Top 10 celebrations in NBA history

Celebrating a big moment, not just in sports, is uniquely human. Early hunter-gatherers would celebrate after a successful hunt, similarly to how basketball players celebrate after hitting a three in their opponent’s face.

In honor of this time-honored tradition, let's look at the top 10 celebrations in league history.

10. Trae Young’s Shiver

The last thing Knicks fans want to see is this man having a good game in Madison Square Garden just to pull this out at the end of the game.

While Young hasn’t been around for too long in the league, his shiver strikes fear in the hearts of nine and 10 seeds everywhere.

9. J. R. Smith’s praise the Lord

Without a doubt, this is the funniest celebration on the list, and it only happened once in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats back in 2013.

It is a fan favorite, and I wish that Smith brought it out more in his career.

8. Harden’s stir the pot

The year is 2018, and James Harden just hit his seventh stepback three for 42 points. The opposing team has had two guys on him since tipoff, and he’s now stirring the pot down the court.

He will do the same thing next time the ball touches his hands and no one can stop him.

It's probably the most annoying celebration on this list.

7. D’Lo’s ice in the veins

While D’Angelo Russell might not be one of the biggest superstars in the league (aside from 2019), he did create one of the best celebrations in recent history that every middle schooler has hit for the last half-decade.

While it may be overused now, it's hard to deny how much of an impact the celebration had even outside the NBA.

6. Dame Time

This celebration is one of my personal favorites and probably the most creative on this list. Dame Time has had some of the most iconic appearances in the league's history.

From sending the Thunder into a rebuild to giving the Rockets an early vacation, when it's late in the game, and Damian Lillard taps his wrist, you know what time it is.

5. Michael Jordan’s shrug

While not intended to be as iconic as it was, almost anything MJ did would become synonymous with his Airness.

Dunk, block, mid-range shot. There wasn’t a specific moment that Jordan chose to hit with this and made you feel like an idiot for even trying to contest him. Any time Jordan chose to hit someone with this, he made them feel like an idiot.

4. Dikembe Mutumbo’s finger wag

If you want to talk about iconic, this is as good as it gets. People who don’t even know Mutumbo still have seen someone wag the finger in another player's face after a block because, that’s what you do.

The only defensive celebration on this list and the best one of all time, without debate, rest in peace to the late legend.

3. Curry’s sleeper

Curry is the greatest shooter ever, so really, anything he chose to do would be iconic. But the sleeper is just perfect for him.

Curry has always been a showman, and the sleeper is just the icing on the cake after another mind-boggling performance. Night, night.

2. LeBron’s silencer

It's not something that LeBron James pulls out in just any game.

James pulls out this If he’s in enemy territory or hits a clutch shot or dunk to ice the game and quiet the crowd.

Possibly the most vicious of everything on this list, but that’s precisely why it's here.

1: Melo’s three to the dome

It’s Iconic, it’s simple, and it gets fans going.

The Knicks didn’t have much going for them for a long time, and seeing the King of New York going off in MSG and hitting would cause an eruption of cheer.

This is my personal favorite celebration, not just to watch but to use when I’m tearing up in the Intramural Building on a Tuesday afternoon.

Chris Vadnais is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email cmv5562@psu.edu.