Dirk Nowitzki has a well-deserved reputation as one of the funniest players in the NBA, but as it turns out he’s had some pretty stiff competition this year in his own locker room. Following the Mavs players this season on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat has been a trip.
Whether Dirk and Zaza Pachulia are going at it, Justin Anderson is retweeting pictures of lions, or JaVale McGee is posting selfies with the latest Snapchat filters, the Mavs haven’t let their off-the-floor talents go to waste. Although the playoffs are right around the corner, we still have some time to look back on the funny moments before things truly start to heat up. Let’s take a look at some of the best posts and exchanges they’ve had this season.
The Mavs won seven of their final nine games of the season, which means Dirk is already in postseason form. And when the playoffs come around, he takes no prisoners… not even yours truly.
Of course, that wasn’t his only zinger of the season, and he doesn’t just pick on lowly scribes, either. When the Dallas Cowboys jokingly submitted a #MavsNewCourt design prominently featuring the famous star logo, Nowitzki didn’t pull any punches when voicing his disapproval.
And there was the time when he hit front rim on a dunk — and although it happened after a whistle and therefore didn’t count, that didn’t keep the world from chirping about it. Dirk’s response:
Or when C.J. McCollum crossed him up, spun him around, and hit a jumper. (The Mavs won in overtime, though!)
@CJMcCollum did the old man dirty last night. At least my skating lessons this summer paid off…. https://t.co/61ItvJ1I9S
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) December 2, 2015
Not even Pau Gasol, a fellow European legend, can avoid a little Nowitzki shade.
@paugasol https://t.co/2Nm49A8B1i #pau1000 congrats
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) December 5, 2015
Then, of course, there’s this, perhaps the best tweet by any player of the entire season.
Whole team calls me Ellen DeGeneres with my new hairdo!!!! @TheEllenShow pic.twitter.com/NabypGbSAr
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 1, 2016
Chandler Parsons and Nowitzki are good buddies. Parsons says Nowitzki was one of his favorite athletes growing up, and he proudly wore No. 41 jerseys when playing ball on Florida playgrounds. Now that they’re teammates, Parsons can hang out with his idol. Sometimes that means playing tennis…
…while others it might mean lifting weights together…
…while others yet it might mean exploring Southern culture.
You’re never too old to be a cowboy.
These two might have a weird, quirky relationship at times, but that doesn’t stop them from posing for pictures together in front of a Rolls Royce…
…or from hanging out at the most infamous Halloween party in Dallas history.
While Nowitzki steals the show on Twitter and Parsons holds the Instagram belt, there’s no question JaVale McGee has the greatest Snapchat of any Maverick, potentially in team history. He’s been a panda rapping along to “Panda” (very meta)…
GOOD WIN! pic.twitter.com/ZbxyHqege0
— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) March 15, 2016
…he’s relaxed with Buzz Lightyear…
GOOD WIN #MFFL #MAVS pic.twitter.com/QSzZ4fY884
— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) December 29, 2015
…and he’s worn tropical headgear.
WHEN SHE SAY SHE VEGAN pic.twitter.com/EUsxW3UIkN
— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) December 11, 2015
Following along to the adventures of McGee and Raja “The Sphynx” is always a trip, too.
YOU SEE HIM BOB HIS HEAD AT THE END? HE TURNT ALREADY! #RAJATHESPHYNX pic.twitter.com/9u2n8B3QFl
— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) January 30, 2016
And finally there was the time that he was Charlie Villanueva and Villanueva was he.
Well. It’s happened….@faceswaplive has reached the Mavs! @CVBelieve @JaValeMcGee34 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/AK1h3mozv2
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 18, 2016
Villanueva and J.J. Barea both welcomed daughters into the world this season.
Congratulations to them both!
Dirk and Pachulia don’t back down on the floor, so you’d better believe they’re not going to be shy away from the game. These two go at each other online harder than most guys do their opponents in the postseason.
Nice crocs @swish41 pic.twitter.com/wLxp5kDET0
— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) April 7, 2016
Dirk doesn’t believe Pachulia can snag a Leonel Messi jersey.
People. This guy is obvious hater😂😂 https://t.co/bUaDg1gjb7
— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) February 18, 2016
(Click to see the whole exchange on that one…)
There’s the Great Shoulder Debate of 2015-16.
Dirk saying that I hurt his left shoulder during this moment in yesterday's game🙄🙄 Soft#Mavs… https://t.co/sr6szl6ElZ
— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) January 7, 2016
You are my guy but your head weighs 500 pounds… https://t.co/IiN0elKLv8
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) January 7, 2016
And then there’s Zaza taking credit for Dirk’s rise up the all-time scoring list.
Congrats @swish41. Since I got in Dallas you start getting buckets. You welcome. 6
— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) December 24, 2015
Finally, here’s our entry for tweet of the year…
Hey @LAClippers! Good game! Have a safe trip home! ✈️🚀🚗🚲⛵️🚤🍌
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 12, 2015
What a season it’s been for the Mavs, both on the floor and off of it. There certainly is something charming about these guys being so funny away from the game, especially in how they interact with one another. The players really enjoy each other’s company, and that’s a pretty important thing given the amount of time they spend together. The group has talked up the importance of chemistry and togetherness all season long, and down the stretch of the playoff race we learned just why that’s so important.
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