The NBA is never the last to bring its share of verbal protrusions of all kinds between its various protagonists. And inevitably, count on us to identify them as often as possible, because without being too first degree, we are fond of these muscular duels. So, who do you think is the biggest mouth of the moment?
The previous edition of the TrashTalk Award was won by a Kevin Durant who was hot as soon as he woke up.
Candidate # 1: Jayson Tatum is fed up with the Heat
This season, few defenses resist Jayson Tatum, not even that of Miami, yet known to be tough. A legitimate candidate for the title of regular season MVP, JT took care of the Heat players’ case on December 1, 2022 by winning 134-121 and scoring 49 points on their truffle. A first chocolate from the Advent Calendar in the style of After Height or Mon Chéri for Floridians who have suffered the law of the number 0 of the greens. Not content with having rolled the Heat, Tatum allowed himself to chamber his direct opponent.
???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/1dj5iyQADQ
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) December 1, 2022
A mega smile, very Freedent, very Hollywood chewing gum, but above all a nice silent punchline. Jayson Tatum is about to attack his direct opponent, bursting out laughing in front of him, as if he already knew he had won. It must be said that it would have been the case against many defenders but it is unfortunately the poor Haywood Highsmith, who had not asked anything of anyone, who suffered the lightning irony of Tatumthat is obviously a lot of fun.
Candidate #2: Pelicans fans go after Chris Paul
A little history lesson before tackling this subject. Chris Paul played for the New Orleans Hornets between 2005 and 2011, they then became the Pelicans in 2013, a year before the Charlotte Bobcats reverted to the Hornets a year later, to reclaim the honors and history of franchise. How are you following? Alright, we can continue then.. Since 2011 and his departure for the Clippers, CP3 has never kept a huge popularity rating in Louisiana, as evidenced by these rather offensive songs that came down from the spans of the Smoothie King Center.
“Chris Paul sucks” ????
The Pelicans crowd let CP3 have it last night.
Paul played 6 seasons with the Hornets pic.twitter.com/NjgwS0HBnt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2022
“Chris Paul pue !”
To provide context, Paul had just pulled and unbalanced new local idol Zion Williamson into a landing. Knowing the liabilities of the colossus with injuries, Pelicans fans were inevitably scared. As much to link the useful to the pleasant by destabilizing the opponent while having fun with a former glory who did not leave a good memory when he left despite the other good times spent on the floor. At least it deserves to be said.
Candidate # 3: “too small” signs, here you go
Ah, the “too small” sign, this new great classic used abundantly (not to say excessively) by NBA players. You will quickly understand why. Here we have two candidates in one for this big league trashtalking staple: Patrick Beverley and Taurean Princeand you will see that the use of this gesture, in the two given situations, is surprising to say the least.
Patrick Beverley just made the “too small” sign to Chris Paul on an and one.
The Lakers are trailing, 70-46.
We are on top of anything. pic.twitter.com/bqiw2fFAVr
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) December 20, 2022
Taurean Prince looking at his bench after an and one and screaming “TOO SMALL” while Jusuf Nurkic is 2m11 for 135 kilos mdrrr it’s magnificent pic.twitter.com/nuXI2VgY2h
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 5, 2023
First situation, that of Patrick Beverley. The Lakers point guard has just scored on Chris Paul’s truffle, and therefore allows himself to mimic this gesture. Problem, and not the least: Patoche does it while the Suns are still leading 70 to 46 after this basket, during a match that will end with a score of 130 to 104 in favor of the Suns, which is not normally not conducive to bluster. But Pat Bev is used to this kind of facts now, it has entered the NBA landscape, so let’s not hold it against him and laugh instead.
Second situation, that of Taurean Prince. The Wolves winger scores and brings down Jusuf Nurkic who then falls. Neither one nor two, the dreaded does the same mime as the Lakers chihuahua. But there too we have a problem: the Bosnian pivot is about 15 centimeters and 40 kilos more than Prince. This removes much of its meaning from the gesture previously made. Or it means that many players are literally too small. But we have our doubts on the matter.
Candidate # 4: Warriors go after Grizzlies
Well, well, the Warriors in this section, how surprising. Never the last to chamber the opponent, the 2022 champions have decided to continue this nascent little rivalry against the Grizzlies. The latter deprived Golden State of the Playoffs in 2021 after the play-in tournament. But GS takes revenge on the Bears in 2022 in the conference semifinals. Their clashes are often scrutinized in terms of play, but also punchlines and trashtalking. Recently, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green stood out against Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant.
Klay Thompson let loose on Dillon Brooks ????pic.twitter.com/IhRT1cZFWE
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) December 26, 2022
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) December 26, 2022
After a three-point shot scored against Brooks, Thompson eyes his defender who then fell to the ground, probably giving him a few insanities in passing. While Draymond Green, also seeing Ja Morant on the ground after a block, decides to yell in his ears in a similar way. To give some context, Dillon Brooks had said shortly before this game that it was exaggerated to speak of a dynasty for the Warriors, and that they would come back every year. Not again this time Dillon. Because in addition to having a blaze of Martinican rum, you also lost this match with a score of 123 to 109.
Candidate # 5: Ja Morant pushes the song
We find here Ja Morant, but this time in the role of the executioner. After martyring the Suns by scoring 29 points and leaving with the W 136 to 106, the leader allowed himself to point his defender and sing after a basket with the fault written on the muzzle of Saben Lee. A little song that looks like chambering from the young leader of the Oursons, just like this cry after another basket with the fault on the face of the Bahamian pivot Deandre Ayton.
Ja Morant singing “He can’t guard me” ???? pic.twitter.com/2LXskgoZuw
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) January 17, 2023
“He can’t defend me”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmNGQFlhYjQ
Author of a smoothly completed third quarter, Ja decided to be an artist in every sense of the word. Indeed, why take the lead when you can sing after a basket with the fault while indulging in a few small dance steps well felt while still on the ground? This is most likely the question that Ja Morant asked himself after this basket with the fault. A career as a rapper already more promising than that of brief nan rien…
Bonus candidate: Domantas Sabonis knows very well where he plays
Author of a delicious season, both individually and collectively, Domantas Sabonis is nonetheless a Kings player, and that, the Lithuanian seems to know better than anyone. Even if the victories are much more frequent than in the last fifteen years, and a large purple laser, synonymous with victory, often overlooks the Golden1Center and more generally the capital of California, the franchise does not forget these 16 years of scarcity without Playoffs, which could well end this year. But back to our sheep, Domas was scared after a victory in extremis against Jazz, listen to him, it looks like a twitto.
Domantas Sabonis reaction smokes me ???????????? he knows what franchise he plays in pic.twitter.com/b48Cxg1JXJ
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 4, 2023
De’Aaron Fox scored with 0.4 seconds remaining to give Sacramento the win, but Lauri Markkanen nearly broke the mood. Receiving the ball at 3 points with his back to the basket, the Finn catches the ball, turns around and sends the balloon to pierce the net, but unfortunately a few tenths too late for the shot to be validated. The Kings won but the Kings scared themselves, maybe because it is the Kings precisely, such is the reasoning of Domantas Sabonis, who still thought he had seen a “so Kangz” moment.
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