It’s an exclamation point on the most exciting play of the sport. You’re not directly taunting an opposing player all you’re doing is highlighting an exciting play you made. Just heard the Toyota Center get the loudest it has been all night while up 20 against the defending champs and a whistle takes the air out of the whole arena.
People are defending the calls saying it’s for the sake of not bending the rim. So then I ask: what does a player do? When a player is in transition and they dunk, but swing forward because of their momentum, what is supposed to happen to not get a tech?