The “money shot.” The halfcourt heave.
In the world of sports, nothing so staggeringly unlikely is attempted so often.
It’s easily the worst, lowest percentage shot in basketball, yet NBA players try for buzzer-beating desperation shots from beyond half-court hundreds of times each season.
But what about your average Joe?
The odds of draining a halfcourt shot is 100-1, according Bob Hamman, founder of SCA Promotions, the world’s largest insurance provider for sports and casino promo contests.
A Warriors fan achieved the miracle shot during the third quarter of Game 2 in the NBA Finals Sunday night, winning a brand new BMW i3 in the process.
The fan, “Jason from San Jose,” even received a special shout-out from the team via the Warriors’ official twitter account:
“Dear Jason Valdes, Your friends will never question your long range game again. Enjoy your BMW i3!”
Dear Jason Valdes, Your friends will never question your long range game again. Enjoy your BMW i3! #DubNation https://t.co/TA2prgwULN
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) June 8, 2015
Inside Oakland’s Oracle Arena the crowd and players alike erupted, while viewers reacted on social media.
Dude just hit a half court shot and won a BMW!!!! #UltimateShot #BMW
— Vern Glenn (@vernglenn) June 8, 2015
Jason from San Jose, new BMW owner, seriously lit up Oracle so much, energy may translate to game. Haha!
— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) June 8, 2015
Cavaliers: 3-for-10 (30%) from deep Warriors: 4-for-22 (18.2%) from deep Random fan: 1-for-2 (50%) on halfcourt shots for free cars
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 8, 2015
A guy just won a BMW here with a halfcourt shot. Either team can use him tonight.
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 8, 2015
Jason from San Jose just drilled a halfcourt shot to win a BMW. … Chuck from San Francisco, not so much.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) June 8, 2015
Shoutout to the legend that just drained a halfcourt shot to win a new BMW tho!
— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) June 8, 2015