Padres News: NBA Star Explains Why He Keeps Using Manny Machado’s Celebration

It is certainly becoming a fan favorite.

As much as baseball fans love themselves a smooth stolen base or a classic run, they always look forward to the celebrations that follow after. We have seen some of the most iconic rituals take place in the MLB after some huge highlights and I think I speak for everyone when I say that they make the play 10x better.

Our own Fernando Tatis Jr. has continued his classic stutter-step when rounding the bases in this year's Spring Training.

I’ve missed this pic.twitter.com/2dA4EtVa8C

— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) March 18, 2023

Joe Musgrove also started taking his own Polaroid with him to the Padres' games and flicked up anybody that made a memorable play.

A W on October 3rd? That's so fetch. #TimeToShine #PadresWin pic.twitter.com/b4ZVlB2ifV

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 4, 2022

However, it has been none other than star third baseman Manny Machado whose signature celebration has been making a ton of noise in the NBA world. That's right, even with the MLB not in regular season at the moment, one of their biggest names has found his influence play a strong role in a different sport.

Mikel Bridges, rising star of the Brooklyn Nets, has been quickly rising in the league's rankings ever since getting traded there at the beginning of February. He has seen his role significantly increase and is now a primary shot-creator for the franchise. Bridges has been all over social media recently for his popular head-nod celebration, which he learned from Machado.

Mikal Bridges got his three-point celebration from Manny Machado and the Padres 🤝

(via @BrooklynNets, @MLB) pic.twitter.com/7KjJzK9T3q

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) February 12, 2023

The 26-year-old has actually been doing this since he was on the Phoenix Suns but he just didn't get as much coverage back then. He has spoken highly of Machado and the Padres' franchise as a whole and explained that he found out about the celebration because he watches a lot of their games.

Bridges is playing some of the best basketball of his life and has taken it a step further as he now looks at opposing benches while he hits the popular move. In a postgame interview, the Nets forward commented on the growling popularity of the celebration.

“I never thought it would be like that. I was just watching baseball and I saw something dope.” -Mikal Bridges on his continued use of the Padres celebration pic.twitter.com/cavp2WY1s6

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2023

"I never thought it would be like that," said Bridges. "I was just watching baseball and I saw something dope and I needed a new, little celebration and that was it. I didn't think it was going to get how it is now but I love doing celebrations. Every time I catch and shoot or get any type of three, trust me, I want to make it so I can do it."

This move is by the far the most popular to portray right now in the basketball world and it's amazing to know it originated from your very own Padres superstar.