Basketball on basketball ring photo – Free Basketball Image on Unsplash
Professional basketball is a fun, fast-paced, and competitive sport where every game counts. During the 2023/2024 season of the NBA, it’s estimated that 1.56 million fans tuned in to watch and cheer for their favorite teams as they competed. With high stakes and huge audiences, professional basketball players are put under immense pressure to perform their best. While training and practice are key, many athletes also have certain unique superstitious rituals that they perform before each game to bring them luck.
Interestingly, it’s not just athletes who have rituals. Many NBA fans, coaches, and sports bettors also have certain traditions for gameday. Some fans swear by wearing a favorite jersey or player’s number. Other fans believe that high-fiving everyone in their row before the game starts will ensure their team wins. Coaches also have their own unique rituals. Coaches often have pre-game warm-ups, drills, and speeches they share with their team before a big game. Similar to fans and coaches, some sports bettors also have certain rituals like only betting on certain days of the week. Punters historically had to wager in person on game day, however, thanks to technology bettors can now place their wagers online before or even during a game. There are even some betting apps that don’t require ID, which makes the entire process more secure and private for punters. Betting expert and author Joe Napier explains that these sites allow bettors to wager without undergoing traditional identity checks. This means punters can wager on whatever day they choose, fitting in perfectly with their pre-game rituals to bring their team success.
Fans, coaches, and sports bettors all have their unique traditions and rituals. Let’s take a closer look at some of the famous NBA player’s rituals that have been spotted over the years.
1. LeBron James – The Legendary Chalk-Toss
LeBron James is one of the most well-known players in the NBA and he also has a fairly well-known pre-game ritual, too. LeBron’s ritual is a chalk toss before big games. The ritual started when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, LeBron’s chalk-toss ritual has stuck and has been his staple on gameday. The ritual is fairly simple and includes the famous player taking a handful of chalk and tossing it into the air. By tossing the chalk, LeBron creates a cloud of chalk which many think represents the player being ready to take on the other team and dominate the court.
Many dedicated fans believe that LeBron’s chalk-toss was inspired by another famous basketball player, Michael Jordan, who also tossed chalk during warm-ups.
2. Shaquille O’Neal – The Playful Pretend Bowling
Shaquille O’Neal is another huge NBA star with a unique pre-game ritual. Shaquille’s ritual is light-hearted and fun. Before big games, Shaq is known to pretend to bowl in the locker room. To some, this might sound odd, but to fans, they know Shaq is prepping for big games bringing joy to his team, and lightening the competitive, serious mood.
3. Monta Ellis – Wax Hands for a Better Grip
Ellis is known for his amazing dunks and has a pre-game ritual that many might not be up for. Before big games, the NBA star is known to dip his hands into warm wax. The star dips his hands into the wax, lets it dry, and then peels it off. Many think that this ritual could be practical as well because after peeling off the wax some residue may be left that helps Ellis grip the basketball better during games.
4. Kyrie Irving – Smudging the Court
Kyrie is a guard who is well known for his ball-handling skills on the court. Beyond his basketball skills, he’s also known for his unique pre-game ritual of burning sage. Before big games, Kyrie has been seen burning sage and walking around the court with it. Sage is traditionally used by many to cleanse the energy in a space and support a positive energy and vibe, so no doubt Irving’s sage burning ritual is based on setting a positive tone for each game.
5. Russell Westbrook – The Superstitious Dancer
Westbrook is well known for his energetic pre-game dancing and handshaking rituals. The NBA star is known to be superstitious and has a number of dance moves and elaborate handshakes that he does with his team members before big games to bring good luck. This player’s ritual not only boosts his own energy but is fun and infectious and gets the other team members pumped for big games, too.
6. Dwyane Wade – Family First and Gym Rituals
Dwyane Wade is a three-time NBA champion who puts his family first. This star’s ritual before a big game includes setting aside time to spend with his family. By spending time with loved ones, Wade is able to sharpen his mental focus and step onto the court fully charged and ready to play his best each game.
Beyond spending time with family, Wade also spends time in the gym before games. The player is well known for doing pull-ups before games and even hanging from the rim of the basketball hoop. Wade combines family time, which supports his mental well-being, with gym time, which supports his physical well-being.
7. Steph Curry – Sprinting for Focus
As an athlete, it makes sense that Curry would enjoy sprinting as a pre-game ritual. Steph, who is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, likes to sprint up and down the court to prep for big games. Sprinting is high energy and no double pumps Curry up for games and gets him into the zone to play his best.
8. Kevin Durant – Meditation and Visualization
While Steph Curry likes to sprint and be active, Kevin Durant is the polar opposite. Durant, another NBA star, prefers to meditate and visualize his games as a ritual. Durant takes time before games to visualize himself making successful shots as well as taking time to mediate. These two rituals help this star start each game with a calm and focused demeanor.
Conclusion
The NBA is filled with athletes who have unique pre-game rituals that help them play at their peak. From Steph Curry, who likes to spring up and down the court to Kyrie Irving, who is known to burn sage, each player brings their special routine to game-day. And, it’s not just players with rituals. Dedicated fans, sports bettors, and even coaches have their routines and rituals that they enjoy before big games, too.