The 5 Rules Nobody Tells You Before Your First NBA Game

By ScoreBig
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Do you honestly believe you can tell how powerful LeBron James is unless you’re sitting there live with Cavs tickets in hands? Do you really think you know what a monstrous Blake Griffin dunk feels like through your TV? Not a chance, pal. You need actual NBA tickets to truly experience a game.

If you haven’t sat courtside before (or even made it to a game), there’s a good chance that you have no idea what you’re doing. Allow us to educate you on the five rules that nobody tells you before your first game.

1. If you cheer for every play, you will be exhausted.

Last season, the average number of points scored in an NBA game was 101. That means that teams are scoring roughly fifty times a game (with some combination of three-pointers and free-throws added in there). If you get excited about every single play, you’re going to be napping by the third quarter. Pick your spots. Huge tomahawk jam by Anthony Davis? Cheer away. Floater in the lane by Steph Curry? Maybe save your energy. There’s enough excitement in the game for everyone, so take a lesson from the players and pace yourself out there.

2. Being a true fan means not booing.

Basketball players make mistakes. It’s a part of the game, from youth leagues all the way to the NBA. A real fan knows this and doesn’t freak out every time it happens. Some passes are off the mark, some important shots are bricks – deal with it. A good fan doesn’t ride their team every time they screw up. Instead, they wait until the good stuff happens and then they go nuts. If you’re not supporting your team during the bad moments, don’t bother supporting them in the good ones. Nobody likes a fair weather fan.

3. There will be downtime. Lots of downtime.

NBA basketball is a fast-paced game but like any major sport, there are breaks in the action. When you’re watching at home, commercials fill the time (and you can channel surf to kill the boredom). At the game, you get Kiss Cams, dance teams, and t-shirt cannons to keep you engaged. Remember: the “Kiss Cam” is a privilege, not a right. Don’t try to plan something funny. Just do whatever comes naturally and you’ll be just fine. Also, keep your phone charged before the game. You’ll want to have it as a digital escape hatch when the dancers come out and do their Taylor Swift “Shake It Off” dance for the 5th time.

4. Leaving before the game is over is a sin.

If your team is winning or losing by a massive margin, you’re going to be tempted to leave early to beat the crowds at the end of the game. Don’t do it. Comebacks happen. Amazing plays go down even in garbage time. You paid for the seat, so take advantage of every minute of the action.

5. The closer you get, the better the show.

The closer you are to the court, the better your view and the more immersed you’ll feel in the game. That box your boss offered you tickets to? It may have better food and free drinks, but you could be stuck behind a slab of plexiglass watching the game on a monitor. Splurge a little and buy the best seats you can afford. You won’t regret it. As long as you’re already spending some cash, you’re better off searching ScoreBig where you can save up to 60% on great seats.

By Jason Kessler

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