 'In terms of the label, I don't care,' he said. 'I never cared … I've shot more free throws in a season than I did this season. I think because we're on top of everybody's radar, it's a little more noticeable and now people care about it. "I kind of see it as a compliment.' 'I don't care. I never cared. … I kinda see it as a compliment.' SGA on free throw merchant chants 😅🗣️ — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 27, 2025 Gilgeous-Alexander went 12-of-14 from the free throw line in Monday's win at the Target Center. He accounted for all but four of the team's made free throws, too, and 2/3 of their attempted shots from the stripe. Gilgeous-Alexander also scored Oklahoma City's final five points from the free throw line, though he missed a critical one down the stretch that could have put the game away earlier. He finished the night just shy of a triple-double with 40 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the win, which put the Thunder up 3-1 in the series. Timberwolves fans didn't let up on Gilgeous-Alexander one bit on Monday, and repeatedly hit him with 'free throw merchant chants." Wolves fans are chanting "free throw merchant" at SGA 😅 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 27, 2025 ESPN's Doris Burke also called him out in the first half, too, after he drew a simple foul from Rudy Gobert that got him to the free throw line. There was nothing wrong or illegal about Gilgeous-Alexander's move on that play, either. Players throughout the NBA do the exact same thing on a nightly basis during the season, as it's successful and an easy way to get points on the board more often than not. 'This is why he's called the free throw merchant'DORRIS BURKE LMAOOOOO — 𝑩𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒓 (@Tatums0Burner) May 27, 2025 Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 7.9 made free throws per game this season, and he attempted the second-most per game in the NBA behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo. Gilgeous-Alexander, as he noted, beat both of those figures significantly during the 2022-23 campaign. While opposing fans may find it annoying, Gilgeous-Alexander isn't likely to let them get into his head at this point. With the Thunder now just a single win away from reaching their first NBA Finals since 2012, there is absolutely no reason for him to change his strategy. Like it or not, it's incredibly effective.
Associated Press
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Hack-A-Robinson? Knicks fans cheer their big man through his free-throw shooting woes
NEW YORK (AP) — Mitchell Robinson looked so crushed by one airball on a free throw that he had his head in his hands early in Game 3 on Saturday. The Boston Celtics continued with their strategy of fouling the dismal free throw shooter intentionally and kept on doing it long after it seemed necessary, sending the New York Knicks backup center to the line even with a 29-point lead in the second half. Robinson finished 4 for 12, a big reason why the Knicks shot just 68.6% from the line in their 115-93 loss that cut their lead in the series to 2-1. Fans at Madison Square Garden tried to encourage Robinson through his struggles, standing and cheering when he went to the line for what became his fifth straight miss to open the game and then giving him a loud ovation after he made the second. 'It's a tough position to be in, especially mentally. But you've got to encourage,' Knicks captain Jalen Brunson said. 'Everyone has each other's back regardless. No matter what happens, we're going to win together, we're going to lose together. We're going to go through that together.' Robinson did not speak to reporters after the game. The strategy of fouling poor free throw shooters is commonly known as Hack-A-Shaq, because it was frequently used against Shaquille O'Neal to capitalize on his struggles during an otherwise dominant Hall of Fame career. Many fans hate it because of all the stoppages it causes, but Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is a clear believer. He went to it early Saturday and even had one of his players grab Robinson near midcourt with a 92-63 cushion and 2:34 remaining in the third quarter. 'Just process over results,' Mazzulla said. 'You just always stick to the process of what you think gives you the best chance to win on that possession and to win in that game.' Robinson has always had good shooting touch around the basket — he's made 70% of his shots from the field in his seven-year career and even led the NBA at 74.2% in 2019-20. But the foul line has been a struggle. The 7-footer doesn't bend his knees on his attempts and shoots line drives, rather than arching shots with a soft touch that might bounce on the rim and fall in. He's made just 52% of his attempts for his career. He was 3 for 11 in the two games in Boston, with Mazzulla hoping that his misses would force Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to take him out of the game. Robinson is one of the Knicks' best rebounders and defensive players and was a catalyst in their comebacks from a pair of 20-point deficits in Boston. They outscored the Celtics by 19 points when he was on the floor in their 91-90 victory in Game 2. So the Celtics are better off when he's out of the game. The Knicks have to decide how they can keep him in it. 'If he makes it, he stays. If not, you've got to get him out,' Thibodeau said. 'And then is he impacting the game? Is it more beneficial to leave him in? So, there's a lot of factors that go into that.' ___ AP NBA:
