NBA star dunks during parents' live interview, dad's hilarious reaction is priceless

Some coincidences are both joyful and unexpected, creating unforgettable moments. For NBA player Jalen Johnson, one such coincidence has become a charming tradition: he dunks the ball every time his parents are interviewed. It’s completely unplanned, but his parents are always thrilled when it happens. In a clip shared by Bleacher Report on YouTube (now deleted), Johnson's father was visibly hyped when asked about the recurring coincidence. Jalen Johnson, a highly-rated NBA talent, showcases his skills for the Atlanta Hawks, one of the league's renowned franchises.

The pattern of Johnson dunking during his parents' interviews became so well-known that a reporter couldn’t resist asking his father about it during a live game. "When I was talking to you guys, I got Dad's reaction on camera," the reporter began. "Dad, we see you down here cheering for your son; just describe that feeling." The moment he was asked the question, the man cheered loudly as his son dunked the ball at the exact moment the reporter posed the question. "He did it again!" the man kept repeating, his eyes wide with excitement as he watched his son play on the screen. 

People tend to remember and feel more intensely about the small, joyful surprises in life than the predictable or planned moments. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies examined how everyday events that bring "micro-happiness," small, positive moments like time spent with loved ones or enjoyable daily activities, relate to overall well-being. The authors found that these common positive daily events were more strongly connected to life satisfaction and positive emotions than major life events. This suggests that frequent, unexpected positive moments in everyday life play an important role in boosting happiness.

Overcome with excitement, Johnson’s father grabbed the microphone in sheer enthusiasm. "Oh my god! Okay, I am not doing this on purpose," the man said as he pulled the mic out of the reporter's hands and started talking to the camera. His wife tried to take the mic away from him and give it back to the reporter, but the dad wouldn't let up. 

"Literally, every time we get an interview, he's dunking the basketball," the man pointed out. "I am sorry, but that is amazing." The video caption reads, "Jalen Johnson's dad was so hyped that he took the mic." People took to the comments section to share their thoughts on this wholesome moment. The video was posted on Reddit by u/MrBuckBuck and received a similarly hyped reaction from people in the comments. u/Wildvalor commented, "JJ's dad has a lot of moments during games like this, he's the best lol. Always look out for him at Hawks games." u/fireglz remarked, "That's JJ's way of showing respect for his folks. Every interview begets another dunk. Jalen Johnson the filial phenomenon."

This article originally appeared 1 year ago.