The NBA…Where high-fives don’t always happen

Wikipedia tells us that the High Five is a “celebratory hand gesture that occurs when two people simultaneously raise one hand, about head high, and push, slide or slap the flat of their palm and hand against the palm and flat hand of their partner” and Magic Johnson once told us that he invented it whilst at Michigan State University.

Wherever it’s origin and whatever the technique, everybody knows how to give and receive a high five.

Everybody, that is, except a handful of NBA’ers. Some guys can connect with the fans but when it comes to high-fivin’ team-mates, they fall a little short…..

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=24zyaShSBNI

I don’t know what’s more horrible to look at: Career bench guy, Brian Scalabrine, being ignored by team-mates or those shoes. Aargh, my eyes!

Here’s another white guy failing with fives. Notice the box-out on Humphries before stealing the slap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw0irjEuUSI&feature=related

Tony Allen gets no love from his team-mates. He tries to act like he’s not hurt but you can see the rejection in his eyes. He should have just handled it like Bogut…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfsBOiqytlE

That’s the evolution of Bogut’s high-five.

Leaving Kevin Love hanging on a five? That’s cold. That’s Kobe.

Rafer Alston – ‘Bringing team-mates (hands) together’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTKlCzqgHdk

The NBA Finals is DEFINITELY the time to be playing ‘pat-a-cake’, Chris Bosh and Ronny Turiaf.

Disastrous and cringeworthy, the TWolves Kevin Love and Wesley Johnson destroy everything that is good about the high-five.

Credit to Love for seeing the high-five out though.

A happy ending.

And finally…

It’s good to know the NBA isn’t the only league that struggles with hand slapping.