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Knicks Trade "Joke" Scares Phoenix Player
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 20, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 20, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Some L.A. Lakers fan (we assume) came up with a brilliant plan to psych out Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa last week. Barbosa fell victim to a hoax where his hotel gave him a message saying that Suns GM Steve Kerr wanted to meet him to discuss a trade to the New York Knicks. Jeez, that's maybe the meanest prank call we've ever heard!
The Brazilian player sought out assistant coach and mentor Dan D'Antoni who reassure him. D'Antoni told reporters, “I said, ‘L.B., use your head. Don’t you think I would have told you if something like that was even possible?’ I told him, ‘You’ve got to use someone else’s name when you check into a hotel. If someone told me to come down to the front desk and pick up a million dollars, do you think I’d start running for the elevator?’”
Barbosa later said the "joke" was a "terrible thing... Every time I hear the word ‘trade,’ … it’s just not a comfortable word for me at all. This is my team. I went a little crazy.” Of course - the Suns have the best record (28-12) in the Western Conference, while the Knicks are second to last in the Eastern Conference with a 13-27 record.
The names Yankees players use when checking into hotels were revealed as allegations the Yankees billed the city for odds and ends. And here are couple of Bart Simpson's best prank calls.
And the call may have ultimately misfired: Barbosa scored 22 points over the Lakers and Phoenix won the game.
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Leandro Barbosa
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phoenix
phoenix suns
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The Brazilian
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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