Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Sixers and Heat in Philadelphia was a tight one through three quarters, with the Sixers in control most of the way but Jimmy Butler almost single-handedly keeping Miami attached.
With 20 seconds to play, the Heat had the ball down four on a crucial possession and the camera cut to Kyle Lowry bringing the ball up the floor, but fans watching at home couldn’t help but notice there was a man absolutely sawing logs in a courtside seat on the baseline behind Lowry.
— Critical Bob Ross Theory (@phthalotrue) May 9, 2022
This is a tense, loud environment and this guy has completely shut out the lights, which naturally became an instant meme for NBA Twitter as folks had plenty of jokes because, well, it’s objectively hilarious to be stone cold asleep as a full grown adult while courtside at an NBA Playoff game.
Wake that man up… pic.twitter.com/HnHjGnLkmS
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) May 9, 2022
That’s that good 2 racks of ribs, 5 iPas, 3 cookies. Honk shoo honk shoo sleep pic.twitter.com/PM2O3BONhS
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) May 9, 2022
laughing so hard. This guy has to be drunk as hell to be asleep front row during this game pic.twitter.com/FUFs6MlG8p
— Treb (@treblaw) May 9, 2022
“Ernest, how’s fatherhood going?” pic.twitter.com/JrCYROJcC6
— Ernest Wilkins | (@ErnestWilkins) May 9, 2022
duncan robinson on the heat bench pic.twitter.com/juRiF1PRFI
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) May 9, 2022
WAKE UP DAVID DODGE pic.twitter.com/EopgeRPGdh
— The Shire (@ShireNation) May 9, 2022
this is the look of a man who just put up prime kobayashi numbers at a golden corral pic.twitter.com/FUPumCm9fs
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) May 9, 2022
when the late night game turns into Charmed the next morning https://t.co/SwZqCYzsOg
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) May 9, 2022
I just rewound to make sure but someone else please tell me they saw the man sitting courtside in Philly sound asleep
— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) May 9, 2022
As someone who has fallen asleep at a very loud sporting event before (the Coca-Cola 600), I can attest from real-life experience that this has to be partially attributed to a large number of adult beverages being consumed, alongside some carb and meat-heavy meals over the course of the day. I hope he woke up in time for the fourth quarter, because it was a highly entertaining finish (particularly if you are a Sixers fan).