NBA team mocks LeBron signing with announcement of its own
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
But comedians from Johnny Carson to Frank Caliendo will tell you that imitation is also the sincerest form of mockery.
And it was in that spirit that the Minnesota Timberwolves announced the signing of first-round draft pick Josh Okogie to a rookie contract Monday.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 3, 2018
“Josh Okogie, 20th Pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, All ACC honoree, Fortnite player, The Office binge watcher, and all around good guy,” the team’s press release read.
Which, of course, was a poke in the eye at LeBron James, who announced his signing with the Lakers in a similar release on Sunday.
— Klutch Sports Group (@KlutchSports) July 2, 2018
“LeBron James, four time NBA MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, fourteen time NBA All Star, two time Olympic gold medalist, and a partridge in a pear tree,” it might as well have said.
Which, speaking of, partridge in pear sauce is delicious. Try it this Christmas.
All kidding (and thoughts of lunch) aside, this was a great show on the Wolves’ part, a chance to let some of the air out of the overinflated hype balloon that so often accompanies the NBA’s free agent signing frenzy during the first week of July.
It also generates some buzz for their incoming rookie, a guy who most fans may not have heard of since Georgia Tech doesn’t get quite the same exposure on national television as the likes of North Carolina, Duke or Kentucky.
And it brings back echoes of NBA journeyman Anthony Tolliver’s similar stunt from 2010, as SB Nation pointed out.
Which, by happy coincidence, also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Wolves may be roiled by controversy as “defensive mastermind” head coach Tom Thibodeau coached the team to the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA in 2017-18 and as Jimmy Butler reportedly has “no intentions” of remaining with the team once he can opt out of his player option in 2019.
But at least they’ve got an unassailable sense of humor and the ability to turn “all eyes north” for a masterful bit of trolling.
A sense of humor like this keeps my interest in the broken NBA alive
— shartywaffles26 (@shartywaffles26) July 3, 2018
Keep doing you, Minnesota. This zero-time NBA All-Star, Nevada Wolf Pack alum, seven-year sportswriting veteran, Fallout 4 master, and Internet snark dispenser is rooting for your new rookie.
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