Using some kind of a distraction technique while the opposing team is at the free throw line has been a common NBA occurrence throughout the league’s history. You’ll often hear players scream something, or flail their arms awkwardly, but I’m quickly reminded of my own personal favorite free throw distraction attempt that comes courtesy of then-Sacramento Kings center, DeMarcus Cousins.
In an attempt to make the Golden State Warriors miss a pair of free throws, Cousins pretended to choke himself as if to say the Warriors were choking, or would choke, and hopefully force another missed free throw due to his mind games. Cousins was fined for the gesture, but we’ve still got this tremendous footage in remembrance of the moment. Bless you, rookie Cousins.
The NBA and the Sacramento Kings deemed Cousins gesture as unsportsmanlike, and that begs the question, where do you draw the line on free throw distractions? Clearly, mock chocking is too far, but where is the line, exactly?
The NBA provided us with another questionable example on Sunday night when Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson jumped into the paint on a late-game Jimmy Butler free throw. Jackson more or less pretended to communicate something important to his team in an attempt to ‘ice’ Butler at the line, and while there’s no way to know if Butler would have missed regardless of Jackson’s distraction, it all worked out for the Pistons. Butler missed, and Detroit left Minnesota with a solid road win.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Detroit for a Monday night matchup vs. the Pistons, and the media asked LeBron James about Jackson’s move at the free throw line at shootaround Monday morning. James couldn’t have been more on board with Jackson’s tactic, and for good reason. James has done the same thing.
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“I’ve done it before. I’ve won a playoff series doing that before actually. So, I’m all for it.”
James is referring to Game 6 of his 2006 first-round matchup with the Washington Wizards. With Gilbert Arenas as the line and the Wizards up 113-112, Arenas missed the first free throw, and then James approached him and said “if you miss both of those free throws, the game is over” before slapping him on the chest, according to Cleveland.com.
James was right. Arenas missed the second free throw, and then Damon Jones nailed a clutch jumper to give Cleveland the win. James’ tactic vs. Arenas was a lot more aggressive than what Jackson did to Butler on Sunday night, so you bet LeBron is on board with this kind of gamesmanship. It wasn’t a Boogie-esque choke, but James got in Arenas’ face and trash talked him into a playoff collapse. Ruthless.
