SAM Cassell is a three-time NBA champion and one of the brightest coaches in the league.
But the Houston Rockets icon’s greatest legacy in the NBA is arguably a controversial celebration known as the Big Balls Dance.
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Sam Cassell introduced the Big Balls Dance to the NBACredit: Getty
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The move originates from the movie Major League IICredit: Warner Bros.
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Cassell said he was honored that Kobe Bryant copied his moveCredit: ESPN
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LeBron James was fined $15,000 for performing the celebration in 2021Credit: Getty
As part of the move, players put both hands below their groin in a cupping motion indicating they have big balls after hitting a clutch shot.
It originates from the 1994 movie Major League II in which baseball player Isuro Tanaka tells teammate Pedro Cerrano that he has “no marbles” while making the gesture.
After watching the film, the then Minnesota Timberwolves star decided to incorporate the move into his game – and a phenomenon was born.
“I was watching Major League II and saw him do it. I said, “Oh, that’d be great if I can hit a big shot and do that,’” Cassell told The U.S. Sun.
After Cassell’s lead, a number of players have adopted the move – including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Eddie House, Kevin Martin, Marco Bellinelli, and Caron Butler.
“I know it got big when Kobe Bryant started doing it. When he did it, I was like, ‘Oh I really made it.’” Cassell adds.
“And LeBron James did it and, and the list goes on, on players doing it.
“But I just can’t take the credit. I saw the movie Major League, so I took it from there.
“But as far as basketball, I was the originator of that dance.”
Cassell, who won two NBA titles with the Rockets and one with the Boston Celtics, says there is an art to the celebration.
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“If you play the game of basketball, any kind of sport and you get an adrenaline rush like that and something you do have a big play or a big catch in football or make a big shot,” he says.
I think it deserves a celebration dance at the end of the game.”
“You can’t do it in the first quarter. In the last 30 seconds of the game, you make a big shot… now you could do the Big Balls Dance.”
The celebration drew a lot of laughs but the NBA cracked down on it, handing out fines between $15,000 and $25,000.
I know it got big when Kobe Bryant started doing it. When he did it, I was like, ‘Oh I really made it.’
Sam Cassell
But that did not stop players from doing it, most notably LeBron after a long-distance three for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Indiana Pacers in 2021.
LeBron was fined $15,000 and received huge pushback from NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“For me, winning is enough. Why do you need to do a stupid, childish dance and disrespect the other team on the court?” Abdul-Jabbar said.
“It doesn’t make sense. GOATs don’t dance.”
Cassell, for his part, does not understand why players are fined for the move.
“They do [worse] things in the league now than that,” Cassell says.
“I think the guys who are doing all the fining probably never played the game of basketball.
“So that’s why they fine the guys.”
STYLE MOVES
Cassell has become a major factor in the Celtics’ success this season as an assistant coach.
Off the court, he has partnered with online eyewear retailer Zenni Optical to create a new eyewear collection.
Cassell, who is known for wearing stylish glasses on the sidelines, played a major role in creating the Sam Cassell Collection, which has over 50 frames that reflect his style.
Cassell helped design the frames and also picked the names, such as Post Up, Point Guard and Mid-Range Jumper.
Zenni Optical is also the Official Eyewear Partner of the Celtics.
“I am one of the stylish coaches on our bench. I like my glasses to match my sneakers,” Cassell said.
“And I played for the Celtics in ’08 and they just thought that it’d be a good partnership.
“I wore glasses so they know I need my glasses to see. It’s been going great. Affordable glasses for everyone.
“They have a pair of frames that anyone can wear that fits their style so that’s the thing I like about it.”
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Cassell speaks to The U.S. Sun about the iconic celebrationCredit: The U.S. Sun
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Cassell has launched an eyewear collection with Zenni OpticalCredit: Zenni Optical
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The Celtics assistant helped design and name the collectionCredit: Zenni Optical
