Dame Time is arguably the most iconic signature celebration in the NBA. It is owned by point guard Damian Lillard, known for his clutch performances.
Do you need someone to rescue you at the brink of defeat? Let Dame Time come.
However, Dame Time was not present during the Bucks vs Pacers NBA In-season tournament game.
What showed up was Tyrese Haliburton's stellar performance for the Pacers. They won the game, 128-119, against a heavily favored Bucks.
Haliburton was swept by the moment, scoring a three-point shot in the game's dying moments. He pulled out a Dame Time celebration as if mocking Lillard.
The Bucks point guard took exception of the Tyrese Haliburton Dame Time celly, although he insisted that he respects it.
"I've also known that when you're having your moment, it's important to be careful and be humble... because you just never know how the table turns and it when it's gonna turn," he said post-game when asked about the Pacers point guard.
"I respect it. We shook hands after the game. I wasn't moved by it left or right."
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This is not the first time that opponents stole his celebration. Lillard might be on to something about being humble because he's seen players mock him using his celebration throughout his career, but he was able to one-up them eventually.
Here are some of those moments:
1. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder
The duo were together in the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. They faced Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, and the guards of both teams were too engaged in scoring, playmaking, and trolling.
Lillard showed his Dame Time first when he led the Blazers to a 2-0 series lead. The series transferred to Oklahoma, and that was when Westbrook and Schroder felt more confident.
The then Blazers guard missed a free throw and Schroder took the opportunity to troll him by pointing to an imaginary watch, boldly addressing Lillard in the free throw line.
They won the game, but Lillard and the Blazers won the series, capped off by the popular walk-off three in Game 5 when the series returned to Portland.
2. Patrick Beverley
The then Los Angeles Lakers point guard thought it appropriate to use Dame Time against the person who started it.
He was motivated enough to do so as the Lakers climbed back from a 25-point halftime deficit in their January 2023 game.
Pat Bev clowning Dame Time 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dtGZlA3wNg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 23, 2023
Beverley was just too fired up in the game. He suggested that his celebration was how he was enjoying the game.
The two have a long history of animosity. In 2020, Dame responded to Beverley's mocking when the latter was still part of the Clippers, saying they expect too much from him.
3. Steph Curry
It is not just foul merchants and backup players who used Dame Time in their celebration. Even two-time MVP got on the train when they faced the Blazers in the second round of the 2016 playoffs. This was when the Golden State Warriors finished the regular season with a 73-9 record. Unlike Beverley's and Schroder's, though, this celebration in 2016 did not receive much hype and only resurfaced in 2022.
Steph really mocked Dame’s celebration in Portland 😭
— ³⁰ (@StephMuse_) September 18, 2022
Cold blooded 🥶 pic.twitter.com/KVYPuampLC
4. Lebron James
It was a subtle one from King James.
The Lakers were up against the Blazers, and it was crunch time. He drove to the basket, dunked the ball, and celebrated by looking at an imaginary watch, prompting fans to think he did the Dame Time celebration, too.
Unlike the first three, though, this one did not earn a reaction from Lillard.
They scared of Big Bron @KingJames pic.twitter.com/15d22ZFlRW
— Famouslos32 (@famouslos32) January 1, 2022
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