From Warriors Fan to Pop-A-Shot Contender: Jarrod Shappell's Journey to the 2025 National Championship
San Francisco resident and Warriors season ticket holder, Jarrod Shappell, is gearing up to compete in the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship, offering him a chance to relive his basketball glory days in a new format. Despite being a 41-year-old dad with physical limitations, Shappell is excited to participate in a game he has always loved.
Having qualified for the tournament during an event in San Francisco earlier this year, Shappell, who played high school basketball in Arizona, is no stranger to the sport. As a long-time Warriors season ticket holder, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to practice with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski at Splash at Thrive City.
Podziemski, impressed by Shappell's skills, found playing Pop-A-Shot against him to be more challenging than taking contested shots in an NBA game. Shappell is one of eight national contestants, including defending champion Josh Caputo, Bay Area native Jon Taburaza, and former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, vying for the championship title.
Don't miss the action as Shappell competes for the Pop-A-Shot National Championship on ESPN2 on Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m. PT. Get ready to witness the excitement and see who will emerge victorious in this thrilling competition.