As a blogger for Walk On Nation, I have grown to love and appreciate the undying efforts of those who patrol the bench on game days. Over the last year, I have paid close attention to some bench players waiting to get a chance to get off the pine and lace up the sneakers. These players seem like the losers who can't get any minutes in a pick-up game (the NBA), but they deserve more recognition for their dedication to #thegrind. My close colleague Steve-O and I view some select players as our "Walk-On Role Models".
ROLE MODEL #1:
KENT BAZEMORE
For the uninitiated, Kent Bazemore (Golden State Warriors guard from Old Dominion) looks like your typical bench clown who gets too crazy over every basket that Golden State makes. However, Kent Bazemore is arguably one of my favorite players in the league.
I was watching the Warriors-Spurs game the other night, I think Game 1 that went into Double OT. I was getting uninterested in the game when suddenly a sub goes to check in.... KENT BAZEMORE. Not only is Bazemore an idol for bench celebrations, with popular hits like the 3 point statue:
And the And-1 Donkey Kong:
... but Bazemore was actually in the game for some reason in overtime. Not that I would ever follow the Golden State Warriors during the regular season - (in all seriousness I don't know anyone who follows the NBA Regular Season besides that one guy everyone who won't stop talking or tweeting about the Jazz-Nuggets game on TV... who cares dude) but this living bench legend was in the game in OT. I can't remember a time being more hyped after Steph Curry fed Bazemore for the go-ahead bucket and thinking that a role model of mine could have scored the game winner against the Spurs. He ended up getting a 3 banged in his eye by Manu Ginobili with 1 second left, but I was still happy with the way he balled out when he got his chance. Making all of us on #thegrind proud.
P.S. I kind of feel bad for this guy - his teammates filled his car with popcorn earlier in the season. All the poor guy does is ride for his team and get hyped at every basket and is repaid by his brand new whip smelling like an AMC Super Combo with Extra Butter. He'll probably be finding popcorn kernels just hiding in his car for the next couple years.
P.P.S. I thought it was hilarious how Richard Jefferson was advocating for caramel popcorn in the video. What a weird request... like why would you even say that in the video? Is Richard Jefferson a caramel popcorn type of guy? These types of questions run through my head.
P.P.P.S. Notice how mad he is after he opens the door and is shoveling the popcorn out of his front seat... but you can't not notice his car... must be worth a couple hundred grand. The guy is a rookie that plays 4.4 minutes a game and is driving a car that a lot of CEO's don't even drive. Wild. What's the league minimum these days? (Editor's note: around $500,000 a year).
If you don't like this dude for his celebrations, then you must not respect the Walk on Nation.
-- Uncle Drew
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