The night at Crypto.com Arena had all the makings of a normal game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, until seven-time NBA All-Star Scottie Pippen decided to steal the show. During a timeout, the six-time NBA champion grabbed the ball rolling toward him and, in a move worthy of a meme, hid it behind his back.

As he talked to someone sitting next to him, a referee walked nearby, frantically searching for the ball. Fans erupted in laughter when the official finally discovered that Pippen had the ball hidden all along. With a triumphant smile, Pippen gave it back, but not before making it clear that this wasn’t the first time he’d done it. “I fooled him before, but he promised it wouldn’t happen again,” Pippen commented, taunting his “victim.”

A hilarious moment in the NBA

This trolling, which entertained the crowd, is part of Pippen’s legacy. While promoting his new blockchain token, he recalled the days when he won his first championship with the Chicago Bulls, precisely against the Lakers in 1991. For Pippen, this moment was a symbolic way to return to the stage where he cemented his status as a basketball legend alongside other great NBA legends such as Michael Jordan and Denis Rodman.

Although the game was briefly delayed, the scene soon went viral. Memes, videos and comments filled social media, with fans debating whether this was one of the most hilarious moments of the season.

Pippen proved that, even in retirement, his ability to steal the show is still intact. Scottie knows how to stay relevant despite giving the referees an embarrassing moment in the middle of an NBA game.