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Every NBA team's weirdest, most awkward and unintentionally hilarious media day photo

ben rohrbach
Senior NBA writer
  • "Wait, I"m on the Atlanta Hawks now?" — Jabari Parker, probably
    1/30

    Atlanta Hawks

    "Wait, I"m on the Atlanta Hawks now?" — Jabari Parker, probably
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Prost! This is the only way I can get through this media day." — Daniel Theis, maybe
    2/30

    Boston Celtics

    "Prost! This is the only way I can get through this media day." — Daniel Theis, maybe
    AP
  • "I don't know if you know this, but the pyramid representing the Eye of Providence on American currency is proof that freemasons founded the United States. What is currency anyway?" — Kyrie Irving, I think
    3/30

    Brooklyn Nets

    "I don't know if you know this, but the pyramid representing the Eye of Providence on American currency is proof that freemasons founded the United States. What is currency anyway?" — Kyrie Irving, I think
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "What's better than Terry Rozier dominating one ball? Terry Rozier dominating two balls." — Terry Rozier, I assume
    4/30

    Charlotte Hornets

    "What's better than Terry Rozier dominating one ball? Terry Rozier dominating two balls." — Terry Rozier, I assume
    Streeter Lecka via Getty Images
  • "I was cryin' when I met you. Now I'm trying to forget you. Love is sweet misery." — Lauri Markkanen, looking like he's in a '90s music video
    5/30

    Chicago Bulls

    "I was cryin' when I met you. Now I'm trying to forget you. Love is sweet misery." — Lauri Markkanen, looking like he's in a '90s music video
    AP
  • "Are you Cedi for the funk?" — Cedi Osman, a.k.a. Studio 16, I hope
    6/30

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    "Are you Cedi for the funk?" — Cedi Osman, a.k.a. Studio 16, I hope
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Boban hungry. Boban eat basketball." — Boban Marjanovic, ostensibly
    7/30

    Dallas Mavericks

    "Boban hungry. Boban eat basketball." — Boban Marjanovic, ostensibly
    USA Today Sports / Reuters
  • "Yeah, I totally lost 20 pounds this summer." — Nikola Jokic, sucking in his stomach, presumably
    8/30

    Denver Nuggets

    "Yeah, I totally lost 20 pounds this summer." — Nikola Jokic, sucking in his stomach, presumably
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Hey, you, come get this ball. I won't tear you limb from limb. Seriously, come get it. I won't knock you out. I swear. Come get the ball. I won't put you in a chokehold. Honestly, just grab it." — Markieff Morris, in all likelihood
    9/30

    Detroit Pistons

    "Hey, you, come get this ball. I won't tear you limb from limb. Seriously, come get it. I won't knock you out. I swear. Come get the ball. I won't put you in a chokehold. Honestly, just grab it." — Markieff Morris, in all likelihood
    Gregory Shamus via Getty Images
  • "Wait, KD said he chose the Nets because 'the basketball was appealing?' " — Warriors, undoubtedly
    10/30

    Golden State Warriors

    "Wait, KD said he chose the Nets because 'the basketball was appealing?' " — Warriors, undoubtedly
    AP
  • "Give me your best 'Somebody just barely grazed me on a 3-point attempt' face." — Cameraman to James Harden, god willing
    11/30

    Houston Rockets

    "Give me your best 'Somebody just barely grazed me on a 3-point attempt' face." — Cameraman to James Harden, god willing
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "There's Popeye's chicken sandwiches? Yes!" — Domantas Sabonis, we can only hope
    12/30

    Indiana Pacers

    "There's Popeye's chicken sandwiches? Yes!" — Domantas Sabonis, we can only hope
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "So, Kawhi, pretty excited to join the Clippers, huh?" — Lou Williams, likely
    13/30

    Los Angeles Clippers

    "So, Kawhi, pretty excited to join the Clippers, huh?" — Lou Williams, likely
    MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images via Getty Images
  • "Let's just check Twitter to see if LeBron has tried to trade us yet." — the new young Lakers, possibly
    14/30

    Los Angeles Lakers

    "Let's just check Twitter to see if LeBron has tried to trade us yet." — the new young Lakers, possibly
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Guys, I'm not the ballboy. It's me, De'Anthony Melton. I'm on your team now." — De'Anthony Melton, maybe
    15/30

    Memphis Grizzlies

    "Guys, I'm not the ballboy. It's me, De'Anthony Melton. I'm on your team now." — De'Anthony Melton, maybe
    AP
  • "Do I really have to do this?" — Tyler Herro, assumably
    16/30

    Miami Heat

    "Do I really have to do this?" — Tyler Herro, assumably
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Does my hair look OK?" — Robin Lopez, every year
    17/30

    Milwaukee Bucks

    "Does my hair look OK?" — Robin Lopez, every year
    AP
  • "Oh, you want blue steel? I'll give you blue steel." — Josh Okogie, most definitely
    18/30

    Minnesota Timberwolves

    "Oh, you want blue steel? I'll give you blue steel." — Josh Okogie, most definitely
    AP
  • "Don't you [forget about me]." — Zion Williamson, huge Breakfast Club fan
    19/30

    New Orleans Pelicans

    "Don't you [forget about me]." — Zion Williamson, huge Breakfast Club fan
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Hold on, how many power forwards did the Knicks sign this summer?" — Bobby Portis, I expect
    20/30

    New York Knicks

    "Hold on, how many power forwards did the Knicks sign this summer?" — Bobby Portis, I expect
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Yeah, no, I totally love being on the Thunder. Love, love, love it. Big Thunder guy." — Chris Paul, no doubt
    21/30

    Oklahoma City Thunder

    "Yeah, no, I totally love being on the Thunder. Love, love, love it. Big Thunder guy." — Chris Paul, no doubt
    AP
  • "Who's going to be an average team? We are!" — the Orlando Magic, in all probability
    22/30

    Orlando Magic

    "Who's going to be an average team? We are!" — the Orlando Magic, in all probability
    AP
  • "Picture your favorite career 3-pointer." — the photographer to Ben Simmons, unknowingly
    23/30

    Philadelphia 76ers

    "Picture your favorite career 3-pointer." — the photographer to Ben Simmons, unknowingly
    Mitchell Leff via Getty Images
  • "Smile if you like being on the Phoenix Suns." — the photographer to Devin Booker, I presume
    24/30

    Phoenix Suns

    "Smile if you like being on the Phoenix Suns." — the photographer to Devin Booker, I presume
    AP
  • "Please don't do that, Keljin Blevins." — the Blazers, ostensibly
    25/30

    Portland Trail Blazers

    "Please don't do that, Keljin Blevins." — the Blazers, ostensibly
    AP
  • "Oh, so you want me to just do totally normal basketball stuff?" — Trevor Ariza, hilarious
    26/30

    Sacramento Kings

    "Oh, so you want me to just do totally normal basketball stuff?" — Trevor Ariza, hilarious
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "Let's make Kyle Lowry super jealous." — DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray, the best of friends
    27/30

    San Antonio Spurs

    "Let's make Kyle Lowry super jealous." — DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray, the best of friends
    AP
  • "Nick, are you realizing just this very second that Kawhi Leonard left this summer?" — reporters, hopefully
    28/30

    Toronto Raptors

    "Nick, are you realizing just this very second that Kawhi Leonard left this summer?" — reporters, hopefully
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "So, guys, whichever one of you is going to run the offense, why don't you take the ball, and the other guy just kind of stand there with your arms folded." — the cameraman, most likely
    29/30

    Utah Jazz

    "So, guys, whichever one of you is going to run the offense, why don't you take the ball, and the other guy just kind of stand there with your arms folded." — the cameraman, most likely
    USA TODAY USPW / Reuters
  • "How do I feel about being on the Wizards?" — Bradley Beal, absolutely
    30/30

    Washington Wizards

    "How do I feel about being on the Wizards?" — Bradley Beal, absolutely
    AP
"Wait, I"m on the Atlanta Hawks now?" — Jabari Parker, probably
"Prost! This is the only way I can get through this media day." — Daniel Theis, maybe
"I don't know if you know this, but the pyramid representing the Eye of Providence on American currency is proof that freemasons founded the United States. What is currency anyway?" — Kyrie Irving, I think
"What's better than Terry Rozier dominating one ball? Terry Rozier dominating two balls." — Terry Rozier, I assume
"I was cryin' when I met you. Now I'm trying to forget you. Love is sweet misery." — Lauri Markkanen, looking like he's in a '90s music video
"Are you Cedi for the funk?" — Cedi Osman, a.k.a. Studio 16, I hope
"Boban hungry. Boban eat basketball." — Boban Marjanovic, ostensibly
"Yeah, I totally lost 20 pounds this summer." — Nikola Jokic, sucking in his stomach, presumably
"Hey, you, come get this ball. I won't tear you limb from limb. Seriously, come get it. I won't knock you out. I swear. Come get the ball. I won't put you in a chokehold. Honestly, just grab it." — Markieff Morris, in all likelihood
"Wait, KD said he chose the Nets because 'the basketball was appealing?' " — Warriors, undoubtedly
"Give me your best 'Somebody just barely grazed me on a 3-point attempt' face." — Cameraman to James Harden, god willing
"There's Popeye's chicken sandwiches? Yes!" — Domantas Sabonis, we can only hope
"So, Kawhi, pretty excited to join the Clippers, huh?" — Lou Williams, likely
"Let's just check Twitter to see if LeBron has tried to trade us yet." — the new young Lakers, possibly
"Guys, I'm not the ballboy. It's me, De'Anthony Melton. I'm on your team now." — De'Anthony Melton, maybe
"Do I really have to do this?" — Tyler Herro, assumably
"Does my hair look OK?" — Robin Lopez, every year
"Oh, you want blue steel? I'll give you blue steel." — Josh Okogie, most definitely
"Don't you [forget about me]." — Zion Williamson, huge Breakfast Club fan
"Hold on, how many power forwards did the Knicks sign this summer?" — Bobby Portis, I expect
"Yeah, no, I totally love being on the Thunder. Love, love, love it. Big Thunder guy." — Chris Paul, no doubt
"Who's going to be an average team? We are!" — the Orlando Magic, in all probability
"Picture your favorite career 3-pointer." — the photographer to Ben Simmons, unknowingly
"Smile if you like being on the Phoenix Suns." — the photographer to Devin Booker, I presume
"Please don't do that, Keljin Blevins." — the Blazers, ostensibly
"Oh, so you want me to just do totally normal basketball stuff?" — Trevor Ariza, hilarious
"Let's make Kyle Lowry super jealous." — DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray, the best of friends
"Nick, are you realizing just this very second that Kawhi Leonard left this summer?" — reporters, hopefully
"So, guys, whichever one of you is going to run the offense, why don't you take the ball, and the other guy just kind of stand there with your arms folded." — the cameraman, most likely
"How do I feel about being on the Wizards?" — Bradley Beal, absolutely

It’s an annual rite of passage that signals the official start of the NBA preseason: Yahoo Sports NBA’s yearly slideshow of every team’s most awkward media day photo. From Atlanta to Washington, every team is represented by weird moments on a day that is designed to capture our attention but more often than not only provides us with a series of cliches. The pictures are our only saving grace, and even those are becoming more homogeneous. Fear not, though, we scoured them to serve you up the gems.