A rare three-pointer sparked a controversial celebration, drawing a sharp reminder from a former Grizzlies player about mimicking Ja Morant's penalized actions.
In the NBA, certain gestures are clearly out of bounds, no matter how emotional or celebratory the moment might be. No matter how overjoyed a player feels after making a play, making a gun celebration, or pretending to fire imaginary shots is something the league has consistently frowned upon. Andre Drummond either overlooked that reality or didn't think much of it in the heat of the moment.
After knocking down a rare three-pointer, the veteran big man decided to fire imaginary shots. Addressing that gesture, former Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons condemned it, but in a lighthearted tone, emphasizing that the refs should let such gestures from Drummond slide because it's rare for the two-time All-Star to achieve that feat consistently.
The incident occurred with just two minutes remaining in the second quarter when the Philadelphia 76ers played the Boston Celtics. "Big Cat" drilled a 22-foot three-pointer from the corner, trimming Boston's lead to 54-45, and immediately after the shot, he turned and mimicked firing gunshots. The celebration was brief, but it didn't go unnoticed.
Nick Buchert, the crew chief for the officiating team, quickly assessed a technical foul on Drummond, making it clear that the league would not tolerate such violent gestures in any manner, especially when gun violence has become one of the most pressing concerns within the country.
Considering how Ja Morant's reputation has suffered in recent years due to repeated gun-related incidents and warnings about similar gestures, the NBA has drawn a hard line on the issue. The NBA has made its stance clear that such apparent gun celebrations will not be tolerated. While addressing Drummond's actions, Parsons subtly took shots at Morant.
But his sarcastic jab also included an honest plea to allow 32-year-old Drummond to act as his heart wants, because knocking down shots from beyond the arc is a rare feat for Andre.
"He hit him with the 'Ja Morant,' you know you can't be doing that anymore," Parsons said on the "Run It Back" show. "If Drummond hits a 3, he could do whatever the hell he wants. It's not gonna happen often. Just look the other way."
That being said, from waving firearms on social media to repeating similar gestures on the court, Morant's history has amplified the scrutiny around these celebrations. Parsons' sarcastic comment indirectly highlighted how those incidents have reshaped the narrative, making even lighthearted gestures subject to criticism.
While this particular moment involving Drummond may be brushed off as harmless fun, the broader context ensures that such celebrations will continue to draw attention. Nevertheless, fortunately for Drummond, this time he was assessed only a technical foul and no suspension.