By Joiner Martínez
The NBA captures the attention of all fans these days for the playoffs and in the last game between the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons, a video prior to the start of the duel went viral due to the controversial greeting between Goga Bitadze and Noah Pendafrom the Magic.
As the players prepared to take the field, Goga Bitadze and Noah Penda were recorded simulating drug use in a pre-match routine that has gone viral on social media.
It happened in the fourth game of the series played at the Kia Center in Orlando. In fact, Raymond Felton, a player who has played 15 seasons in the NBA, expressed his concern about the greeting between both players on the ‘ToTheBaha’ podcast.
Criticism in the NBA
“It’s getting out of hand, brother. This garbage is no longer pleasing. I’m already fed up… There are a lot of things we laugh at sitting heres. A lot of things that we say, ‘That’s crazy,’ but that’s really bullshit,” Felton said.
The former Original York Knicks player completed: “It’s terrible for the NBA brand, it’s terrible for the Orlando Magic, and it’s just crap for yourself as, as an individual.”
“I’m going to explain it to you in these terms. On a proper team, if that leaks, he shouldn’t come back next year. He wouldn’t be on the roster. The league could take him out that easy… It’s not about it being a distraction, it’s about the fact that you did it, and nowadays there are cameras everywhere. If it leaks and goes viral, you’re done, just for a joke,” Felton said.
Then, he closed his idea: “Those things are what should not be done.. I mean you’re getting ready for a game. They’re all lined up, ready to go out on the field, and you act like you’re snorting cocaine. “It’s crazy.”
“It’s getting out of hand… It’s bullsh*t to the designate of the NBA, bullsh*t to the designate of the Orlando Magic and it’s merely bullsh*t to himself as a particular person.”
Raymond Felton on Noah Penda’s viral pregame handshake 👀
(via @ToTheBaha) pic.twitter.com/jQxyHXGBhp
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 28, 2026
For his part, Charlie Villanueva, another former player who played for the Pistons in his 11 seasons in the NBA, was blunt about the controversy: “Is that funny? It’s really not funny. I assure you, now that it’s out, someone must have let him know. I’m sure he won’t shake that hand again.”“.
Continue reading:
Knicks advance to second round of playoffs with historic beating of Atlanta
Former NBA player to plead guilty to selling inside information to gamblers
Legend Dick Vitale announces fifth cancer diagnosis at age 86