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"They getting out of hand, bro" - Raymond Felton slams Noah Penda for his "cocaine handshake"
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- "They getting out of hand, bro" - Raymond Felton slams Noah Penda for his "cocaine handshake"
NBA players have different ways of hyping themselves up before games. Some listen to specific genres of music while others stick to a rigid schedule that has worked for them for years. However, one of the common things in the league is pre-game handshakes.
Some players have handshakes that are unique to each teammate. One of the best at this is LeBron James , who remembers every handshake he has had with every player he has had one with all through the years.
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However, Orlando Magic rookie Noah Penda recently grabbed the spotlight, albeit for the wrong reason, when his handshake with teammate Goga Bitadze before Game 4 tipped off went viral.
Why? You be the judge of that.
Kids are different these days
After watching the clip, former NBA veterans Raymond Felton and Charlie Villanueva couldn't help but just shake their heads in utter disgust at how this young player thought that simulating cocaine use was cool.
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"That's not even cool. These young kids is different, bro. When does it become cool?" Charlie uttered .
Given that the NBA is in the entertainment business, Felton said he understands how some players might try to find ways to remain relevant in a league filled with characters and personalities. Perhaps that was what the 6'7" forward from France was trying to do. However, there are just lines players must not cross, and Raymond believes Noah crossed them with his coke-inspired shenanigan.
"They getting out of hand, bro. That's the bulls—t is not cool no more. I'm like a lot of s—t we say here we laugh about. A lot of stuff we kind of just like, man, that's wild. But that's some bulls—t right there, bro," Felton stated.
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"It's bullsh—t to the brand of the NBA. It's bullsh—t to the brand of the Orlando Magic. And this is bullsh—t to yourself as an individual."
The rookie had better be careful
The NBA's battle against the players' rampant use of drugs, especially cocaine, in the 1980s was well-documented . And it wasn't until the tragic death of star-in-the-making Len Bias, which was related to his drug use, that people started to take the issue seriously , leading to then-NBA commissioner David Stern taking a firm and immovable stance against drug use.
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To make a long story short, the NBA takes drug use seriously, and to them, this is something that the powers-that-be do not take lightly. And according to Felton, Penda is treading on thin ice at the moment, and if he's not careful, he might see his career end before it even has a chance to get off the ground.
"The right team—and that gets out like that—he's not coming back next year. He won't be on the roster. That's how serious something like that, that he thinks is funny, can get him out of there, out the league just like that," Felton declared. "I'm serious. If that was Miami Heat dealing with Pat Riley or somebody like that, he's out of there."
Cocaine and its use have damaged and ended many lives around the world. And the fact that Penda thought it was funny to reference it in a pre-game handshake is absolutely concerning. Here's to the hope that either a veteran or a team official has talked some sense into the young man to ensure that never happens again.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
