That stuff from NBA Jam doesn’t work in real life
“HE’S ON FIRE!” “IT MUST BE THE SHOES!” “BOOMSHAKALAKA!”
Anybody that has played NBA Jam knows these classic quotes by heart. The game is famous among not just basketball fans, but video game fans thanks to the absolutely absurd gameplay. Double front flip dunks and players catching on literal fire was normal, with incredible secrets like big head mode, and being able to play as the Clintons also available.
Really, the only fanbase that couldn’t have fun in this game were Bulls fans. And that was because there was literally code written in to make sure they would never hit a last second shot. NBA Jam had absolutely everything except realism. The game had no such thing as fouls and once players were on fire they became an unstoppable force.
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Everybody talks about the hot hand being a crucial part of the NBA, but what if players with the hot hand caught on actual fire? Would this actually be beneficial to them. Well of course not. They’re on fire and who in the world would want to be on fire? Well, thanks to the creators over at Rooster Teeth and their web series “Immersion”, we were able to find out just how much a flaming basketball helps with your jumpshot.
(Warning: NSFW Language)
Obvious precautions were taken to keep the players safe in this exhibition which is good. But besides safety, the majority of the video is two guys testing the benefits of a flaming basketball. Lessons learned included fire being very flammable and when a basketball is on fire it becomes very hot. Which honestly, is probably the same feeling players get when they speak of the hot hand theory.
To learn the results you’ll just have to watch the video yourself, but I think I can speak for everybody when I say that this was truly eye opening into how badly we need a side league that plays exclusively with flaming basketballs. It can be like Slam League only much more flammable, and somehow 20 times more dangerous.