Players pulling up unique celebrations after splashing buckets is nothing new in basketball. However, when those celebrations have an underlying meaning that goes against the professional league’s values, they could come back to bite the player. Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards know the repercussions of such actions. Nebraska’s Braden Frager is the latest to find out about this after the Cornhuskers’ dramatic 58-56 win over Michigan State.
The viral report making rounds on social media claims Nebraska has taken strict action against Frager; however, there has been no indication of any such action on the team’s official pages.
After hitting a three-pointer late in the game, Frager appeared to do a ‘gun’ celebration towards Michigan State defender Jeremy Fears Jr., who had famously survived a gunshot in the leg in 2023. While some argued the three-finger gesture was merely a nod to the three-point shot, the action drew widespread social media condemnation. Fans labeled the move by Frager as ‘classless.’
The incident reached a tipping point after Frager posted a photo of the celebration on Instagram with the caption “Fear none.” He has deleted the post since. Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg addressed the lapse in judgment, saying:
“It is a teachable moment. He will be better because of it. He knew he messed up, but he kept his composure, his teammates rallied around him, & he made some big plays down the stretch.” (3:26)
To rectify the situation, Frager has reportedly also reached out to Fears Jr. directly to express his remorse. Jeremy Fears Jr. is the older brother of Jeremiah Fears, who is currently in his rookie season at the New Orleans Pelicans.
The X (Formerly Twitter) user that posted the report had been debunked as a parody account, according to Front Office Sports reporter A.J. Perez. The parody account has previously shared “reports” such as Former Michigan HC Sherrone Moore’s “texts” with Connor Stallions, which were swiftly Community Noted.
How Have Player Celebrations Been a Matter of Concern for NBA and College Basketball ?
Sometimes, celebrations can mean a lot of things when performed by certain players. For example, when Ja Morant was making guns and grenade celebrations after his return from suspension on gun possession-related charges, the league did not take things lightly. Also, when Anthony Edwards performed the DX celebration after the Timberwolves’ Game 3 win over the Phoenix Suns in 2024, he was at risk of getting fined.
One such celebration that went past the league’s notice for a long time was the ‘big balls’ celebration. It originated from one of the moments in the 1994 movie Major League II. Sam Cassell, then playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, decided to incorporate it during his plays.
For years, Cassell would hit this celebration after several shots or game winners, and the league wouldn’t notice. However, this was all until Kobe Bryant decided to incorporate the same in his dance. This celebration spread like wildfire, and almost every player from 2005 to at least 2016 tried or even wanted to pull this move out.
The league would fine the players as high as $25,000, but some, like Julius Randle, wouldn’t mind risking it all. So, can certain celebrations mean all too much in highly competitive leagues like the NBA and NCAA college hoops?
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