Before signature celebrations flooded social media feeds and pre-game dance clips went viral on TikTok, Antoine Walker was pioneering on-court flair in the NBA. From the iconic Adidas campaign that branded him to the signature shimmy that took over TD Garden, the three-time All-Star brought an unshakeable swagger to late 90s basketball.

In another electric segment on Pull Up With Scoop B, Walker sat down to break down the hilarious origins of his single-digit jersey number in Boston, the birth of the shimmy and the one legendary head coach who explicitly banned his famous dance moves.

The Unintentional Birth of 'Employee No. 8'

When Walker was drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1996 out of Kentucky, he was prepared to rock the No. 24 he wore in college. But running up against the unmatched history of Boston's storied rafters quickly forced a change of plans on draft night.

"Every number in Boston is retired and hung up in the rafters," Walker recalled. "When I get drafted on draft night, you make your phone call to the team, they congratulate you and they asked me, 'What number do you want for your press conference? You can’t get number 24...' Then they started running off all these numbers, and it started to get bad. They started saying numbers like 57... 56. Some of the worst numbers in the world!"

Unwilling to look "like a football player out there with a big number," Walker asked what was available in single digits. The response: Number 8.

"It was really that random," Walker said. "And as soon as I picked number 8, I have to give Adidas all the credit. They made this whole 'Employee No. 8'—they made it all up. They put this whole slogan behind it immediately as soon as I took number 8. So it wasn’t me, I can't take the credit for it."

The Origins of the Shimmy and Coach Pitino's Rule

While Adidas built marketing magic around his jersey number, Walker was creating his own organic brand on the floor with his trademark shoulder shimmy. The celebration traces back to his collegiate days at Kentucky, though head coach Rick Pitino enforced one firm rule if Walker wanted to show off his moves.

"I used to dance in college... Coach Pitino was cool with it. Everyone knows Coach P was a disciplinarian, but we were a pressing team," Walker explained. "As long as I got into the press, I could celebrate the way I wanted to. So that's how it started."

When Walker brought the shimmy to the pros, it instantly resonated with fans as a raw display of passion and energy following clutch dynamic plays and and-one opportunities.

The One Coach Who Banned the Dance

While Pitino allowed the dance and M.L. Carr didn't mind during Walker's rookie year, one NBA coaching legend refused to tolerate the celebration when Walker was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2003.

"Don Nelson didn’t like it," Walker laughed. "That’s the one coach that addressed it. So I get traded to the Mavs in 2003, and the first day I came in, he told me he didn’t want me dancing. That was the first thing! He’s old school and he used to call me Walk. He said, 'Walk, I don’t want you dancing!' If you watch me my whole year with Dallas, I maybe might’ve snuck it in once... He was the only coach that had a problem with it that actually addressed it in my 13-year career."

Monetizing the Moves in the Social Media Era

Looking at today's digital landscape, Walker recognizes just how tailored the shimmy would have been for modern branding, viral clips, and NIL deals.

"I might get some money for it right now!" Walker joked. "I would’ve been able to brand it and get some money for it right now."

When asked who holds the mantle for best celebration in today's game that rivals his legendary shimmy, Walker pointed directly to a four-time NBA champion.

"You gotta give it to Steph [Curry] for trying to steal my little shimmy," Walker said with a grin. "I don’t think he calls it a shimmy, and he has the 'night night.' His might be the only one left. LeBron used to do his thing a little bit, but I’m gonna say Steph, man."

From emergency single-digit choices turned global Adidas campaigns to signature celebrations that paved the way for modern stars like Steph Curry, Antoine Walker's stories on Pull Up With Scoop B showcase a pioneer who brought effortless entertainment, authenticity, and unforgettable personality to 90s and 2000s basketball.