There are a lot of things that can affect the performance of a player on any given night. Energy, weather, focus, health — these things usually play a big role in just how well some guys play on game day.
But have you ever heard of the Rihanna effect? Whatever the reason, her attendance at a game seems to lead to some interesting results. Teams and players seem to play differently when she’s around.
It may seem ridiculous, but the legend of the “Rihanna effect” goes all the way back to 2016, when the lowly Lakers dismantled the superteam Warriors on a night when she just happened to be there.
https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/706599550031499264
It’s hard to say why this is happening, but the stats don’t lie. NBA teams’ win percentages jump from 60.6 percent to 66.7 percent when Rihanna attends. Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant play better. Dwyane Wade plays worse.
No matter your opinion, it could be as simple as her attendance causing either some sort of distraction or some sort of inspiration for teams and players. It would make sense why, too.
Rihanna is a world-class hip-hop star who likely knows a lot of these players personally. Knowing she’s watching your every move on the court might certainly have an impact on how you play the game.
