James Harden high fives some imaginary teammates after a made free throw (VIDEO)

Muscle memory is a funny thing. Square up to toss a crumpled-up piece of paper into a trash can or dirty towel into a hamper, and you're likely to use the same shooting motion you utilized during your time as a basketball player. No matter, especially in my case, how misguided that motion might be.

Humor is a funny thing. If you have a sense of humor and you attempt to do funny things, these funny things will turn out funny. It's science, people.

James Harden is full of both good shooting muscle memory and a marvy sense of humor. Which is why, in an NBA tradition dating back years, he gave some imaginary teammates some dap on Monday after nailing a technical free throw:

(To those who might be chiming in without a deep knowledge of NBA basketball — a technical free throw is performed without teammates or opponents surrounding the key, as it is technically in a dead ball situation and there is no potential for a rebound.)

Of course, Harden has his influences. NBA luminaries that shaped his reflexes in ways that go beyond muscle memory.

There's Gary Neal, looking for love in all the wrong places:

And Kevin Love, patiently waiting out Wesley Johnson's human touch:

Then, of course, there's the granddaddy of them all … Andrew Bogut's smart-aleck low-five attempts in the presence of teammates that actually wouldn't step over to five the guy:

It's a storied history, James Harden, and we thank you for continuing to add to its legacy.