Cam Newton recalls how N'Keal Harry's Chandler HS hoops claim led to viral GIF

Cam Newton is all but retired from the NFL after not being signed the past two seasons. Although, his oft-shared sideline clip is one of the internet's and sports' most comedic ever.

The 2015 MVP explained the origin of the GIF during Newton's YouTube show "4th and 1" with co-host Omari Collins released on Tuesday. The GIF is Newton's pantomime of melting on a sideline bench with a sardonic side-eye because of his former New England Patriots teammate and Arizona State product N'Keal Harry's hilarious fib.

That moment happened on Sept. 27, 2020, when New England won at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, Newton's sole season with the Patriots. Harry was in his second NFL year out of ASU, and Newton said Harry claimed he averaged 40 points per game for the Chandler High School basketball team.

The game was aired on CBS, and the cameras caught Newton in the moment of untruth.

"Bro! Me and N'Keal was on the sideline talking about basketball. N'Keal was saying in high school, he averaged 40 points. It was something ridiculous," Newton said.

He added more about Harry's heritage and family's migration from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent to the Valley and his disbelief in Harry's high school hoops scoring numbers.

"First off, he's foreign. He's like Haitian or Trinidadian. He moved over here and went to Arizona. So I'm like, 'Bro, none of your bloodline is telling me that you're a hooper.' Not to say that people don't hoop, but it's not giving me hooper vibes. So when he said it, like, 'Real talk, bro, I averaged 40 points in high school,' I said, 'Bruuuuhh, stop lying. Like, stop lying, bruh. Who ... were you playing in high school? And why isn't this .... documented?"

Harry's individual stats from Chandler actually are documented on MaxPreps. From 2014 to 2016 during his junior and senior years, respectively, he put up 22 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 blocks per game, and 21/10.3/2.3/0.8 splits.

Harry was a two-sport standout, and shattered a backboard on a dunk during a game against Mesa Mountain View in December 2015.

So as for the 40-point average? Nah.

"Like come on, bruh. Come on! 'Cuz if you was playing, you came down here today in Atlanta, Georgia, you ain't gonna average no 40. And if you did, you woulda went straight to the league,'' Newton said.

After being a first-round draft pick by New England in 2018, Harry, 26, is still in the NFL playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The 34-year-old Newton continues to make headlines for his social media posts and additional viral clips, including his involvement in a recent massive brawl during his appearance at a 7-on-7 youth All-Star football tournament in his hometown Atlanta in February.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cam Newton says ex-ASU WR N’Keal Harry’s claim caused his viral GIF