Courtside Comedy: Ranking the 10 Funniest Moments in NBA History

The NBA has provided the most exciting moments ever in basketball style on the court, as well as some very funny and weird moments both on-court and off-court. These unforgettable moments of court nonsense are now a part of basketball lore and conversation about in-game actions. This article focuses on the top 10 funniest moments in NBA history. There was something so humorous about each one, and it was memorable.

10. Shaq's Pants Fall Down (2009)

We kick off our countdown with a comical moment from one of the most colorful characters in the game. Way back in 2009, during a game between the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic, Shaquille O'Neal, when he was on the team running back up on defense, had his shorts fall all the way down to his ankles, showing his boxers for everyone at that arena as well as people watching TV.

The big man hastily pulled up his shorts and restarted the game, but not before cameras captured a close-up of the carpenter ant in isolation, making itself at home with some air-time, while both announcers completely lost it. Shaq is the comical guy who references later in his post-game interview.

9. Charles Barkley's "I am not a role model" Commercials / 1993

Even if this is more a marketing move than an on-court moment, the audacity of Charles Barkley in his famous Nike commercial belongs here for the debates it triggered as much as anything else. The ad finds Barkley staring directly into the camera: "I am not a role model. I am not getting paid to be your role model. Yes, I am a professional troublemaker on the basketball court. We should be models of it to our children. Surely, being able to dunk a basketball doesn't qualify me as someone who should raise your kids, right?"

The ad was pretty controversial then because many people thought Barkley was avoiding responsibility. Still, Barkley's brutal honesty and deadpan delivery made it sort of hilarious. It was everything that would later make Barkley a beloved commentator: no-nonsense and outspoken.

8. Dirk Nowitzki Sings 'We Are the Champions'

For Dirk Nowitzki, 2011 was a year to remember as he led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA championship. And, as we found out during the team victory parade earlier this week, Nowitzki celebrated with a song from Queen's "We Are the Champions." It resulted in a comically out-of-tune version that left fans and teammates doubling over laughing.

Nowitzki was an enthusiastic interpreter, but the appeal of his willingness to make fun of himself only reinforced it. It was all about that pure sound of triumph and the power of steadied laughter in unison, even if it had to hurt everyone's eardrums first.

7. Kevin Garnett: "Anything is Possible!" Scream (2008)

After the Boston Celtics captured the 2008 NBA Title, an emotional Kevin Garnett delivered one of the most memorable post-game interviews ever in league history. Garnett, one of the most intense players in his generation, shouted, "Anything is possible!" to tears in an impassioned, sobbing segment.

Though the emotion from Garnett was real as could be, his exaggerated/grandmaster scream afterward simply made it an all-time sports comedy. As a result, it was beautiful coverage of the visceral jubilation to Victory awarded and an immeasurable supply of laughs and spoofs.

6. Kobe Bryant's No-Flinch Moment

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant put it on display during a game with the Orlando Magic in 2010, and boy, was he impressive yet funny at once. After a series of events leading to an attempted inbounds play, Barnes needed to enhance the moment further by fake-hitting Kobe directly in the face. Kobe didn't blink or flunch at all, as he stared down Barnes.

The video quickly went viral as fans marveled at Kobe's ice-cold demeanor and made fun of Barnes for trying to intimidate the notoriously unflappable Bryant. It was an awesome representation of Kobe's "Mamba Mentality," the internet turned it into meme material because of how calm he looked.

5. We Talking About Practice?

AI went off on a legendary tangent for one of the most quotable press conferences in sports history involving something called practice. When asked about his work ethic, Iverson said the word "practice" more than two dozen times while becoming increasingly aggravated by suggestions that practice was as important to him as games.

Iverson's skeptical "Come on, man" responses to the question made for an unintentional comedy moment. It has since been lampooned numerous times and stands as one of the most memorable press conferences in NBA history, illustrating just how crazy some sports media interactions can be.

4. Shaq vs. Chris Dudley (1999)

Shaquille O'Neal had perhaps the most disrespectful and funniest play in NBA history during a 1999 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. The time that Shaq jammed all over Chris Dudley and then shoved him down to the ground. A furious Dudley fired the ball at Shaq as he headed for defense.

It was a fitting minute that showed not only how superior Shaq was on the court but also his childlike way off it. Shaq's reaction does her no favors, making it a little funnier in contrast to how Dudley reacted. It has become a highlight staple and go-to example of the Shaquille O'Neal effect.

3. The Michael Jordan "Flu Game" Pizza Conspiracy

As heroic as Michael Jordan's Game 5 of the Finals against Utah in 1997 the Flu Game is considered to be, the backstory has turned into a punchline and fodder for conspiracy theorists. Originally believed to be the flu that Jordan was dealing with, it turns out that MJ probably had food poisoning after eating a late-night pizza in Utah.

Fans have been amused for years by the image of a dodgy pizza taking out the best player in the world. Conspiracy theories of the pizza being sabotaged by Jazz fans have only added to the humor surrounding this incident. Of course, it is a plentiful reminder that even the most elite athletes are still human and fall victim to late-night snacks.

2. Malice at the Palace (2004)

Although the malice at the palace incident was an awful black eye for the NBA, some downright hysterical incidents emerged. Rumors have circulated and been seemingly verified that some players needed dental work after Stephen Jackson was seen unloading his fists; Jermaine O'Neal slid across the scorer's table with a punch of another asshole fan.

The wackiest moment probably was when Artest, charging into the stands to go after a fan, stopped and asked one of our radio announcers, "Did you see who threw that?" It's the perfect metaphor for how random and ridiculous this whole episode has been: squabbling onlookers getting interviewed in real time about a fight that broke out right next to them.

1. Lance Stephenson Blowing in LeBron's Ear (2014)

Lance Stephenson, with the most Lance thing ever in video number one, took place during his run-ins with LeBron James' Miami Heat teams in those fantastic 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. But while the two stood side-by-side waiting for a free throw, Stephenson leaned in and practically blew into LeBron's ear, which had 'Bron doing an inexplicable double-take.

The moment was so unexpected and bizarre that it went viral immediately. LeBron's response, a combination of puzzlement and laughter or mere umbrage at the stupidity, only made it more hilarious. Stephenson's stunts became an ongoing gag throughout the series, and they have been referenced, not to mention parodied, many times since.

This moment was everything; it had the right mix of competitiveness and utter ridiculousness. It showed the extremes of what some players are willing to do for any edge, but it also exhibited how this type of off-court gamesmanship can look fairly absurd on an actual tennis court. The laugh of Stephenson blowing in LeBron's ear represents the fury and funniness behind professional basketball.

Whether these are actual wardrobe malfunctions or intentional acts of distraction, they show that this game is all about entertainment. They are the reason we can see off-the-court as well and bring us closer to shared joys transcending national borders. While we have to wait until future seasons, one can only picture what hilarity the dynamic NBA world has in store for all of us.