ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday that NBA players might soon be participating in a made-for-television H-O-R-S-E competition to help fans — and players — stay entertained during the coronavirus pandemic.
No names have surfaced yet, although you’d figure Warriors sharp-shooter Stephen Curry would be at the top of the list: of players fans would love to see take wild and creative shots as well as the players lining up to take part.
If there was ever a side gig right up Curry’s alley, this would be it.
Curry’s pregame rituals, including his “tunnel shots” at the Oracle Arena were the stuff of legend, and he started attempting all sorts of new tricks at Chase Center before a broken hand and COVID-19 got in the way.
And don’t forget that time in 2012 when Curry showed up at the house of a New Jersey teen during a Warriors road trip to try and duplicate a trick shot from the family’s balcony. A quick refresher: Jeff Lorenz, then 17, videotaped him and his friends making the shot — off a 30-foot-high deck from behind the backboard — and then dared Curry’ to duplicate the shot. When the Warriors were on an East Coast swing Curry did just that, nailing the shot on his ninth attempt in front of a gaggle of amazed teens.
Because of the current state of self isolation, if Curry or any other players participated in this new challenge it’d obviously in a controlled setting. Or more likely, settings.
According to Wojnarowski, the NBA and ESPN are finalizing the details, with each player possibility participating from their own home gym.
For those who don’t know, in a typical game of two or more players, if a competitor makes a shot, the competitor to follow has to make the identical shot or earn a letter in the word “horse.” A player is eliminated when their collection of missed shots spell “horse.”
Although this is a classic backyard and schoolyard game, the NBA doesn’t have a lot of history with H-O-R-S-E. At least officially. The NBA introduced a version of the game during the 2009 All-Star Weekend festivities, although it was called G-E-I-C-O. It lasted two years and former Warrior Kevin Durant, then of the Oklahoma City Thunder, won both times.
Paul Westphal, while playing for the Suns, won an NBA-sanctioned game of H-O-R-S-E during the 1977-78 season.
Field Level Media contributed to this report.