A tradition unlike any other, the ‘Big Balls’ dance has returned to the NBA.
This time it was Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton who celebrated Tuesday’s thrilling game-winning 3-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers by pretending to have gigantic gonads.
And while many expect the NBA will fine the All-Star guard, he didn’t seem to care after pushing the Pacers to a 2-0 lead with the second-round playoff series heading back to Indianapolis.
‘I’ve been waiting for that, man,’ Haliburton told reporters in Cleveland after his 19-point effort. ‘It was just right in the moment. I’ll take that fine gladly.’
The dance originated with the 1994 sequel to the film Major League, but became popularized in the NBA by Sam Cassell, a journeyman guard who now serves as a Boston Celtics assistant coach.
Since then it has been occasionally recreated by a number of famous NBA stars, including LeBron James, who incurred a $15,000 fine for doing the dance in a 2021 win over the Pacers.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton celebrated Tuesday’s thrilling game-winning 3-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers by pretending to have gigantic gonads
LeBron James incurred a $1,500 fine in 2021 for performing a similar gesture in Indianapolis
Haliburton (center) celebrates the game-winner with Aaron Nesmith (left) and Myles Turner
Patrick Mahomes and Caitlin Clark were among those left in shock by Haliburton after he gave the underdog Pacers a 120-119 win by draining a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining.
‘TY!!!!!!!! WHAT A WIN !!!!!! @Pacers,’ Caitlin Clark wrote on social media. The former No 1 overall pick plays for Indiana’s WNBA team, the Fever.
Mahomes also took to X to praise Haliburton. ‘Wow!!’ the Chiefs quarterback wrote alongside the laughing emoji.
It was Haliburton’s second last-gasp game-winner of this postseason after he eliminated the Bucks in similarly dramatic circumstances.
That victory was tainted by Haliburton’s father, who was seen getting in the face of Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo after the game winner. The elder Haliburton has since agreed to stay away from the team.
The dance originated with the 1994 sequel to Major League (left), but became popularized in the NBA by Sam Cassell (right), a journeyman guard who now serves as a Celtics assistant
On Tuesday, Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the final frame as the Pacers erased what had been a 20-point lead.
After Andrew Nembhard stole an inbounds pass by Cleveland’s Max Strus with 27.5 seconds remaining, Indiana tried to find a potential tying 3-pointer before Haliburton drove inside and got fouled.
He would make the first free throw before missing the second. However, Haliburton got the offensive rebound and dribbled out to the 3-point line, where he drained the game winner from the top of the key.
Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith led No. 4 seed Indiana with 23 points apiece.
It’s the first time the Pacers have won the first two games of a playoff series on the road since a 1994 first-round set against Orlando.
Remarkably, the home team has yet to win a single game in the second round of the NBA playoffs, with Boston, Cleveland, Oklahoma City and Minnesota going a combined 0-5 thus far.
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