How did Michael Jordan’s powder toss start? Story of NBA’s most popular good luck charm revealed

NBA superstar Michael Jordan’s powder toss was one of the most iconic pre-game rituals. He was always seen tossing talcum powder in the air before the game’s start. This pre-game tradition was taken up by LeBron James, who does the same thing as a superstar ritual. However, this action was not meant to be a pre-game tradition. And, it was definitely not meant to improve grip, so why did Michael Jordan do that?Here is an interesting story behind the origin of Jordan’s good luck charm.Michael Jordan’s powder toss was not a way to improve grip, as many people think. It was just his playful way of teasing the broadcaster Johnny ‘Red’ Kerr. During a ceremony where Johnny Kerr was honored in 2009, Jordan talked to the Chicago Sun-Times about the origin of his pre-game action. He said:"I don't know how it started. I think he had a nice suit on, and I wanted to mess him up a little. It became a pregame ritual.”The NBA legend Michael Jordan continued to clap the powder in front of the Chicago Bulls' broadcasters’ table before the game. The broadcasters’ team also took the action sportingly. They started putting on respiratory masks and opening umbrellas as a comedic response to the superstar’s act. What started as a prank went on to become a pre-game ritual. Jordan did not spare Kerr even on the occasion when Johnny "Red" Kerr's statue at Chicago's United Center was introduced in a ceremony in 2009. He enacted the toss in front of Kerr during the ceremony.Johnny Kerr was a former NBA All-Star who became the Chicago Bulls’ first-ever coach. He ventured into broadcasting in the late 1970s. Jordan clapped the powder in front of Kerr for the first time while walking towards the game’s opening jump ball as an annoying gesture. Kerr, known for being an exceptionally cool head, responded sportingly and feigned coughing. Later, the Chicago Bulls broadcaster also developed means like putting on respiratory masks or talking about powder floating over his coffee to make the moment more hilarious. If anyone matches the humor of Michael Jordan, it is LeBron James. The Lakers’ star copied Jordan’s iconic powder clap and turned it into his pre-game ritual. He once interrupted an AD’s interview with his chalk toss act, creating a fun moment before the game. A recent video of superstars doing their pre-game rituals was posted by ClutchPoints on X. While Jayson Tatum did a quick energy-boosting, protective action, LeBron James was seen tossing the talcum just like Michael Jordan did. Though Lakers’ adaptation is more about his showmanship, it does take NBA fans, who know about the powder toss story, to the Jordan era, where it actually started.Also Read: Kevin Durant drops 5-word reaction to viral Michael Jordan clip picking him over Kobe Bryant and LeBron James