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Sports

Even DeAndre Jordan Can't Believe How Badly He Missed This Free Throw

You'd think some things, like DeAndre Jordan missing a free throw, wouldn't be surprising, but the universe is a mysterious place full of wonder.

Strictly speaking, DeAndre Jordan is not what you would call "good" or "serviceable" or "in any way approximating competent" at shooting free throws. This season, he is shooting 49 percent from the charity stripe. The good news? That's a six-percentage-point increase from his career average. The bad news? You have a better chance winning a coin toss than DeAndre Jordan does hitting a free throw.

Even if you're a casual sports fan, you probably know how bad DeAndre Jordan is at shooting free throws. Outside of his play above the rim, and prematurely ending the life and times of Brandon Knight, that might be what he's most known for. Jordan is almost single-handedly responsible for reviving the "Hack-a-Shaq" philosophy, named after his brother in short-arming free throws, Shaquille O'Neal.

So, it should not surprise you that DeAndre Jordan badly missed a free throw against the Phoenix Suns Thursday night. But my friends, I am here to tell you that the world is full of wonder and mystery, and even the most predictable events can catch you sideways. DeAndre Jordan did not brick this attempt, or fire it off the rim; he missed everything entirely. And the man most intimately acquainted with the fool's errand that is DeAndre Jordan shooting free throws, is DeAndre Jordan. And DeAndre Jordan somehow managed to surprise even himself.

The Clippers beat the Suns 124-118.