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NBA-leading Cleveland Cavs have a secret weapon: Humor. And this isn't a joke | Ulrich
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- NBA-leading Cleveland Cavs have a secret weapon: Humor. And this isn't a joke | Ulrich
CLEVELAND — If you don't have a sense of humor, stop reading this now.
And don't you dare enter the 2024-25 Cavaliers locker room because you might not survive. You certainly wouldn't fit in.
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Cavs players and coaches form a fun group. Sure, it's easy to detect the quality when they're winning like they have been this season, but their chemistry is also undeniable. Not all successful teams are close, though it usually helps the cause when they are tight-knit.
Camaraderie is a key ingredient to Cleveland being an NBA-best 25-4 this season, a record the Cavs boosted Saturday night with a 126-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers .
And humor is one of Cleveland's secret weapons .
Well, it's not entirely discreet.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates with guard Caris LeVert (3) during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Fans who pay attention to postgame interviews broadcast on TV and radio and circulated on social media know the exchanges can become a bit difficult to follow at times because several players interrupt each other to throw verbal jabs with the cameras rolling in the locker room.
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Impromptu roasts frequently break out.
"They enjoy making fun of each other, which is usually what a good locker room does," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said.
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Cavaliers forward Georges Niang reacts to the Philadelphia 76ers bench during the first half, Dec 21, 2024, in Cleveland.
The king of comedy among Cavs players is none other than forward Georges Niang . He tops Atkinson's funny guy power rankings, followed by point guard Darius Garland .
"If you can laugh at yourself and poke fun at each other, everything is just easier. It's lighthearted," Niang told the Beacon Journal. "Everybody can kind of get some s*** off their chest, talk a little smack, troll a little bit, and then you can do that and put that behind you so that there's no pent-up, passive-aggressive energy. I don't think that helps anybody, especially in sports."
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Niang said he has been in locker rooms where it's not easy to joke around with teammates. Those types of environments can make building relationships difficult.
The Cavs locker room is no such place, whether it's home or away.
An area where Garland, forward Evan Mobley , guard Donovan Mitchell and small forward Isaac Okoro have lockers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a hot spot for playful barbs. Garland, Mitchell and Okoro bounce innocent insults off each as often as they dribble a basketball. Mitchell's socks, toes, age (he's an ancient 28 years old) and lack of dunks have been targeted as of late. Even the quiet one, Mobley, occasionally mixes it up.
Dec 13, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) celebrates with forward Isaac Okoro (35) after Okoro hit a three point basket during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Center Tristan Thompson and guard Ty Jerome are other Cavs known for their wit. Center Jarrett Allen can be hilariously goofy .
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"Humor is so important through the grind" of a long NBA season, Atkinson said.
By the way, Atkinson is a ringleader.
"He talks the most s***," Niang said. "He's great. That's what makes him, him, and I think that allows for us to grow because he can be serious with you and then kind of put his arm around you and joke. So he's awesome."
Bloopers and other funny material is often interspersed in videos during team meetings. Garland's failed attempt to dunk in Friday's 124-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks , goalkeeper Atkinson allowing a soccer ball to sneak through his legs during a recent Cavs competition and photographic evidence of bad hair days have been included.
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"They got a picture of me back when I was with the Knicks and I had the mullet," Atkinson confessed.
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Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson and center Tristan Thompson (13) celebrate in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
For the record, Atkinson said he misses his mullet, yet Niang is not authorizing his coach to bring it back.
"[Cavs rookie forward] Luke Travers is the only one that can rock the mullet," Niang quipped.
On a seriousness note, the Cavs are capable of focusing when it's time to switch to business mode. Their record under Atkinson proves a willingness to embrace humor can be a useful tool.
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"It's great for the banter, great for some laughs, loosens the room up and then we got to our shootaround and locked in," Atkinson said. "So it's just that kind of atmosphere that we're trying to foster, and it fits this group."
These are good times for the Cavs, but having the last laugh in the playoffs is what matters most.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs benefiting from willingness to embrace humor
