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Every Friday, Whitney Medworth appreciates the little moments behind the game that make the NBA such a joy to follow. Check out these past columns.
NBA B-Sides: Kevin Durant as a construction worker is the perfect distraction from Warriors drama
Plus, Vince Carter’s retro shoes, Jimmy Butler donuts, and Victor Oladipo’s ever-shrinking shorts.
The NBA decided to take zero breaks this week, as we got some extreme bickering between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. The Warriors gave us mid-February level drama and we are barely 15 games into the season. Green called KD some names, called him out on his pending free agency, and got suspended for it. IN NOVEMBER.
It took over most of the NBA news cycle for the better part of the week, but don’t let that distract you from everything else that went on in the league, including Durant visiting his potential new home for next season.
Let’s B-Sides.
1. Kevin Durant as a construction worker is my new favorite KD
It’s been a long week for Kevin Durant and I just want to make sure one thing here doesn’t go overlooked: this outfit. Durant went out see the progress of the Chase Center, the Warriors’ new arena where he may or may not play half of his games next year, and looked hilarious and wonderful all at the same time.
The hat.
The glasses.
The shorts.
The SOCKS.
THE BOOTS.
Living by a safety first mantra is important, though, and it appears Durant was following all protocol.
You think this guy is going to be bothered by Draymond Green? With a hard hat and steel-toed shoes and probably another burner account firing off tweets? He’s fine.
2. Vince Carter is wearing Nike Shox for the rest of the season!
Carter is throwing it back to 2000’s glory, when he and Nike took over the world with Nike Shox. Carter even had his own signature shoe, The Shox VC IV, that released in 2004.
NBAE/Getty Images
He’ll be wearing the Nike Shox BB4 PEs, which are meant to celebrate his global debut of the model at the 2000 Olympics. As Carter told ESPN’s Nick DePaula: “The success of the dunk started the legend of the shoes. I became a star player in the BB4.”
SHOX BACK!
3. This hilarious Javale McGree celebration
What else are you going to do celebrate LeBron James?
4. Jimmy Butler got his face on some donuts
What better way to be welcomed to a new team than to have your face on a bunch of donuts!
We’ve seen this before though. Like ... just last month.
5. Can Nike get Victor Oladipo some short shorts?
Vic is painstakingly rolling his warm-up shorts as high as he can, and the man just has a simple request: he wants some short shorts.
And I think they’re getting shorter.
Nike, send help. I can’t have Oladipo wasting time with his shorts. We have games to win. Get this man the shorts.
6. Kristaps Porzingis doesn’t know what cookie dough is
In an interview with GQ about about his diet, Porzingis revealed the following about his cheat days:
What’s your favorite unhealthy food you still sneak in?
I love Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Which kind?
The one with the cookie—what’s it called?
Cookies and cream?
No, no. What do you call the substance before you cook the cookie?
Cookie dough.
Yes! Oh my God, it’s so fire. That’s one of my favorite things to eat when I’m cheating.
This is so pure and good. Get healthy soon, Kristaps! We miss you!
7. This Zach Lavine reverse layup looked exactly like Michael Jordan
This is eerily similar and I’ve watched it about 754 times on repeat.
8. Spencer Dinwiddie’s Stan Lee shoes
Dindwiddie paid tribute to the legendary comic book writer Stan Lee this week. Rest in Superpowers.
9. Josh Hart is on t-shirt watch
SCOTT’S TOTS! This is the second good t-shirt Hart has worn to a game after donning Pokimane merch two weeks ago.
My favorite photo of the week
It’s these photos of Jordan Bell and a service dog before a Warriors game this week.
See ya next week, friends. Tweet me your B-Sides, and I’ll include them in the next round.
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