5 NBA Players with Iconic Pre-Game Rituals

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James & Kevin Garnette during their pre-game routines.
Dwyane Wade, LeBron James & Kevin Garnette during their pre-game routines

Pre-Game rituals can be a result of multiple reasons. One of them being that superstars tend to believe in a higher power that rules over the outcome of the game(superstition), the other being that it shows the players are going to put up a great game against the other team, so it hypes up the crowd.

Natural ability plays a major role and physical training is essential, but there's also a mental component, which leads the players towards superstitious optimism.

A lot of players have created their personal pre-game rituals that help them get in their zone and are a signal to the arena and all in attendance, that the show is about to begin.

Among other sports, Basketball is an example that features an abundance of pre-game rituals and what place better to look for them than the NBA.

The following are some NBA superstars coupled with their famed pre-game rituals, adopted during the course of their careers.


#5 Stephen Curry's Tunnel Shot

It’s just further evidence of Curry’s inhuman shot-making ability.
It’s just further evidence of Curry’s inhuman shot-making ability

Ranging from his dribbling drills to the famed tunnel shot, Stephen Curry's pre-game routines are really crowd-pleasing. People would flock to stadiums hours before official playtime just to watch Curry going through his dribbling motions with a couple of balls in each hand and shoot long-range jumpers.

The Tunnel-Shot is just another one of Curry's pre-game rituals that initiate the proceedings at the Arena before the ball-game. In retrospect, Steph attributes the origin of this well-known practice to a casual bet.

"I was shooting it and [Warriors associate GM for the Santa Cruz Warriors Pat Sund] walked by," Curry said. "And we put a kind of funny bet on it, basically about who can buy the next meal. So I get two or three shots at it. If I didn’t make it, I lost. If I made it, I won."

And that's how an impromptu bet morphed into one of the more thrilling pregame routines in today’s game.

Unfortunately, With the Warriors set to move to San Francisco and their new Chase Center arena in 2019, the new alignment of the set of tunnels will seemingly make Steph’s famed tunnel shot impossible.

youtube-cover

SK High Hoops - Write and win amazing prizes. Click here to know more

#2 Shaquille O' Neal's Pre-Game Bowling Ritual(Alley Shaq)

Shaquille O' Neal
Shaquille O' Neal is arguably the most dominant player ever to step foot on an NBA basketball court

Shaquille O' Neal is arguably the most dominant player ever to step foot on an NBA basketball court, but what most people do not realize is that he had his own scripted pre-game ritual as well.

While his time with the Phoenix Suns, he adopted a superstition that was a sight to behold. Performed in the locker room or when the Suns took the court, Shaq would pretend to roll a bowling bowl towards four to five players and they would fall like bowling pins. Usually, one of the "bowling-pins" would wiggle back-and-forth for a bit and join his fellow teammates on the court.

This pre-game gained prominence enough to be performed during the 2009 All-Star game by Shaq, and he did it with six people on the court in front of the entire crowd.

While Shaq usually turned up the heat once the game began, much of his pre-game routines were pure entertainment.

youtube-cover

#3 Dwyane Wade's Pre-Game Pull-ups

Dwayne Wade getting into his pre-game zone.
Dwayne Wade getting into his pre-game zone

Wade has concocted a specific gameday ritual based around his lucky number. He wears No.3 for the Miami Heat, and before the game, knocks out three pull-ups hanging from the rim. Many believe that he got the ritual from Vince Carter who would pull himself from the net and kiss the rim to honor his grandma.

Also, building on the same tangent, Wade chews 'three' pieces of gum during the game, one during warm-ups, one at the beginning of the game, and one during halftime. And yes, this one's the last, he drinks 'three' bottles of Gatorade during the game. No more. No less.

Always in impeccable shape, Wade’s pre-game ritual shows off some of the upper body strength that helps make him great.

The Miami Heat fans would love to have Wade bring this ritual back as he recently announced the upcoming season would be his last with the franchise and in the NBA.

youtube-cover

#2 Kevin Garnett's Head Banger

Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett has done the head-bangs for as long as anyone can remember

Before tip-off, Kevin Garnett really gets his 'head' in the game.

His pre-game ritual was one of the weirdest ever seen across the league. Before the clock starts, he would walk to the padded stanchion behind the baseline and underneath the basket, he would adjust his shorts with his head bowed and then pound his head into the stanchion a couple of times.

It was an awe-inspiring moment for the fans that got a chance to see it, as the ever-so-intense Garnett would let the beast out of its cage for a 48-minute battle.

This pre-game ritual served to psych Garnett up, allowing him to reach the level of focus that would allow him to dominate on both ends of the floor.

Some argued it should be discontinued as it could discombobulate him and hurt his chances, but looking at the career KG had, I wouldn't say it had any adverse effects.

youtube-cover

#1 LeBron's Iconic Chalk Toss

LeBron has done the
LeBron has done the "chalk toss" for much of his career

LeBron's chalk-toss is a flashy but simple signal that it's time to play.

Just before tipoff, he would walk over to the scorer’s table, where the announcers also sit and pour some rosin on his hands. With the powder in both hands, he would then thrust it straight up the air over his outstretched arms, creating a majestic white cloud above him.

Cleveland Cavaliers fans went wild for it and eventually threw up white confetti in sync with James’ chalk toss.

He started the chalk toss in Cleveland but discontinued it when he went to Miami for four years, but when he went back to Cleveland he asked fans to vote whether or not he should bring it back or not and they voted yes.

His affinity to chalk can be traced back to Michael Jordan, where MJ would clap his chalk-filled hands together in the faces of the people sitting behind the scorer’s table. While James' routine is meant to be climactic, epic, and flat-out cool, Jordan's was inclined on the humorous side of things.

youtube-cover

Quick Links

Edited by Alan John