Adam Sandler has been a beloved comedian and worldwide movie star ever since 1995 smash hit, "Billy Madison." Nearly 30 years later, he's hardly showing signs of slowing down any time soon. One distinct thing we've learned throughout that time is the 57 year old's unwavering passion for basketball and playing some pickup hoops with literally anyone willing to do so.
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During Thursday night's college basketball game in Tuscon between Colorado and Arizona, Sandler was in attendance and found some willing parties to ball out with.
Naturally, he was wearing a perfectly ridiculous outfit — complete with comically oversized baggy shorts — that would be considered 100 percent normal, everyday attire for Sandler based on the standard he's set over the better part of the last three decades.
Only Adam Sandler can pull off wearing this playing pickup ball at McKale Center. Sandler’s sister lives in Tucson and Duke Giarraputo, the son of Happy Madison Productions co-founder Jack Giarraputo, is a Class of 2025 Arizona football recruiting target as an athlete.
📸:… pic.twitter.com/d9g7ZoH0PC
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 5, 2024
The willing participants in the pre-game hooping extravaganza were a group of Arizona's team managers, who will likely never forget this night for the rest of their lives. The banter alone must have been an outstanding listen for anyone within earshot.
Here's a great clip that ESPN put together, merging Sandler highlights with in-game highlights. While not exactly an apples to apples look at top shelf basketball and the level of energy be exuded, it's wonderful nonetheless.
Adam Sandler hooping with Arizona managers pic.twitter.com/2lQxPzR2iu
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 5, 2024
How about that casual reverse layup by Sandler? Defense was a little light there, but are you really going to try and lock down "Air Sandler" when you've been randomly selected to hoop it up with the lovable legend? Absolutely not. The theme would most certainly be "Let Sandler cook" and enjoy every bit of the unique moment.
What must not be overlooked is Sandler channeling peak Magic Johnson with this "Showtime era" no-look pass:
We did not have Adam Sandler hooping at McKale on our 2024 bingo card but we are HERE FOR IT. pic.twitter.com/7YwByYddHb
— PHNX Wildcats (@PHNX_Wildcats) January 5, 2024
Poetry in motion, some might say. What some might also say is that the comedian apparently finds any idea of making an attempt to play defense quite comical.
The most fitting aspect of all was that Bill Walton was on the call for the broadcast along with his partner in crime, Dave Pasch:
Adam Sandler straight hoopin' before the Buffs tipped off against No. 10 Arizona at McKale 🤣 #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/k9Ujqd3a4t
— Nick Rothschild (@nick_rothschild) January 5, 2024
It's a safe bet that Walton — who said, "Adam Sandler is a tremendous player" as only he can — strongly approved of Adam's attire, especially that incredibly vibrant shirt. And the fact that Sandler and Co. hooped it up for 30 to 45 minutes, as Pasch mentioned, makes the moment even cooler than it already was.
Ever since "Uncut Gems" came out in 2019, with Sandler's performance getting a ton of serious praise and Oscar buzz that led to profile pieces galore, it's been widely reported that he makes it a point to find a court and play basketball immediately upon landing in whichever city his private jet happens to be landing in.
A quick Google search will prove as much, which honestly just makes the guy that much more likable if such a thing were even possible.
