In the world of professional basketball, locker room pranks and bonding rituals can often lead to some pretty amusing stories. Take, for instance, the tale shared by Jason Richardson about his teammate, Gilbert Arenas. Back in the day, it was a tradition for Gilbert, who was drafted in the second round, to bring a USA Today newspaper and a box of Krispy Kreme donuts to every team shootaround. Gilbert often grumbled about this tradition, saying to me, “J-Rich, I’m just a second-round pick. I don’t have the cash for this every day. I’m done with this nonsense. Forget them—I’m not bringing any donuts anymore.”
However, Chris Mills, another teammate, was adamant. He warned Gilbert, “If you don’t bring those donuts, there will be consequences.” Chris wasn’t kidding, either. So, the following day, Gilbert walked in, a big grin across his face. He set the donuts down and made a beeline straight for my seat. “Hey, J-Rich,” he said, “don’t eat those donuts. I licked every single one of them.” Surprised, I asked, “What do you mean?” He flashed a mischievous smile, “I made them extra glazy, just for you.”
This gem of a story emerged during a casual YouTube chat, and it’s a perfect snapshot of the humorous camaraderie that thrives in sports teams.
