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“Fred VanVleet really did Sam Cassell’s ‘big balls’ dance after hitting a 3”: NBA Twitter erupts as the Raptors guard breaks out the controversial celebration against the Sixers

Advait Jajodia
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“Fred VanVleet, that gesture is absolutely obscene!”: NBA fines the Raptors guard $15,000 for his inappropriate “Big Balls” dance against the Sixers

After knocking down a clutch three-pointer against the 76ers, Fred VanVleet breaks out the controversial “big balls” celebration.

The Toronto Raptors led by Fred VanVleet were hosted by a short-handed Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Despite playing without their MVP Joel Embiid, the Sixers put on an incredible fight. An action-packed contest, witnessing 12 lead changes and 11 ties, ended with the Raptors grabbing a huge 115-109 win.

It was a huge game for Tyrese Maxey who put up a game-high 33 points, along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. However, his season-best performance was overshadowed by VanVleet, finishing the battle with 32 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds with 6 3-pointers knocked down on an efficient 50/54.5/100 shooting split.

Even though Fred scored only 6 points in the 4th quarter, he knocked down one of the game’s most important shots at the dying seconds of the contest. With 27.6 seconds on the clock, Toronto leading by 110-109, FVV knocked a corner three-pointer, giving his team a 4-point advantage and making it a 2-possession game with only 23.9 seconds remaining.

However, what the 6-foot-1 guard did after the drilling shot, attracted a lot of eyes. VanVleet ran towards his bench breaking out the controversial “big balls” dance – a celebration Philly’s assistant coach, Sam Cassell popularized back in his playing days.

Also Read: When Blake Griffin spoke about his infamous departure from LAC

NBA Twitter reacts to Fred VanVleet breaking out the “big balls” dance

NBA Twitter erupted with their reactions as soon as Fred VanVleet broke out the infamous celebration.

Also Read: JJ Redick lauds his former Pelicans teammate for his unselfish virtues and consistent shooting

The infamous celebration was banned by the league back in 2010 for having obscene gestures, with fines as hefty as $25,000. Back in 2016, Julius Randle was awarded a $15,000 fine for doing this celebration. Considering how the NBA has become stricter than ever, it won’t be surprising if Adam Silver slaps Fred VanVleet with a hefty fine.

About the author

Advait Jajodia

Advait Jajodia

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Advait Jajodia, an NBA and Tennis journalist for The SportsRush, has had a passion for both sports for over a decade. His admiration for Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Rafael Nadal pushed him to gain a profound understanding of the sports. With a background as a multi-sport athlete, Advait uses his experience on the hardwood and the court to offer insightful analysis. Over three years of dedicated sports journalism has equipped the 22-year-old with a unique perspective, reflected in his prolific portfolio of 4,200+ articles.

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