Two Rival NBA Stars Put Competing Hexes on the Ball Before a Free Throw and It Was Hilarious

Remember last week when a Rwandan soccer league banned witchcraft after a player was accused of (literally) cursing a goalpost so that his team could score — which they later did?

A couple of NBA players may have gotten the same idea.

On Wednesday night, in the fourth quarter of a close game, an Atlanta Hawks player missed a free throw that would have extended his team’s lead. When the ball bounced to the Orlando Magic’s Serge Ibaka, he said something to the ball — perhaps trying to put a hex on it, hoping the player would miss again.

Atlanta’s Dwight Howard immediately grabbed the ball from Ibaka and issued a counter-hex before handing it back to the ref. It looked like he was telling the ball, “Don’t listen to that guy.”

Howard’s teammate made the next free throw — so much for Ibaka’s curse — and the team ultimately won the game.

It was entertaining as hell to watch.

My favorite part is Ibaka’s reaction after Howard’s counter-hex, as if he’s pleading to the ref about how unfair that is…

… and Howard laughing about the whole thing.

The NBA, I assume, has no plans to institute an anti-witchcraft rule.

(Thanks to Bryan for the link)