76ers Fans Celebrate Wins with 'Raise the Cat' Movement

"

#RaiseThecat pic.twitter.com/428xMu9bLp

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) January 21, 2017"

If there's one process foreign to Philadelphia 76ers fans, it's celebrating victories. Unaccustomed to winning, they're showing team pride with a bizarre ritual.

The rebuilding franchise—which tallied a combined 47 wins over the previous three seasons—has now won eight of its last 10 games. Ecstatic supporters are commemorating each triumph with the #RaiseTheCat movement.

It's exactly what it sounds like.

"

Watching the end of the Sixers win against Portland AGAIN this morning and hafta #RAISETHECAT pic.twitter.com/lf9uscIyzD

— Ben Kell (@BRK_rusty) January 21, 2017"

"

@BenSimmons25 #RaiseTheCat #TTP pic.twitter.com/okMyA1s5tS

— Tye (@TyBrander) January 21, 2017"

While working toward his NBA debut, No. 1 pick Ben Simmons partook in the observance. Before doing so, he joined many confused onlookers in questioning the trend's origin:

"

Someone tell me how raise the cat started

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) January 21, 2017"

It appears Simmons actually helped popularize #RaiseTheCat. The 76ers rookie didn't hoist a feline over his head, but he posed with a cat last week:

#RaiseTheCat founder Dennis Grove has conducted this ceremony all season, but it has turned into a phenomenon during Philadelphia's winning stretch.

The way Joel Embiid and Co. are playing, 76ers fans may keep getting ample opportunities to keep this craze going.

[Twitter, Instagram]