There are a lot of things that go in the background before an NBA game starts. Picking the basketball for any given game is part of that process.
For Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James and Stephen Curry represented their respective teams in the process. The NBA’s official Instagram page posted a reel of James and Curry having an intense showdown over the selection of the game ball.
LeBron James looked extremely picky when selecting the perfect basketball for the game.
However, James’ effort didn’t turn out to be fruitful as the Lakers ended up losing Game 5 and got their lead trimmed to 3-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals.
In the loss, LeBron recorded 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. While Curry had 27 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists.
How Do NBA Players Pick The Ball For Games?
One would think picking the game ball isn’t a huge part of the game. But that’s far from the truth.
Evidently, the NBA allows its players to pick their preferred basketball before tip-off. If you have always wondered how the process works, then check out the clip below:
“In the NBA, it’s actually chosen by the players. It begins with the home team’s equipment managers choosing three basketballs for the referees. The crew chief then inspects them all pregame for wear and tear and pressure. They then bring the three basketballs to half court during warmups. Team-designated players from both sides participate in selecting the game ball, and the players can be choosy in preference. Some like it with a better grip, some smoother, for example. So, what happens if both teams can’t agree on a ball? The crew chief selects the third that neither team chose for the game that night. Choosing the game ball might be one of the most overlooked components of the game, but it’s perhaps one of the most important. Especially to the players and especially as we head into the postseason.”
Now, that’s a detailed process to pick something as trivial as the game ball. We hope after watching this video, fans will understand why LeBron James put in so much effort into choosing the perfect game ball against the Warriors.
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