Basketball Superstitions

Sports and Superstition Go Hand in Hand

All sports and superstition go hand in hand.  It seems that the more successful athletes are, the more superstitious they become, and basketball players are among the most superstitious.  Most basketball players, ranging from children’s fun leagues to the NBA, keep superstition and myth alive and well.  Most of these superstitions are harmless, and simply part of the player’s routine or belief system.  Many players simply need to follow the same routine before every game, right down to the amount of sleep they get and what they eat before the game.  Others find that they need to get much more specific in their belief and superstition to do well in any given basketball game.

Basketball and Baseball Superstitions Are Very Common

Basketball and baseball superstitions are among some of the most well known.  Many believe that the reason why baseball superstition is alive and well is because the players simply have too much free time, but then why does a basketball player have superstition and myth beliefs?  It all comes down to psychology.  Many players use superstition and myth to convince themselves mentally that they will have a good game.  Of course, there is also bad luck superstition, or things that players must avoid doing so they don’t have a bad game!

Superstition and Myth Common Among Basketball Players

There are some common superstitions among basketball players, the most common of which is wearing the same socks every game without washing them until there is a loss.  This can result in some smelly socks at the end of a long winning streak, but many believe that this superstition and myth has some real weight in helping good things happen.  Others wear special underwear, wristbands, socks, or an undershirt.  Even basketball great Michael Jordan has his beliefs and superstitions, wearing the same pair of shorts during every game.

This is not just American superstition, either!  Some basketball superstitions are seen universally.  Such superstitions include wiping shoes before stepping on the court, and the last person to make a basket before a game will have a good game, as well as the need to develop a routine at the free throw line.  There are many different superstitions, and you can find these when you visit www.factmonster.com/spot/superstitions1.html.  You can learn even more about sports and superstition, as this way of thinking applies to just about every sport that you can think of!