The NBA is more than just a sport; it’s a source of entertainment and humor that extends well beyond the basketball court. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the NBA experience is witnessing those “real-life meme” moments—situations that are so perfect or so absurd that they become viral internet sensations. In the 2024 NBA season, there were several standout instances where players, coaches, and fans provided the perfect fodder for memes, turning fleeting moments into lasting internet gold.

One of the most iconic “real-life meme” moments from the 2024 season happened on January 22, 2024, during a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies. Warriors’ superstar Stephen Curry was seen reacting in disbelief after a questionable foul call.

Curry’s exaggerated facial expression, complete with wide eyes and a theatrical shrug, was captured perfectly by the cameras and quickly became a meme sensation. Fans on social media had a field day, creating variations of the meme that depicted Curry’s reaction in a range of hilarious situations, from “When you can’t believe it’s Monday again” to “When the Wi-Fi goes out during the game.”

Another memorable “real-life meme” moment took place on February 11, 2024, during the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics game. Knicks’ forward Julius Randle made a dramatic, last-second attempt to win the game, only for the shot to miss as the buzzer sounded. The cameras caught Randle’s exaggerated reaction of frustration and disbelief, which quickly went viral as a meme. Fans used the image of Randle’s anguished face to humorously express their own everyday frustrations, such as “When you fail the final exam despite studying all night.”

In March 2024, a particularly funny “real-life meme” moment occurred during a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers’ star LeBron James was caught on camera trying to discreetly eat a snack during a timeout. The sight of LeBron munching on popcorn and then awkwardly hiding it as the timeout ended was instantly turned into a meme, with fans using it to depict sneaky or secretive behavior, like “When you’re caught sneaking snacks at work.” The image of LeBron trying to enjoy his snack without getting caught provided a relatable and humorous moment for fans everywhere.

Another highlight came on April 2, 2024, during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors. Raptors’ guard Fred VanVleet attempted a behind-the-back pass that went hilariously awry, hitting a photographer in the face. The unexpected mishap was captured on video and quickly transformed into a meme showing VanVleet’s embarrassed reaction, with captions like “When you try to impress but it all goes wrong” and “When you attempt a cool move but end up embarrassing yourself.”

Finally, one of the funniest “real-life meme” moments of the season occurred on April 15, 2024, during the Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks game. Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic was seen pulling off a ridiculous dance move after making a big play, with his teammates laughing and joining in. The moment was turned into a meme depicting Jokic as the life of the party, with captions like “When you ace a test you didn’t study for” and “When you’re the only one dancing at the party.”