College, NBA / Apr 27, 2011 / 12:30 pm

Making Moves: 6 Best Celebration Gestures In Basketball

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The Q-Rich and D-Miles Head-Bop

I’m pretty sure nobody knows what it means, but when they were young, former Clippers teammates Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles patented the head-bop.

After almost every made shot, Richardson and Miles would tap their foreheads at least a couple times, forming metaphorical antennas/horns.

Granted, it’d be more insightful to know what they actually stand for; maybe it’s not PG enough for David Stern‘s approval.

The JET Plane

It’s pretty convenient that Jason Terry‘s middle name is Eugene. His initials, if you couldn’t figure it out, spell JET, Terry’s nickname. And whenever he hits an important bucket, Terry will put the flaps down and get ready for takeoff, extending his arms and, well, acting like a jet.

The only downside to the JET is that Terry can’t zip around like a school-child when another team is pushing the ball back on offense. Therefore, if you’re an opposing coach, it is always smart to hold off on calling the quick timeout as to avoid the Terry flyby.

There’s even a song about it.

A Hidden Gem: The Realio Dance

This may or may not ever become a nationwide fad, but at the University of Arizona, the learning institution of your’s truly, fan-favorite Kyryl Natyazhko debuted the Realio Dance during his team’s third round NCAA Tournament game against Texas.

The Realio is when one looks straight up, bends backward and flails the arms violently. Screaming is optional but works well in an important moment so long as you’re on the bench.

Especially cool when slowed down and played to a remix of Bloodhound Gang‘s “The Bad Touch,” the Realio is named after K-Real, Natyazhko’s nickname.

Did we forget any? What’s your favorite celebration in basketball?

Follow Kevin on Twitter at @offensivelyfoul.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.

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  • Michorizo

    Shaq’s Laker days…I don’t know what you called it but Shaq would dunk and run back on D running low low low low low….

  • APE

    What about the one where after Shaq makes a dunk, he’ll take giant strides like he’s king-kong or something..

    Also JaVale McGee’s salute.

  • http://thesphericalstudies.blogspot.com Professor J

    uhhh dime Natyazhko was movin it like bernie.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRBLmogRL4c

  • north

    Larry Johnson has his own hit list:
    The shadow boxer
    The scream (arms straight down at his side head back screaming)
    The LJ arms

    Man I miss LJ.

  • black swamba

    Q-rich and Darius Miles head pound

  • BRUCE

    Where is Sam Cassell?

  • LD

    from football, merton hanks’ chicken dance was an all time classic

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THHxEIZz50o

  • Harel

    Sam Cassell’s ‘Big Balls’ = best NBA celebration
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2TpiKxQv14

    I guess he was a fan of Major League…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epAkymGtKKE

  • ERIC

    I hate ‘Zo, but his bicep flex after an And-One Dunk was pretty sick.

  • Hucklebuck

    Mark Jackson had the original shimmy.

  • TL

    Nick Van Exel with his “pushing down the roof” gesture back then was hilarious.

  • Kobeeeee

    Really? The big ball dance is not mentioned?
    That’s the best of them all. Even not originated from Kobe he does one of the best impressions…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfOUwKyJwN4

  • UncheckedAggression

    The LJ was my favorite. Moose horns second.

  • http://www.dimemag.com panchitoooo

    i love the big balls celebration recently used by eddie house or old school cassell. im starting to like the ron artest kiss both biceps celebration too. or the classic two man, point upwards then side bump in the air is fun but hard to do in a street ball game since theres no time outs. the shawn kemp triple pointer fingers in your face is one ive been holding on to for a while. or the magic johnson shoot the bench with your imaginary hand guns is something i used to do as a kid.

  • http://www.dimemag.com panchitoooo

    or what about the you cant see me from Tim Thomas where you move your open hand left and right across your face…

  • top_gun

    What about VC’s revving up the motorcycle during his Nets days. That was pretty original.

    By the way, KD also does the salute that McGee has been overusing.

  • top_gun

    Oh yeah I even invented my own celebration. Most people will want to physically hurt me after this but after a nice bucket, I rotate around 360 degrees showing two middle fingers.

  • cesar

    where’s the big balls dance????

    and u people are forgetting the ‘i cant feel my face’

  • QQ

    I really didn’t read the article (so i dunno if its only offense or something) but the only thing that comes to mind when hearing basketball gestures is Dikembe’s finger wag.

  • sweetv0mit

    No love for Dikembe?

  • Ian

    i am with sweetvomit on this one wheres dikembe.
    i also liked the reggie skipping like a little girl after he hadokened jordan and drained the game winning three in the conference finals. (i think reggie only did that shit once but still).

    my fav of course was the very subtle fist pump the admiral did everytime he had a and one dude was ripped.

  • Big Island

    I wanted to be LJ so bad when I was in high school. Maybe because I was a scrawny white guy, but still.

    Sam Cassell big balls was great. Birdman when he had the perm was the greatest. Dikembe for sure. Shaq had a bunch of good stuff, but no real go to move.

    The 3 goggles is the dumbest thing next to the can’t feel my face/you can’t see me.

  • dbo

    jordan’s/kobe’s guns in holster.

  • Big Island

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efuxi6CfJUQ about 1:45 in is the perm pat down.

  • Young Gunner

    And all of them are garbage

  • top_gun

    Tiger Wood’s Dragon punch

  • jdizzle

    How can u mention Toine but not Mark Jackson? And what about Baron Davis wit the jersey pop? After that EVERYBODY was doin it. And who could forget the now banned Throat Slash

  • http://deleted dagwaller

    Birdman’s bird hand motion

    Q-Rich and D-Miles, all time fave

    Jordan’s “The Shrug”

    Reggie Miller’s jump around in circles

    NOT INCLUDED: Kobe’s rat face, Dirk’s awful fist raise, TD’s “no shit I hit that shot” non-expression, KG’s chest beat, LeBron’s robot glare

  • yoda

    i loved when shaq would dunk then run back on D while staring at his hand/palm like he sees it for the first time

  • MochabearDubsNiners

    Ben Gordons one handed “bullseye” after every 3 in the 09 playoffs against the celtics.

    Shaqs left handed alley-oop slam with the lakers with the dumbfounded stare looking at his left hand as he runs down the court

  • levon

    @top_gun the middle finger 360 rotation is hilarious …i spit out my coffee reading that

  • http://www.conradburry.com Conrad

    Dikembe, “you can’t see me” hand-in-front-of-face, and birdman, please.

    @top_gun: lmao…im gonna try that one!

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Personally, I liked Nick Van Exel’s “Get Off My D***” gesture more than Cassell’s “Big Sack” dance.

  • Shah

    Dikembe’s finger wag should be number 1, no question.

    LJ’s L

    Vince Carter’s half shimmy after slamming all over someone.

    Tim Duncan’s stone face

    The holding of the hand in shooting motion after hitting a big three by various players.

    Van Exel’s ‘keep the roof down’

    Jordan’s TONGUE, though that was not always in celebration and usually as he was driving.

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