NBA Fans Left Completely Stunned After Noah Penda’s Wild Pregame Handshake Goes Viral
The Orlando Magic picked up a huge playoff victory Monday night, but much of the internet ended up talking about something that happened before the game even started.
And it had nothing to do with basketball.
Noah Penda’s Pregame Handshake Immediately Went Viral
Before Game 4 against the Detroit Pistons, NBC cameras captured Orlando Magic rookie Noah Penda greeting teammate Goga Bitadze with an unusual handshake inside the tunnel.
At first, the interaction appeared harmless. The two players slapped hands and joked around while preparing to take the floor.
But seconds later, fans noticed Penda making gestures that many online believed were referencing cocaine use.
The moment quickly exploded across social media after the video was reposted across X, with thousands of fans reacting almost instantly.
Social Media Could Not Believe What They Saw
The reaction online became chaotic within minutes.
Many fans were completely stunned by the handshake, while others criticized the Magic rookie for making what they viewed as an inappropriate gesture before a nationally televised playoff game.
One fan wrote, “Brother WHAT.”
Another posted, “Nah this is crazy.”
A different user even suggested Orlando should discipline the rookie immediately after the clip surfaced online.
Despite the backlash, neither Penda nor the Magic publicly addressed the viral moment after the game.
Orlando Still Took Complete Control Of The Series
While the internet focused on the controversy, Orlando handled business on the court.
The Magic defeated the Pistons 94-88 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and move one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Penda did not play a major statistical role in the victory, but the rookie continues drawing attention during his first NBA postseason appearance.
The 21-year-old forward joined Orlando this season after the franchise traded up to acquire his draft rights from Boston before selecting him early in the second round.
The NBA Playoffs Continue Producing Viral Moments
This postseason has already delivered nonstop drama both on and off the floor.
From heated fan confrontations to controversial officiating and now bizarre tunnel interactions, nearly every playoff game has produced another viral talking point online.
Now Noah Penda’s handshake has officially joined that growing list.
And based on the reaction across social media, NBA fans will probably be talking about this clip for quite a while.