There was a scene in Like Mike where Calvin saw his favorite player, Allen Iverson, during shootaround before the game. He went up and, to AI’s disbelief, asked for an autograph.
A veteran teammate brought Calvin back over to his side of the court. “Players don’t ask players for autographs,” the teammate said.
Now, that’s certainly not what happened in the NBA bubble, but it’s a funny image that comes to mind with reporter Taylor Rooks’ observation about the shoe choice of Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lu Dort.
Walking around the bubble, Dort wears shoes of fellow former Arizona State University player James Harden, Rooks tweeted.
In the games against Harden’s Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, Dort does not.
Rooks asked why.
Apparently, he and Thunder point guard Chris Paul had a discussion about this.
I noticed that OKC Lu Dort was always wearing James Harden shoes in the bubble
He hasn’t worn them once this series.
He said he has a ton of respect for James, but cant wear his shoes while also facing him in the playoffs. Says it was his decision but CP3 discussed it with him
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 23, 2020
It’s not the same as Like Mike: There’s no indication that Harden was Dort’s favorite players growing up. Wearing a pair of shoes of an opponent isn’t unheard of, and some athletes even asked stars like Kobe Bryant for shoes and autographs. Plus, as Dort said, it was his choice.
Yet it’s still funny to imagine the conversation he and Paul may have had.
Twitter also had some jokes about what may have gone down.
so it was Chris Pauls decision lol he was waiting for him like this 😭 pic.twitter.com/ri045aFRW5
— Big Hamp (@Hampstradamus) August 23, 2020
CP3 “discussing it” with Dort pic.twitter.com/VTT34Dn23Z
— Hari Ragupathi (@HariRagupathi) August 23, 2020
Would be out there looking like this pic.twitter.com/MzhGLwrxGe
— KJ (@KampaiignV) August 23, 2020
may not have been in Harden’s shoes, but he was sho’ in his jersey though… pic.twitter.com/Jou6oGRqAY
— your friend that jumped off a bridge (@KenDesGarcons) August 23, 2020
Like that final reaction alludes to, Dort has had more success guarding Harden than almost anyone else in the NBA this series, even if he’s not wearing his usual shoes.
He doesn’t have to be like Mike to do so. Only like Lu.
