Salah Mejri is a 29-year-old Mavericks rookie who surprisingly made the roster over Samuel Dalembert but has spent most of the year in a suit, playing just six games. On Friday, though, Rick Carlisle inserted him into the game down 15 points with seven minutes left, because ... well, here's his phrasing.
Mavs rookie isn’t even impressed by his blocks on Kevin Durant AND Russell Westbrook
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Carlisle said he decided to go to Salah Mejri because the Mavericks were "getting their ass kicked six ways til Sunday"
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) January 23, 2016
Mejri had scored his first career points with a 17-point, nine-rebound performance against Oklahoma City last Wednesday when Carlisle rested all five starters. Almost immediately, Mejri got right back to work, blocking Russell Westbrook ...
... then Kevin Durant.
The Mavericks cut the deficit to three, but couldn't force overtime when Dirk Nowitzki missed a great look with time running out. Still, Mejri's performance was out of nowhere and you can imagine how humble he'd be talking to media after the game.
Salah Mejri said he got blocks on Durant and Westbrook during a Tunisia-Team USA game. "So that was not something new for them," he said.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 23, 2016
OK, well, kinda humble. That’s actually the coolest reply Mejri could have answered with.
