The NBA is the biggest basketball stage. It is where stars shine, championships are won, and dreams come true. Several players take the opportunity to show off in front of the fans whenever they can. They show their personalities through celebrations after a big play.
These celebrations raise the intensity of games and give fans something to cheer for. Some celebrations have been so iconic they have taken on a life of their own. These celebrations became legendary because NBA stars started them.
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Here are 10 players who are known for their iconic celebrations.
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#1 Michael Jordan – The Shrug
In Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers, Michael Jordan did “The Shrug.” He did it after hitting his sixth 3-pointer of the contest, when Jordan turned to broadcaster Magic Johnson and did the move.
According to MJ, he did it because he had no idea how he made six shots from downtown that night. He was never known for his outside shooting, and making six shots from long distance in the Finals was a significant feat. He finished with 39 points, leading the Bulls to a 1-0 series lead.
Jeremy Lin did it in the 2016 playoffs in front of MJ.
#2 LeBron James – The Silencer
LeBron James did his “Silencer” celebration on select occasions, including his time with the Miami Heat. The move involves James lowering his body and pushing his hands downward after a big play.
On February 12, 2014, he did it against the Golden State Warriors after knocking down a game-winning 3-pointer over Andre Iguodala.
James rarely celebrates, but when he does, it brings the arena to life.
#3 Steph Curry – Night Night
Steph Curry first did the “Night Night” celebration in 2022 during the NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. It was Game 3 of their first-round series. In an interview with Boardroom’s Nick DePaula, Curry explained how it happened.
“The first time I did it was Game 3 in Denver. It happened quick, and it was one of those situations where you were back in the playoff vibe,” Curry said. “We had missed it for two years. I was just feeling amped being back on that stage.”
The Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals that postseason, and Curry won Finals MVP. The four-time champion continued to use the celebration in subsequent seasons.
#4 Carmelo Anthony – Three to the Dome
Carmelo Anthony‘s “Three to the Dome” celebration was taken from his former New York Knicks teammate, Rasheed Wallace. They were teammates during the 2012-13 NBA season. Wallace would tap three fingers against the side of his head after making a 3-pointer.
Anthony was inspired by it and adopted the celebration after making 3-pointers. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Serbian star Bogdan Bogdanovic did the celebration in front of Anthony after scoring a 3-pointer against Team USA. After Serbia’s loss in the Olympic semifinals, the European star later said he did the celebration out of respect.
#5 Dikembe Mutombo – Finger Wag
Dikembe Mutombo started the Finger Wag during his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets in 1992. He used the celebration after blocking shots, waving his index finger from side to side.
It eventually evolved into a celebration toward the crowd after the league viewed it as a taunt. Mutombo would direct the celebration toward the crowd instead of the opposing players.
Notable NBA stars like Michael Jordan, Dwight Howard, and Serge Ibaka have also performed Mutombo’s Finger Wag.
#6 Damian Lillard – Dame Time
When Damian Lillard‘s team is down and he has the ball, do you know what time it is? It’s Dame Time.
The Portland Trail Blazers star signals to fans, letting them know what time it is during clutch situations. He does that by tapping his wrist, signaling that it’s time for him to deliver. One of his memorable playoff moments came in the 2014 NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets. Lillard made a tough 3-pointer, eliminating the Rockets from the postseason.
He produced another memorable playoff moment in 2019 against the OKC Thunder. He shot a logo 3-pointer over Paul George to advance to the conference semifinals.
#7 Reggie Miller – Choke Celebration
During his playing days, former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller had an intense rivalry with the New York Knicks and filmmaker Spike Lee. They met in the postseason in 1994, where Miller’s famous “Choke Celebration” originated.
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Miller had an intense trash-talk battle with Lee. After scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter, the former NBA star taunted the Knicks superfan with the choke gesture.
In the 2025 playoffs, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton did the same celebration after the Pacers completed a comeback in Game 1 of the East Finals against the Knicks. Haliburton shot a long two-pointer over Mitchell Robinson to force overtime at Madison Square Garden.
#8 Larry Johnson – The Big L
Former NBA star Larry Johnson wasn’t always the biggest forward, but he played bigger than his 6-foot-7 height. In clutch moments, the former Charlotte Hornets star would pull out “The Big L” celebration, forming a giant L with both arms.
Johnson’s former New York Knicks teammate Rick Brunson introduced the celebration, which Johnson later adopted. Brunson took inspiration from famous Harlem rapper Big L.
Johnson started doing the celebration whenever he made a 3-pointer. He famously performed it after completing a four-point play against the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals.
#9 Sam Cassell – Big Balls Dance
Sam Cassell had an accomplished NBA career. He won three championships and appeared in one All-Star Game in his 15-year career. He also became widely known for his signature dance after clutch shots.
Cassell said the film Major League II inspired it, where a player did the celebration. He popularized the move in the early 2000s, particularly during the 2004 NBA playoffs with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, former NBA Commissioner David Stern reportedly warned Cassell about a fine, and the league later penalized other players for performing the gesture.
That hasn’t stopped others from mimicking Cassell. Notable NBA stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Fred VanVleet have done the celebration.
#10 Jamal Murray – Blue Arrow
Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray is one of the most reliable players during clutch situations. Whenever he hits a big 3-pointer, he celebrates it with the crowd. He mimics an archer by pretending to draw back an arrow and shoot it with a bow.
The celebration began during his college days at Kentucky, when his teammates performed the gesture after making 3-pointers. Murray eventually adopted it himself, earning the nickname “Blue Arrow.”
When the Nuggets received their NBA championship rings in 2023, Murray got the crowd going by doing the celebration.
Edited by Shardul Sant
