Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a large NBA fan and has interacted with some basketball gamers over time. The WWE legend’s charisma and adaptableness usually outshine his hoop counterparts once they get collectively.
Johnson rose from being an unknown to changing into one of many leisure world’s greatest and most bankable superstars. He’s actually at par with the celebrity energy of the basketball gamers he has had an opportunity to collaborate with.
Listed below are 5 NBA superstars that Dwayne Johnson has had an opportunity to work with
#5 Kevin Durant
The Brooklyn Nets ahead, one of many NBA’s perennial MVP contenders, has had a really attempting and controversial previous few seasons in league historical past. KD tried his greatest final season, however couldn’t even win one sport in opposition to the Boston Celtics.
Durant demanded to be traded within the offseason after which reportedly requested for the firing of GM Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash. To say that the previous few seasons have been chaotic and stuffed with shortcomings is an understatement.
For Dwayne Johnson to hype up Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets’ season nearly ensures a bounce-back 12 months from the Jap powerhouse. “Black Adam” doing a voice-over to hype up the Nets’ marketing campaign this season is chillingly sizzling:
“On this world, there are heroes and there are villains. Final 12 months because the world targeted in your failures, who noticed associates turn out to be foes and others cement their place in historical past with out you, questions from these watching as your legacy turned riddled with doubt.
“However as a way to attain your pinnacle as soon as once more, it is time to choose. You could be the destroyer of this league, otherwise you could be its savior.”
Dwayne Johnson’s collaboration with Kevin Durant solely provides extra suspense and expectations for the Brooklyn Nets.
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks teammates are well-known for his or her pre-game wrestling rituals. They’ve made a number of the most hilarious and entertaining makes an attempt to enter Dwayne Johnson’s world.
It didn’t take lengthy for “The Rock” and “The Greek Freak” to work together. A 12 months earlier than the Bucks gained the 2020 NBA championship, Antetokounmpo and Johnson labored out collectively. The fun-loving Greek basketball celebrity then promptly tweeted:
“I scent what the Rock is cooking.”
And when requested what occurs in a wrestling match with “The Rock,” Antetokounmpo replied:
“I’d kill him.”
The 2-time NBA MVP was clearly joking, prompting Dwayne Johnson to get again on the basketball participant:
“Love this dude. It’s why he’s @NBA beast & the Bucks are #1 within the E.
However you don’t need this smoke, cuz I’ll slap your lips off into subsequent week, son.
And by that I imply, let’s simply get a exercise in and luxuriate in some tequila after.”
The 2 might work together but once more sooner or later given their simple chemistry and obsession in the case of figuring out.
#3 Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal challenged themselves to a weightlifting contest years in the past. They went on to bench press 205, 225 and 315 lbs as the competition heated up. The ultimate weight was at 405 lbs the place a spotter was extraordinarily obligatory.
Working as spotters for the NBA superstars had been Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg. The previous will assist Shaquille O’Neal whereas the latter takes Charles Barkley’s facet.
Each former NBA gamers had little to no issues lifting the earlier three weight classes. Shaq failed on the 405-pound marker. Happily for Shaq, Dwayne Johnson was in his nook to assist him out.
To the shock of principally everybody within the gymnasium, the out-of-shape “Chuck” simply out lifted Shaq. “The Rock” couldn’t imagine what he was seeing whereas Mark Wahlberg was placing on a poker face.
After Barkley was declared the winner, the producers then revealed that “Chuck’s” weights had been dummies. Everybody had their chortle, together with the dropping crew that had Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Johnson.
#2 Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal and John Cena are shut buddies. Cena and Dwayne Johnson had a made-for-TV spat throughout Wrestlemania 27, which all however assured the now-retired Johnson’s return to the WWE.
When WrestleMania 28 introduced the battle between Cena and “The Rock,” the previous NBA celebrity sided with the reigning WWE champ.
“Wanting ahead to seeing my man @JohnCena smacketh down @therock right this moment at #wrestlemania in Miami. That man is Shaqqed. #”
This was the primary of a sequence of photographs thrown at “The Folks’s Champ.”
Shaquille O’Neal added later:
“The actual Tooth Fairy could go to @therock tonight after @johncena will get by with him. #cenation”
Dwayne Johnson had sufficient of Shaq’s trash-talking and responded:
“@SHAQ Hows your lips Shaq? Trigger subsequent time I see you, I am slapping them off your face.” #TeamBringIt #ByeByeLips
“The Rock” ended up beating John Cena, however no lip slapping occurred between Johnson and Shaq.
#1 Steph Curry
Two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry confirmed off his performing chops in HBO’s Ballers. He was Dwayne Johnson’s celeb visitor in one of many present’s episodes.
“The Rock” performed the character Spencer Strasmore, a former athlete who’s now the supervisor of Anderson Monetary Administration.
Steph Curry, taking part in himself, interacted with Strasmore about sure issues he needed to cope with in his NBA profession. Strasmore used all his appeal to make Curry his consumer whereas attempting to beat obstacles which might be seemingly positioned to cease that from taking place.
There was no trash-talking between the 2, however the chemistry was simmering between the 2 Beneath Armour endorsers.
Subsequent to LeBron James, Steph Curry is the largest identify within the NBA, which ranks him on the prime of this listing.