Utah Jazz notes: Karl Malone pranks AD, International Night
By Ryan Aston
Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone fakes out New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis and the Jazz release special T-shirts for International Night.
High-profile celebs — singers, actors, etc. — showing up in unexpected places under the guise of heavy make-up, prosthetics and/or assumed identities is all the rage these days. Whether it’s Jewel secretly performing at a karaoke bar, Katy Perry popping out of a museum exhibit or Jimmy Fallon and Maroon 5 donning wigs and beards to play at the 50th street subway station, people go bananas for that stuff.
NBA ballers are playing dress-up, too. Kyrie Irving’s turn as Uncle Drew got so big, that we’re about to get a feature-length film about the character. So, who’s the latest basketball star to take on an alter ego? None other than Utah Jazz legend and Hall of Famer Karl Malone.
In a video they’re billing as The Basketball Prank of the Year, Red Bull brought New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis in to shoot what he thought was doing a plain-Jane basketball video shoot. Meanwhile, Malone was already on the scene disguised as “Sam the Maintenance Man.”
The Mailman’s job was simple: run interference throughout the shoot and act as annoying as possible. Here’s the end result —
This one is sure to elicit a some chuckles from Jazz Nation. That said, even with the dreads and janitor’s duds, Malone’s voice and imposing physical nature are unmistakable.
Jazz releasing special International Night tees
When the Jazz return to action on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, they’ll also be celebrating the team’s diversity for International Night. If there’s a squad in the league that warrants such an event, it’s the Jazz. Led by All-NBA center and French national Rudy Gobert, the Jazz roster boasts seven international players.
In honor of the occasion, the Jazz will be selling T-shirts to celebrate those players’ international roots.
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The shirts will be available exclusively at the Utah Jazz Team Store in Vivint Smart Home Arena.