Why is LeBron James throwing chalk in the air? NBA superstar undergoes famous pregame ritual similar to Michael Jordan

The 2023/24 NBA season will kick off this month, and the NBA’s biggest superstar, LeBron James, will celebrate his 21st birthday.

James aims to take the Los Angeles Lakers one step further than last season when they were defeated by the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals.

The 38-year-old will return to the court next week against the Nuggets and will jump right back into the pregame rituals.

He would typically walk to the side of the court, cover his hands with chalk, throw some chalk into the air, and applaud.

This ritual is already famous in the NBA, but why does he do it? talkSPORT.com takes a look…

Why did James throw the chalk into the air?

James’ “throwing the chalk” has become an iconic moment in the NBA.

It’s common practice for NBA players to rub chalk on their hands before games to improve their grip.

James began his own ritual during his rookie season in Cleveland in 2003, and as his stature in the game grew, so did the chalk-throwing act, and fans grew to love it.

His pre-match moves were captured on camera by thousands of supporters at each venue.

Some even put their hands in the air at the same time before the game.

Fans speculated that James threw the chalk as a tribute to his idol, Michael Jordan, and during the Chicago Bulls’ pregame ceremony, James slapped the powder into Johnny Cole’s face.

However, James claimed he had no specific reason for starting his version of the chalk-throwing.

“I don’t remember when it first started, but I feel like the fans are starting to embrace it,” he said on the NBA’s official YouTube channel.

“When I started doing it, I started to get really determined and focused on the task that I was accomplishing.

“On the road sometimes I get booed, so I like that. At home, they go crazy.

“I don’t know what made me start doing it, but it happens sometimes.

“Great things happen sometimes.”