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.
Best story of media day – JOHN KONCHAR meeting rookie Jaylen Wells at the market and asking him for a picture 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/w0cygBEdtd
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) September 30, 2024
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.”
“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.
