Tag: John Konchar

A Grizzlies veteran pulled off the funniest photo prank on an unsuspecting rookie teammate

What a perfect prank.

When you successfully pull off a hilarious and innocent prank, it is an accomplishment. Memphis Grizzlies wing John Konchar did exactly that.

Konchar, 28, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Grizzlies in 2019. He has carved out a nice place as a role player in the pros, earning a spot on the roster in Memphis. Now a veteran, he took it upon himself to introduce a rookie teammate to life in the NBA.

That teammate, Jaylen Wells from Washington State University, was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. He joins a Memphis rookie class highlighted by two-time national collegiate player of the year Zach Edey and NCAA champion Cam Spencer.

Konchar saw Wells in public and pretended that he was just a fan of the Grizzlies, creating an iconic photo in the process.

He shared how he pulled off a hilarious joke without Wells recognizing him:

“I see him at a Cordelia’s. [I’m] with my girlfriend at the time and I’m just like hey. I’m going to go up to him. I’ve never met him yet. I wasn’t in Vegas or anything. I haven’t met him yet. I see him over there. I’m like hey. I’m going to ask him for a picture and see if he recognizes me. Like, follow me and take a picture. So I go up to him and I’m like: Hey, I’m John. I’m a huge Grizzlies fan. Can I please take a picture with you? I shook his hand and everything. So my girlfriend is behind me just taking a picture and I’m like dude I appreciate it. Good luck this season. And we just walk away.”

Wells added some context:

“I took the picture and I walked around the corner and the cashier came up to me and said: Do you know who you just took a picture with? And I’m like: John. He told me his name is John. And then he was like, no, that’s your teammate, John Konchar. I was like, that makes sense. That makes a lot of sense. Because it was slightly awkward when we took the picture. Something was up.”

The rookie added that his locker is now directly next to Konchar’s.

What a perfect prank.

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Lakers are reportedly keeping tabs on the Grizzlies’ John Konchar

The Lakers may reportedly be looking into a low-key trade target in the Grizzlies’ John Konchar.

There has already been quite a bit of trade buzz in the NBA before the calendar has even reached December, and the big name people have been talking about most is Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls’ two-time All-Star wing.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the teams that have been most linked to LaVine. While it is debatable whether he would have a positive impact on the team, there have been multiple reports that the team has some real interest in pursuing him.

But LaVine could be a costly trade target, as he has a big contract, and thus it may be more prudent for L.A. to go after other players. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, one of those players could be John Konchar of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Via HoopsHype:

“Reserve forward John Konchar is also a candidate to be dealt before the February trade deadline,” wrote Scotto. “The Celtics, Warriors, and Lakers are among the teams who’ve kept tabs on Konchar’s situation from afar, HoopsHype has learned.”

The Grizzlies, who are currently without mainstays Ja Morant, Steven Adams and Marcus Smart, are 4-13, which is the second-worst record in the Western Conference. Morant is serving a 25-game suspension while Smart may not return until late December, and Adams is out for the season, which may make this a lost season for them. As a result, changes may be in order for Memphis.

Konchar, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound wing who is originally from Chicago, has shown some promise as a 3-point shooter in his five NBA seasons. He has career averages of 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.3 minutes a game.

Austin Reaves’ triple-double, Obi Toppin’s 42 and other wild lines from the NBA’s regular-season finale

Everyone decided to score 40 points on the final day of the NBA’s regular season.

The end of the NBA’s regular season is always a joy.

You get your share of teams playing with something on the line (especially with the recent introduction of the play-in tournament), teams who are resting stars ahead of the playoffs, and others who are shamelessly tanking for draft positioning.

The latter two are obviously the most fun because it leads to things like Andre Ingram being called up from the NBA G League in 2018, Grayson Allen scoring 40 points in the 2017 finale, or Kobe’s 60-point farewell.

Nevertheless, the season’s final day traditionally leaves us with plenty to talk about. This past Sunday was no different.

Here’s everything that took place: