“LeBron James copies idol Michael Jordan”: How the Lakers no. 23 took up the chalk toss routine from his idol the Bulls no. 23

Jeet Pukhrambam | 27/04/2022
"LeBron James copies idol Michael Jordan": How the Lakers no. 23 took up the chalk toss routine from his idol the Bulls no. 23

The most iconic ritual in basketball is the chalk toss by LeBron James. But did he pick it up from Michael Jordan?

The reason why NBA players use chalk is so that they can improve their grip on the basketball. Using chalk helps them improve the release when they are passing, dribbling, or shooting the ball.

It also helps the ball to stay in their hands and not slip. The usage is widespread and over time, it has become something of a ritual to use it before games.

How and why? The first instance of popularizing chalk usage can be seen back in the 1990s when Michael Jordan used to do the powder toss.

He did it to prank the Bulls commentators by clapping his hands full of chalk. As a running trope, the commentators would show up with masks and umbrellas to avoid the dust.

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LeBron James copies his idol, Michael Jordan!

The next person to truly popularize the usage and in particular, the chalk toss was LeBron. His version was more elaborate and added a lot more panache and flair.

Since he started his chalk toss, it has become the de facto method for the King and fans worldwide have come to associate LeBron and the chalk toss. Not just fans tho, even players have shown a likeness to it.


Also read: “Nikola Jokic sees the floor like LeBron James and passes like Chris Paul”: Draymond Green sings Nuggets MVP’s praise while Warriors are up 3-1

 

Post Edited By: Jeet Pukhrambam
LeBron James Michael Jordan NBA

About the author

Jeet Pukhrambam

Jeet Pukhrambam is The SportsRush's Lead Editor for Basketball. After freelancing for five years as an independent writer, Jeet created thousands of blog posts and articles. He now covers intriguing news reports and throwback stories on all things NBA. His interest in NBA started with the ascendancy of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2016-17 season. Since then, Jeet has managed to coalesce his knowledge of the game and his writing to create pieces that are reflective of the current state of the league. Now, he ensures that The SportsRush produces the highest quality of writing. In his free time, he enjoys playing football, cooking, traveling, and dancing to techno. Jeet takes pride in his critical thinking, music playlists, and his love for spaghetti.

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