It's no secret LeBron James had an abysmal season with the Los Angeles Lakers this year. The thing is, he's not the only superstar in the NBA who's dealing with a less-than-ideal situation with his team during the past couple of months. But while these guys had a hard season to work with, the same can be said for their counterparts in ClutchPoints' newest animated series “The Association.”
In this version, though, the entire NBA is transformed into a world that resembles The Office and the different teams have become branches. We take a deep dive down below at what went down with The Association episode 1, its funniest moments, easter eggs, and more.
The Association episode 1 review
In the first episode of this ClutchPoints animated series, we see LeBron James speaking to Mr. Moby, the head of Human Resources affiliated with the Lakers branch, about his work-related woes. The King himself is raising several concerns that revolve around his officemates, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis due to how inefficient they are at work.
For his part, Mr. Moby explained that he isn't involved with the operations or the hiring process of the association. Instead, he tells LeBron that his work deals mainly with the benefits of employees. The HR head then recounts the time he provided a kangaroo for Dennis Rodman in Chicago, who proceeded to marry the mammal in a ceremony ministered by Phil Jackson and attended by Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, and Scottie Pippen.
LeBron fires back by saying he isn't asking for anything crazy and all he needs are reliable co-workers. At this point, the episode shows a series of scenes depicting the different branches of the association and how things are going there. We see Joel Embiid dealing with a fat James Harden, a tired Nikola Jokic handling a Xerox machine with Aaron Gordon right behind him, Kevin Love plotting the King's return to Cleveland, and Kevin Durant helping Ben Simmons land a date while Kyrie Irving chimes in.
Mr. Moby tells LeBron that he has another year in his contract, leaving him with no choice but to trust the management. He then makes an excuse to run off and meet Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star, meanwhile, is texting with the head of HR. The episode ends with him laughing at his own joke sent to Moby.
The Association episode 1 funniest moments and easter eggs
LeBron, Russ, and AD
LeBron's whole reason to approach HR was to air out his grievance towards his two co-workers, Russ and AD, and how unreliable they have been. At one point, we see the Brodie accidentally pouring coffee on Davis while the former is on the phone.
Plus, there are photos of LeBron admonishing an injured AD and another one of him watching Westbrook lay down some bricks. These scenes allude to James' struggles during the regular season when his two teammates succumbed to injuries and inconsistent streaks on the court at an alarming rate.
Dennis getting married to a kangaroo
During Moby's recounting of an incident in Chicago, he tells LeBron of a time Dennis Rodman requested for a kangaroo, only to marry it afterward. As mentioned earlier, Phil Jackson was officiating the ceremony, complete with Rodman in a gown. Steve Kerr can then be seen crying as Jordan landed a punch on the guard and tells him to toughen up.
Back in 1996, Rodman went out in a wedding gown and claimed to have married himself. The stunt, which was used to promote his book, involved a horse-drawn carriage, throngs of tuxedo-wearing women, and a crowd that gathered along Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue to see what the fuss was all about.
The scene where Jordan punches Kerr is also another easter egg that alludes to a real-life fight between the two teammates before the 1995-96 season started.
Trusting the process in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid can be seen speaking to James Harden, who then walks away after being asked if he's ready for the game. The guard then becomes a fat version of himself as he leaves a frustrated Embiid.
By Embiid's side is a frame of his image with The Real MVP below it. This alludes to the tight race for the regular season MVP, one in which Nikola Jokic won. He also calls out Harden for traveling, an act the All-Star guard is infamously known for on the court.
Kevin Love's master plan
Over in Cleveland, Darius Garland's co-workers congratulate him after making his first All-Star Game. Kevin Love then looks happy from a distance, only to reveal a plan of getting LeBron James back.
It's no secret that fans would want the King to finish his legendary career where it started, in Cleveland. There's also a photo of Bronny James being drafted by the Cavs to play along with his father, a plan LeBron has repeatedly spoken of in the past.
The Brooklyn Nets' super-branch
As LeBron is mulling over the idea of a super-branch, Moby corrects him by saying that it isn't as wonderful as he expects. The scene then shifts to Brooklyn where we see Kevin Durant helping Ben Simmons find a date. Kyrie is standing next to a water dispenser while speaking to his co-workers. The pair then wonder why Kyrie isn't helping out, only for him to say that it's company policy.
As this exchange is happening, KD's cupcakes can be seen in the room. This alludes to the time Westbrook took a shot at Durant for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder by posting an image of a cupcake. Simmons also admits to Durant that he's no good from a distance while mulling over a girl he sees online. This refers to his inability to take shots beyond the arc whenever he's on the floor.
Kyrie's refusal to join the pair alludes to his anti-vaccination stand, which saw the guard sit out most of the regular season due to a policy that prevents unvaccinated individuals from playing games in New York City.
Giannis and Moby's text exchange
As Moby ends his conversation with LeBron, he hurriedly runs off to meet with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The HR manager sends a text saying he's gonna ride a bike to meet up with the Bucks' star. The Greek Freak then sends a message saying “Don't get two tire-d,” and laughs at his own joke.
Antetokounmpo has been known to make dad jokes whenever he's being interviewed by the media. His message to Moby is a clear allusion to the All-Star's love of telling these jokes, especially on Media day.
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