Spring is the most intense time of year for the players, coaches, and fans of the NBA. It’s crunch time, with the playoffs in full swing and teams forced to go all-out for what could be seven tightly scheduled games each round. In the 2026 playoffs, the story of the First Round was in the Eastern Conference.
Seeded second, the Boston Celtics cruised to a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers. The series ended up running to a Game 7 decider, in which just nine points split the two teams. It was one of three series to go the distance, yet it was the one that lingered the longest following the return of “Gone Fishing” in NBA circles.
“Gone Fishing” is a very old phrase, indeed. It’s so old, in fact, that it doesn’t come as a surprise that many people aren’t familiar with its meaning. Yet, it does still hold cultural relevance. Even in the newer games of the Sky Vegas trusted online casino, the phrase is leveraged to catch the eye of players.
Slingone Fishin’ and Gone Bassin’: Catch & Cash both play into the phrase, bringing both the fishing theme to slots and hinting at the meaning behind the phrase. There’s even a hit TV show that advertises itself on embodying the meaning of the phrase. Gone Fishing features two pals who just go for low-key trips for a spot of angling.
It’s an incredibly straightforward premise, but it has proven very popular thanks to the chemistry between Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. As “Gone Fishing” is a stand-in term for checking out, dropping your duties, and going off to do something more relaxing and enjoyable, it’s the perfect title for the show.
Boston Celtics have “Gone Fishing”
[Highlight] Inside the NBA reveals their “Gone Fishing” graphic for Boston
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So, it used to be that shop owners would put up a little sign that said “gone fishing” when they’d be away from the shop, telling potential customers that they’ll be away for a while, getting away from the stress of the store. For the programme Inside the NBA, the “Gone Fishing” segment was used a lot during the playoffs of yesteryear.
The show recently marked its return to ESPN, having spent a few years on TNT, and did so this season by showing the Boston Celtics having “Gone Fishing.” That’s not all the crew did for this segment. Another prominent sports figure was added to the fishing boat of the recently ousted Celtics, which caused the phrase to trend again.
Head coach of the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel, happened to be making some headlines by being seen out with journalist Dianna Russini. The ESPN team decided to add the two in the iconic Titanic pose on the bow of the fishing boat, completing the irreverent segment to lampoon Boston sports.
The image appeared to take the hosts of the show off guard. Usually unhindered by public opinion or any other potential for backlash, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal were all notably coy. None opted to address the total image, helping to fuel the clip to its level of virality.
Perhaps if the “Gone Fishing” segment only featured Celtics players, it wouldn’t be trending. As it went that bit further, and as the cast stumbled over their words, not knowing what to say about it, “Gone Fishing” has spread like wildfire.
