Athletes may go into an important game hoping that lady luck stays with them alongside their on-court skills, of course. As a result, their warm-up session simply does not involve only stretching their muscles but also indulging in a pre-game ritual. From the late Kobe Bryant’s pre-game shooting to Kevin Garnett’s somewhat unhealthy practice of head-hitting, the basketball world is filled with such routines. With LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and the rest of the super-Team USA looking to bag another gold medal for their country, such rituals are coming to light, more than ever before.

Before Team USA’s recent matchup against Serbia, LeBron James was filmed on the sidelines. He was busy in his long-running ritual of getting a handful of chalk powder, rubbing all of it thoroughly, and then tossing it in the air. Some distance away, Stephen Curry proceeded to run up to the hoop from a half-court distance. On the other hand, Jayson Tatum was seen saying a short prayer before blowing a kiss upwards to the heavens. As a fan, having seen such practices on television for years, it still captured the whole-hearted attention of everyone at the Etihad Arena. With this, let us take a look at the origin stories of some of these practices.

LeBron James

LeBron James’ iconic ‘Chalk Toss’ has been a common practice ever since his rookie season in 2003. Even before he arrived at the NBA, it was not rare for players to rub chalk on their hands for better grip when handling the ball. However, the future All-Time NBA scorer added a twist to this by tossing it in the air and watching it disappear. As LeBron’s popularity grew over the years, so did the frequency of repetition of his ‘chalk toss’. Pretty soon, it became a trait solely associated with the Laker, appearing in several of his Nike advertisements and even on the cover of NBA 2K14.

As speculation arose over its origins, many fans linked it as a tribute to Michael Jordan. Often predominantly in the GOAT debate with LeBron James, the six-time NBA champion had his pre-game ritual, in which he would grab some chalk and rub it on the face of Johnny Kerr or the table of the Bulls commentators from time to time. To protect themselves, they would often jokingly carry some masks or even umbrellas! However, when asked, LeBron James admitted that his ritual’s origin was not inspired by any individual.

“I don’t remember the first time I started it — when I started to do it — but I felt the fans start to embrace it,” King James said. “I started to really set my mind and get focused on what was at task when I started to do it.” The ‘Chalk Toss’ came and went occasionally during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. With the Los Angeles Lakers, however, it has been a common routine. Now, it is a part of a highly anticipated international event as LeBron James looks to win his fourth Olympic Medal.

Stephen Curry

Unlike LeBron James, Stephen Curry is not limited to just one ritual. However, his pregame sprint is one of his most overlooked ones. The origins of the same stem from the player’s early years, when he was still teammates with 2x NBA All-Star David Lee. Before a game, the duo would often race to the baseline to engage in some fun and pump up their energy. 9 years after Lee’s exit from the Warriors, Curry continues this tradition to settle the nerves and direct his adrenaline to the right areas. While LeBron’s ritual is more about tradition, Curry’s is about focus as much as it is about tradition.

There is a reason why the Golden State Warriors star is the All-Time Leader when it comes to three-pointers. Through meticulous practice, the player ensures that he simply never misses. Attendees who arrive early for a Warriors game get a glimpse of the same as Curry’s warm-up ritual at least 90 minutes before tip-off has him making back-to-back successful shots. This has become so popular that the doors are opened early, even when GSW is playing in a different city and an arena filled with supporters of their rival team.

“I really started noticing the bigger crowds toward the middle of the (2015-16) season,” Curry admitted in an interview with ESPN. “I didn’t know what to think at first. It was strange, but I was humbled at the same time.”

Jayson Tatum

The 2024 NBA Champion holds rituals close to his heart. This is the reason for him prioritizing bringing his hands together in prayer and then touching his ear before a matchup. Surprisingly, the practice has nothing to do with superstition. In an interview with USA Today in 2014, three years before he made his entry into the NBA, the young player explained, “Before every game, I look up into the stands and I find my grandma. We know to look for each other before the game. When we make eye contact, I tug on my ear and she’ll do the same. It’s basically something to let each other know it’s time to go out there and give it my all.”

Having been a prominent part of something that he’s been doing since school, Jayson Tatum continues tugging his ears even if any of his family members aren’t present to watch his game live. This way, he has a sure way of acknowledging that his loved ones are always present with him. Any blessings he received from the same seem to have worked in his favor, as the lethal Celtics scorer today holds the Larry O’Brien Trophy, three All-NBA First Team honors, and five inclusions in the NBA All-Star team to his name.