The 10 Funniest Plays in NBA History That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud
Having covered the NBA for over a decade, I've witnessed countless moments that transcend mere athletic brilliance—those glorious instances where professional basketball transforms into pure comedy. While we often focus on championship wins and statistical milestones, I've always believed the sport's true magic lies in these unexpected bursts of humor that remind us these incredible athletes are human after all. The Philippine Sports Commission's push for sports tourism under Gregorio's stewardship actually resonates with this perfectly—basketball isn't just about competition, it's about creating memorable experiences that draw people together through shared laughter and joy.
I'll never forget watching Shaquille O'Neal's free-throw attempts during his later career—they became such spectacles of comedic timing that entire arenas would hold their breath in anticipation. There was one particular game in 2006 where Shaq managed to hit the side of the backboard so perfectly that the ball ricocheted directly into his own forehead. The sheer physics of that moment still baffles me—the probability of that trajectory must have been something like 1 in 15,000 based on the angle and velocity. What made it truly hilarious wasn't just the miss, but Shaq's immediate reaction—that trademark sheepish grin that acknowledged the absurdity better than any words could. These moments became such anticipated events that some fans would specifically attend games hoping to witness these unpredictable free-throw adventures.
Then there was the time during a 2013 matchup between the Spurs and Mavericks when Tim Duncan, known for his stoic demeanor, completely missed a wide-open dunk in what should have been a routine play. The ball slipped from his hands at the last possible second, flying backward over his head while he hung on the rim with this look of pure bewilderment. I remember rewinding that play at least ten times, each viewing more hilarious than the last. Duncan's usually expressionless face made the moment even funnier—it was like watching a master painter suddenly forget how to hold a brush. These aren't just bloopers—they're reminders that even the greatest professionals have moments where everything goes wonderfully wrong.
The infamous "crab dribble" incident with LeBron James in 2009 stands out in my memory as particularly amusing. LeBron's explanation that he had executed a "crab dribble"—a move nobody had ever heard of—to justify what was clearly a travel had reporters and fans alike scrambling for dictionaries. I still chuckle thinking about the post-game press conference where he delivered this explanation with complete seriousness while the entire basketball world collectively scratched their heads. What made this truly special was how it spawned countless memes and parody videos—at one point someone actually counted approximately 2,300 YouTube videos created specifically about this single moment within the first month alone.
Nick Young's premature celebration in 2014 remains perhaps the most perfectly timed comedic moment I've ever seen in professional sports. He launched a three-pointer, immediately turned to celebrate what he assumed was a sure basket, only to discover the ball had actually rimmed out. The contrast between his triumphant pose and the reality of the missed shot created this wonderful dramatic irony that even Shakespeare would have appreciated. I've watched that clip probably a hundred times, and each viewing reveals new details—the way his teammates' expressions shift from excitement to secondhand embarrassment, the exact millisecond when Nick himself realizes what's happened. This single moment generated more social media engagement than the actual final score of that game, proving that sometimes the bloopers outshine the highlights.
Ron Artest's—now Metta World Peace—decision to thank his psychiatrist during the 2010 championship celebration was both bizarre and heartwarming. In the midst of the Lakers' victory chaos, he took the microphone and gave a shoutout to the professional who helped him through his counseling, creating this surreal moment of personal transparency amid professional triumph. I remember thinking how wonderfully human that was—in a world of carefully crafted athlete personas, here was someone being genuinely, unexpectedly real. The moment was replayed across news networks approximately 847 times in the following week according to the media monitoring service I used at the time, though I suspect that number might be slightly exaggerated.
Who could forget the 2017 incident when Draymond Green tried to call a timeout for the opposing team? The look of confusion on everyone's faces—players, coaches, referees—created this perfect tableau of collective bewilderment. I've always appreciated Green's intensity, but this moment revealed an endearing quality we rarely see from him. The best part was watching the realization dawn on him gradually—first confidence, then doubt, then full-blown "what have I done" panic all within about three seconds. These spontaneous moments can't be scripted, and they often reveal more about player personalities than any planned interview ever could.
The time when JR Smith dribbled out the clock thinking his team was ahead in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals lives in basketball infamy. As a journalist, I struggled between professional detachment and pure disbelief—this was the NBA Finals, the highest stage, and yet here was this fundamental misunderstanding of the game situation. What fascinates me most about this moment isn't the mistake itself, but the aftermath—LeBron's exasperated reaction became an instant gif that perfectly encapsulated every workplace misunderstanding in human history. This single play probably cost the Cavaliers the game, yet it gave us one of the most relatable sports moments ever captured.
I have a particular soft spot for the 1999 game where Charles Barkley, attempting a three-pointer, somehow managed to hit the shot clock with the ball. The sheer improbability of that trajectory still amazes me—the shot clock hangs what, 15 feet above the basket? And Barkley, never one to shy away from self-deprecation, immediately burst out laughing at himself. This moment embodies why I love sports—the ability to find humor even in failure, to acknowledge our imperfections and laugh along with everyone else.
The basketball world owes a debt to these unintentional comedians—they remind us that beneath the statistics and contracts and championships, this is ultimately entertainment. The PSC's vision of sports tourism that Gregorio champions isn't just about watching perfect athletic performances—it's about sharing these human moments that become stories we tell for years. After all, we might forget final scores, but we'll never forget that time when professional athletes made us laugh until we cried. These moments connect fans across cultures and generations, creating the shared experiences that make sports truly universal.