Remember the 2004 playoffs and Sam Cassell’s unforgettable ‘Big Balls’ celebration? Yeah, the NBA didn’t find it funny either. The league has always been strict about lewd or offensive celebrations, especially ones that push boundaries on national TV. One of the most notorious banned moves is, of course, the infamous “Big Balls” celebration. Even legends like LeBron James have faced hefty fines for pulling off that iconic celebration during intense game moments. But trust me, none of those fines came close to what Sam Cassell had to cough up back then. And guess what? There’s a fresh name joining that list of players paying the price for the bold celebration. This time, it’s Tyrese Haliburton.

On Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers edged out the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 in a nail-biting Game 2 thriller. Down seven with under a minute left, Indiana forced a huge turnover on a risky inbound pass by Cleveland. They drew a foul, knocked down both free throws, and cut the lead to just two points with seconds left. Tyrese Haliburton then missed a pair of clutch free throws but grabbed his own rebound like a man possessed. He dribbled out to the arc, stepped back, and drilled a cold-blooded 24-foot three with 1.1 seconds remaining. That shot capped a wild eight-point Pacers run in just 47.9 seconds, turning the game completely on its head.

And right after burying the winner, Haliburton broke out Sam Cassell’s signature and banned “Big Balls” dance. By doing that, Haliburton officially added his name to the list of players fined for the infamous celebration. And according to NBA rulebook, Haliburton is about to get a $15,000 fine for the move. And now even Kevin Garnett jumped on this show through his Instagram message. Garnett wrote, “Haliburton hit the SAM CASSELL… Monkey 🍎😂😂💯”

Well, If anyone gets to speak on this, it’s definitely Kevin Garnett. He lived through the original Big Balls drama firsthand. Back in 2004, Sam Cassell pulled off that iconic celebration during the playoffs while playing alongside Garnett in Minnesota. At the time, Cassell was an All-Star guard, and Garnett was the reigning MVP, leading a dominant Timberwolves squad. Minnesota finished as the top seed in the Western Conference and looked like clear favorites to win the championship.

In Game 2 against the Sacramento Kings, Cassell drilled a clutch jumper to seal the win for the Timberwolves. Then came the infamous “Big Balls” dance. Unfortunately, Cassell aggravated a lingering hip fracture while pulling off the dance, turning this moment into a costly mistake. That heavy injury limited him for the rest of the series and seriously hurt Minnesota’s shot at their first NBA title. Some fans still believe Garnett might’ve won a ring there if Cassell hadn’t worsened his injury with that celebration.

After Channeling Cassell’s Iconic Big Spheres Sway, Tyrese Haliburton Drops His Two Cents

Tyrese Haliburton knows a fine’s coming and frankly, he couldn’t care less. The Indiana Pacers guard lit up the Cleveland Cavaliers and shook the NBA world Tuesday night, cashing a four-point play that flipped the lead in Indiana’s favor. That clutch bucket handed the Pacers a 2-0 edge in their Eastern Conference semifinals bout.

Sam Cassell’s legendary “big balls” celebration has been a staple in basketball lore ever since Major League II inspired it. But while it’s an unforgettable flex, the NBA’s made a habit of dishing out fines to anyone bold enough to pull it off. And Tyrese? He knew exactly what he was doing. When asked about the inevitable fine, Haliburton cracked a grin and made it clear he’s been waiting years for this moment.

“I’ve been waiting for that, man. It was just right in the moment. I’ll take that fine gladly.” Haliburton said. Well, now fans are believing that  It wasn’t just a shot. It wasn’t just a celebration either. It was a message to the league that this man is built for these moments. And if it costs him a little pocket change, so be it.