Boban Marjanovic explains how he intentionally missed a free throw so fans can get free Chick-fill-A: 'I would be embarrassed if I threw it off the backboard'

Boban Marjanovic is a beloved figure wherever he goes, and it's not hard to see why. The 7'4" Serbian has an infectious charm that instantly draws people in. On April 15, 2024, Bobi proved how kind-hearted he really is by treating the soldout crowd at Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Clippers' home floor last season. The catch? All he had to do was miss a free throw to win the fans some free food. While it might sound simple, Marjanovic gave it a moment of thought before delivering the intentional miss, much to the crowd's delight.

"Should I aim for the front rim and go for the rebound and score? Or maybe shoot off the back rim and hope it doesn't go in?" Marjanovic shared his thought process on the Jao Mile podcast. "Or should I throw the ball off the backboard? No way I was doing that. I would be embarrassed if I threw it off the backboard. I've bricked one but can't do another one."

"I would never airball it. I had never airballed in my life, so I won't do it now. I thought, 'Okay, I'll aim left and try it.' As I shot, I stepped back to adjust the shot. I didn't shoot it low; I was aiming for the rim. It went to the rim, and before hitting the rim, I pointed (upwards), signaling, 'That's mine,'" added the nine-year NBA veteran.

And that's how you become the man of the people.

Something to cheer for in a meaningless game

Boban's gesture came at a meaningless game on the 2023-24 season finale. The Houston Rockets, Marjanovic's team, was already eliminated for a playoff spot, while the fourth-seed Clippers were getting ready for the postseason. It was also just his 14th game of the year, and his last action was 10 days ago.

The current Fenerbahce Beko center didn't think much of what was happening until the crowd stood up after his first missed freebie. Everything dawned on Bobi: The Clippers give free food, drinks, and smoothies to fans if the opponent missed two free throws in a row, so he might as well do them a solid.

"I thought, 'Why are they standing?' Then it hit meーoh right, the chicken," Boban remembered.

As a result, Boban's actions put Chick-fil-A on the worldwide map. It was free marketing for the fast food giant, and he was about to be rewarded. They gave him a free one-year supply of Chick-fil-A and a giant statue of their mascot., showing that what goes around really does come around.

Fan Favorite

Marjanovic was a per-minute monster during his tenure in the Association. He averaged almost 23 points and 15 rebounds per 36 on a 58 percent clip from the floor. However, his career-high in minutes was only 11.7, which happened in 2018-19, when he split time with the Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. That said, no matter how limited his work was on the floor, fans gravitated to him because of his sense of humor and outgoing personality.

"Everyone loves him. The crowd at Staples Center would rise to its feet anytime he checked into the game. Children, especially, loved him. Clippers fans still bring him up to this day. He's a fan favorite for life," The Athletic's Jovan Buha wrote.

His presence really wasn't just about size; it was the energy that made Boban unforgettable.