`LIFE OF THE PARTY'
Bazley is Thunder's social media star early on at Disney World
Darius Bazley, wearing a towel on his head to block the Florida sun, was ready to call it a day on the lake.
“I done already caught two fish, so I'm over it at this point, you know what I'm …”
Baz le yd idn' t finish his thought before he felt another bite. Turns out, the Thunder rookie wasn't over the thrill.
Bazley handed his phone to teammate Devon Hall as the video kept rolling. Bazley crouched into a defensive stance and screamed as if he had just hooked a state record. Bazley finally reeled in a three-pound largemouth bass, and after more screaming, it was clear he was no longer trying to keep his cool.
Bazleyh as been the Thunder' s social media star during the team's first week at Disney World. His corn hole challenge against Chris Paul, spot-on impersonation of Mickey Mouse and bass fishing trip all went viral in NBA circles.
“He' s like a big kid ,” Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo said, “and nothing seems to get him upset.”
It' s no surprise the Thunder's youngest player, born June 12, 2000, is having the most fun while trapped inside a Disney World bubble.
“I like to make the most out of any situation that I'm in,” Bazley said. “That was like my second time fishing.”
Players like Bazley have used their phones to provide behind-the-scenes bubble access. Most of the videos origin ate on Ins tag ram and then make their way to Twitter. The Twitter account @ NBABubbleLife has become a hub for these videos. The account was created Friday, and it' s already nearing 100,000 followers.
“That's the good thing about social media, is you can allow people to see what's going on,” Bazley said. “So I think that's pretty cool. I think people should keep doing it, because a lot of people have questions.”
Golf, fishing and yard games are among the outdoor activities offered to players at Disney World. Several Thunder pl ayers brought gaming consoles and books to pass the time in their hotel rooms.
Baz le ydoesn' t expect stir-craziness to set in.
“I'm kind of, I guess you can say, experienced with this,” Bazley said.
The former Syracuse signee op ted to for go college as a top -25 prospect in the 2018 recruiting class. Instead, Bazley chose a threemonth marketing internship at New Balance. He lived in Boston and worked out with private trainers, all while learning about the shoe company he signed a $1 million deal with.
“When I chose to skip school, I moved and I was in an unfamiliar place,” Bazley said .“And all I really did was work out and go to my room.”
His daily routine isn't all that different inside the bubble.
“I play the game with my friends, I read the Bible a lot and I talk to friends and family on the phone,” Bazley said. “I mean that's pretty much it.”
He's also practicing. Bazley, now healthy, missed the Thunder's last 11 games due to a bone bruise in his right knee. The 20- year-old had played every game up to that point, averaging 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. Bazley made eight starts, typically filling in when starting power forward Danilo Gallinari sat out.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan noted that Bazley, listed at 6-foot-8 and 208 pounds, looks stronger after the fourmonth layoff.
“I think Darius Bazley physically has made a nice jump for us ,” Donovan said, “and we'll see how he can continue to develop.”
There are still two weeks to find out what Bazleylooksl ike ont he court. Until then, expect to see more of Bazley's bubble excursions on social media.
“Baze is always the life of t he party,” Thunder guard Sh ai Gil geo usAlexander said. “Always talking, always got something to say, but we love him for it.”