Open Thread: The NBA’s newest statistic- The Wedgie

A look at how the phenomenon stacked up last season

You may be asking yourself, what exactly is a “wedgie”?

Photo by Martin Mills/Getty Images

No, not that wedgie.

A wedgie is the basketball phenomenon that takes place when the ball simultaneously stops moving and becomes lodged, or wedges, itself at the rim.

A new post on Instagram from The Athletic’s No Dunks podcast (@nodunksinc) breaks down this season’s wedgies.

“It’s time for NBA wedgie stats:

• There was a record 63 in 2023-2024 season
• One of them was on a free throw
• One was on a shot that went over the rim
• One fell out of the bottom
• Two were really supported by the backboard padding
• Two initially bounced up off the rim before nestling in gently as a wedgie
• One was in the NBA Finals, thanks Luka!
• Twenty-five were on three-pointers
• Fifty broadcasters called it a “wedgie”
• One was called a “doink”
• Terry Rozier produced the most with three

They are all snowflakes.”

When a wedgie occurs, the ball is taken down (usually by a center who can hop and dislodge it (or if you are Boban Marjanovic, you can simply reach up and tap it loose).

The ball is then taken to center court and the two team jump, just like at the top of the game, or when there is a tied up jump ball closer to the center.

It seems a small extension on the part of the rim that connects would solve the problem. Maybe I should patent the “no wedgie rim” now and wait for those big checks to start rolling in.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.