- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 447,624
- Reaction score
- 44
The popular podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out" dropped an episode Thursday called "Fowl Shots: We Investigated an NBA Conspiracy," starting with the origins of the popular "Brickin' for Chicken" promotion in NBA arenas that gives away free Chick-Fil-A (or other chicken brands) if an opponent misses two free throws.
The podcast, hosted by Torre and featuring reporter Amin Elhassan, eventually moved the conversation to Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Elhassan claiming, "When it comes to chicken-eligible free throws, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Robin Hood of chicken giveaways."
Elhassan charted free-throw opportunities in the fourth quarters of games (typically when the promotion kicks in) when chicken was on the line — namely the second free throw after Antetokounmpo had missed the first. He found that, in 10 instances over the past two years, Antetokounmpo missed eight times.
That's a small sample, as Torre points out. But Elhassan also said his data shows that Antetokounmpo makes his free throws at a percentage near his career average in every other instance, including in the fourth quarter and in instances where food items aside from chicken are at stake, like ice cream or pizza.
Elhassan also cites Antetokounmpo's pledged love for chicken, most notably in a famous drive-through live stream in 2021, when he brought his trophies from winning the NBA championship the day before and requested 50 chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A, matching the number of points he scored in the clinching sixth game. He also humorously pulled out a phone on the bench and tried scanning the QR code on the scoreboard for free chicken at one game.
"This guy has a demonstrated connection with a love for fast-food chicken," Elhassan said. "He loves chicken and he wants to share that love with everyone."
The plot thickened when Elhassan traveled to Phoenix for Milwaukee's game against the Suns this year, looking for comment, and said his questions weren't met warmly, and he wasn't able to chat directly with Giannis. But Torre reached out to another source, Antetokounmpo's brother and former teammate Thanasis, to try and get to the bottom of this.
More: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals while in China that he loves chicken feet, has craved it for years
"He's just like me. He's not missing the second one," Thanasis said. "He doesn't think like that. He's so zeroed in, so laser-focused that he's thinking, 'I'm going to make two free throws. I'm going to do the best of my ability to make them.'"
But isn't it weird that when it's something other than chicken on the line, he makes his freebies?
"He doesn't want to give people bad product," Thanasis joked. "He only wants to give them want they want the most. They want chicken; that's what they want."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Has Giannis missed free throws on purpose to give fans free chicken?
Continue reading...
The podcast, hosted by Torre and featuring reporter Amin Elhassan, eventually moved the conversation to Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Elhassan claiming, "When it comes to chicken-eligible free throws, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Robin Hood of chicken giveaways."
Elhassan charted free-throw opportunities in the fourth quarters of games (typically when the promotion kicks in) when chicken was on the line — namely the second free throw after Antetokounmpo had missed the first. He found that, in 10 instances over the past two years, Antetokounmpo missed eight times.
That's a small sample, as Torre points out. But Elhassan also said his data shows that Antetokounmpo makes his free throws at a percentage near his career average in every other instance, including in the fourth quarter and in instances where food items aside from chicken are at stake, like ice cream or pizza.
Elhassan also cites Antetokounmpo's pledged love for chicken, most notably in a famous drive-through live stream in 2021, when he brought his trophies from winning the NBA championship the day before and requested 50 chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A, matching the number of points he scored in the clinching sixth game. He also humorously pulled out a phone on the bench and tried scanning the QR code on the scoreboard for free chicken at one game.
"This guy has a demonstrated connection with a love for fast-food chicken," Elhassan said. "He loves chicken and he wants to share that love with everyone."
The plot thickened when Elhassan traveled to Phoenix for Milwaukee's game against the Suns this year, looking for comment, and said his questions weren't met warmly, and he wasn't able to chat directly with Giannis. But Torre reached out to another source, Antetokounmpo's brother and former teammate Thanasis, to try and get to the bottom of this.
More: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals while in China that he loves chicken feet, has craved it for years
You must be registered for see images
"He's just like me. He's not missing the second one," Thanasis said. "He doesn't think like that. He's so zeroed in, so laser-focused that he's thinking, 'I'm going to make two free throws. I'm going to do the best of my ability to make them.'"
But isn't it weird that when it's something other than chicken on the line, he makes his freebies?
"He doesn't want to give people bad product," Thanasis joked. "He only wants to give them want they want the most. They want chicken; that's what they want."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Has Giannis missed free throws on purpose to give fans free chicken?
Continue reading...
