Michael Phelps partakes in the Curtain of Distraction for Arizona State basketball
Jan 28, 2016, 8:05 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2016, 11:30 am
It’s tough to beat the Curtain of Distraction when it comes to distracting opposing players while they shoot free throws, especially when you add in the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Michael Phelps joined in on the fun in Tempe, distracting Oregon State while they shot free throws.
This. Is. EVERYTHING.#Pac12Hoops #Pac12AfterDarkhttps://t.co/fiCmcZBoGD
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 29, 2016
Let's go @942Crew !! pic.twitter.com/QAiwJSEN3l
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) January 29, 2016
So this guy just popped out from behind ASU's Curtain Of Distraction…… pic.twitter.com/mt1UVKzsvL
— Holmey in Newport B. (@USCHolmey) January 29, 2016
The #PhelpsOfDistraction is a success. @SunDevilHoops https://t.co/IGhjJPmWUz
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 29, 2016
Phelps certainly went all-in on his cameo with the Curtain of Distraction. Wearing only an ASU swim cap, speedo and some gold medals during the second free throw, Phelps pumped up the crowd and seemed genuinely excited by the result.
“That’s the first time that I’ve seen the Curtain of Distraction this year,” head coach Bobby Hurley said. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see that.
“The cool part of it is how much fun he had doing it. It looked like he enjoyed it and our crowd fed off it, which was nice.”
Oregon State’s Stephen Thompson Jr. missed both free throws.
Following his retirement after the 2016 Olympics, Phelps will be joining the Arizona State swim staff in the 2016-17 season as a volunteer assistant coach.
Arizona State defeated Oregon State 86-68.