Mayor Boris shows off amazing basketball skills (or just incredible luck) with over-the-shoulder fluke shot outside City Hall

  • Mayor was attending photocall to promote basketball competition in May
  • 'Let's be clear, I was saving that up. I could have done it at any time,' he says

By Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED: 11:32 EST, 8 April 2013 | UPDATED: 06:35 EST, 9 April 2013


Boris Johnson astonished onlookers today by making a spectacular over the shoulder throw straight into a basketball net set up outside of City Hall.

Seemingly without effort, the Mayor of London nonchalantly tossed the ball with both hands over his head, whereupon it bounced off the backboard and straight through the hoop.

'Let's be clear,' he said. 'I was saving that up. I could have done it any time.'

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Shooting from the hip: Boris Johnson watches on as his blind shot sails towards the basketball hoop

Shooting from the hip: Boris Johnson watches on as his blind shot sails towards the basketball hoop

Silky skills: Boris Johnson scores an unlikely over-the-shoulder basketball shot in a net set up outside of City Hall at a photocall for the upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four competition next month

Silky skills: Boris Johnson scores an unlikely over-the-shoulder basketball shot in a net set up outside of City Hall at a photocall for the upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four competition next month

Fortuitously for the top Tory, who has made no secret of his ambition to lead his party, he pulled off the incredible shot in front of reams of photographers and a television news camera crew.

Political columnist and author Jonathan Freedland tweeted: 'More proof that Boris Johnson has that invaluable political commodity: luck.'

 

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Mr Johnson made the trick shot during a photocall to promote the Euroleague Finals in London next month, where Europe's top four basketball teams will compete to become the continent's champions.

Also announced today, as part of the activities surrounding the competition, there will be a free fan festival in London's Trafalgar Square, including a basketball court in the centre of the space.

The family-friendly attraction is expected to draw crowds of an estimated 50,000 basketball and non-basketball fans alike with a variety of activities.

'Let's be clear... I could have done it at any time': Mr Johnson celebrates after his breathtaking shot

'Let's be clear... I could have done it at any time': Mr Johnson celebrates after his breathtaking shot

Boris Johnson lay-up shot
Boris Johnson lay-up shot

White mayors can't jump: Unfortunately, Mr Johnson's attempts at a lay-up shot were less breathtaking

Hustle: Mr Johnson challenges England player Kingsley Okoroh for the ball outside City Hall today

Hustle: Mr Johnson challenges England player Kingsley Okoroh for the ball outside City Hall today

Mr Johnson said: 'London is proud to be hosting the prestigious Euroleague finals, another testimony to this city's status as a top flight venue for elite fixtures.

'I am also pleased to welcome the free Fan Zone to Trafalgar Square giving everyone the chance to have a go at this great sport.

'Last year's Olympic and Paralympics Games has already given basketball a bounce in popularity from professional to grassroots level.

'This summer, the London Lions are due to move into the magnificent Copper Box venue on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and we are also seeing huge interest through the London School of Basketball, part of my programme to get more people involved in sport.'

Festivities: The Euroleague fanzone planned to take place during the finals which will feature a full-size basketball court in the middle of Trafalgar Square

Festivities: The Euroleague fanzone planned to take place during the finals which will feature a full-size basketball court in the middle of Trafalgar Square

Mr Johnson's trick shot comes after he just last week accepted a challenge from Pippa Middleton to a table tennis showdown to prove who is from the most competitive family.

The socialite and author threw down the gauntlet to the London Mayor, boasting of her prowess as an under-13 competitor in national competitions.

The contest will pit the Middletons and Johnsons, both with claims to being close to the Royals, against each other in a game of what Boris likes to call 'whiff-whaff'.

Following the challenge, Mr Johnson took to Twitter to declare:  'I’m game if she is. Happy for Pippa to join me on a visit and see the benefits of our £22m Sports Legacy Fund in action.'

Now watch a video of Mr Johnson's incredible trick shot

 

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The way people support this guy for being a character is just foul. The same people would criticise America relentlessly for electing the buffoon that was George Bush, then when an equally idiotic politician who uses feigned stupidity to win votes pops up in London you all fall for it? I'll never understand it.

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Time we had a politician who was lucky.

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I can't see Boris as a tory leader he doesn't appear to be nasty enough.

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how can you not like boris? the mans a legend!! watch him on room 101. funniest 25 minutes you will ever see.

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Expect he imagined himself tossing some peasants head onto a spike. (i.e. Peasant: anybody earning less than £250.000 p.a. - a sum Boris described as chickenfeed)

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Be a new way to ballot for the next Tory leader then. The biggest basket wins !! (They have so many to choose from)

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Just goes to show Boris can pull one out when he needs to. "I'd rather have a General that was lucky than good" is a quote from somewhere that comes to mind.

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Nice to see the fan rally in Trafalgar Square. They do it every year for the NFL it's a great part of the weekend.

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Can't imagine Cameron doing that. - Dino Fancellu, Epsom, United Kingdom, 8/4/2013 23:20 Do you remember his omlet or panacake flip???

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Or 'Boris continues leadership bid with photo opportunity'.

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