The Boston Celtics as Pokemon

What Pokémon would each player on the Boston Celtics be?

By now you’ve probably seen people walking around the streets, staring at their phones even more intensely than before. If you don’t know why, it’s because they’re searching for Pokémon.

Yes, the game and TV show that many people, myself included, grew up watching and loving made an interactive virtual game. Basically the idea of the game is you walk around and every once in a while a Pokémon appears on your screen, then you throw a virtual poke ball at it to catch it.

It’s already the number one app on the Apple App Store, and has brought the love for Pokémon back. I’ve seen people of all ages walking around trying to find as many Pokémon as they can.

It got me thinking about what kind of Pokémon each player on the Boston Celtics would be. Of course, Pokémon is still running and they continue to create new games and Pokémon, however, for the sake of me not looking through hundreds of Pokémon to find the exact match, I narrowed it down to the original 150 Pokémon – which is what you can catch in Pokémon Go.

Isaiah Thomas – Mankey: At 5’9″, Thomas is one of the shortest players in the league, but he’s also tough as nails. He never backs down from a challenge and has a lot of fight in him. While Thomas did make the All-Star game last year, he’s not a player who can single-handedly lead the Celtics deep into the playoffs, which makes Mankey the perfect match.

Mankey is small, but the monkey-type, boxing Pokémon doesn’t go down easily. Sure, he’s not the best Pokémon you can have, but he’s really fun to use and his moves aren’t too shabby. Also, just like Thomas’ game, Mankey has a chance to get even better if you train him enough, because he eventually evolves into Primeape.

Avery Bradley – Butterfree: Butterfree is exactly what it sounds like, a butterfly. It has already evolved twice, so it doesn’t have much room to grow besides refining its skills. But don’t get too down on it, because it’s one of the most underrated Pokémon in the game. Sure, a butterfly isn’t the most exciting thing to battle with, but if you use it right, it can be very effective.

It took time to develop into the great Pokémon it is, just like Bradley. Now, Bradley is one of the better 3-and-D players in the league, but it’s hard to imagine his game getting significantly better. He could become a better three-point shooter, or be more of a go-to-guy on offense, but he’s never going to be the top option, just a solid role player, just like Butterfree.

Jae Crowder – Pikachu: There’s no debate that Pikachu is most well-known character, and Ash’s favorite, Pokémon. Maybe Crowder isn’t the most well-known player in the NBA, or on the Celtics, but fans love him. Also, just like Pikachu, Crowder can be overrated at times. Sure, Pikachu is cute, electric and can do real damage, but Raichu is when he’s most effective.

Crowder has a chance to turn into Raichu, or a star, but it’s going to take time. However, even if he doesn’t take the next step, no one will hold it against him, and he’ll continue to be a fan favorite. You can’t think of Pokémon without Pikachu, and Celtics’ fans can’t think of this team without the heart and soul that is Jae Crowder.

Amir Johnson – Ditto: There is only one thing Ditto can do: turn himself into his opponent. While having Amir Johnson turn into LeBron James or Steph Curry would be very helpful, Ditto perfectly illustrates Johnson’s ability to adapt to any situation with Boston.

Last season, they needed him to be their big man who does the dirty work, plays tough defense and helps on the glass. He did so very effectively. In the playoffs, they relied on his offense more, and he delivered. Johnson has been able to adapt to any situation throughout his entire career, which has made him stick around for so long. Ditto is more fun than actually effective – he’s not the main part to a team – but every team needs a player who is effective in many areas and can capitalize on other team’s weaknesses.

Al Horford – Kangaskhan: Al Horford was the star signing the Celtics have eyed in the past, and Kangaskhan is a rare Pokémon who players would love to catch. Kangaskhan doesn’t evolve, but he’s still one of the best in the game and it’s easy to rely on him. Just like with Horford, you know what you’re going to get, and you’re likely going to end up winning the battle if you use Kangaskhan.

To make it even better, Kangaskhan carries around a baby in his pouch. Being 30-years-old, Horford is one of the oldest players in the locker room and is almost like a dad figure for the younger players.

Marcus Smart – Metapod: Metapod literally has one move: Harden. It’s when he makes his shell harder to help withstand an attack. Metapod is all defense, does that sound like anyone on the Celtics?

Smart has turned into a liability on offense, with his atrocious three-point shot, and has become a defensive-specialist. He’s not completely useless like a Caterpie (unevolved version) and has the potential to become a Butterfree (evolved version, Avery Bradley), but it’s unlikely as it’s hard to use Metapod without any offense.

Terry Rozier – Cubone: After watching Rozier in summer league, there’s no doubt he has potential to be a very good NBA player. The same can be said about Cubone. He’s really tough, just like Rozier in the paint, but, unlike Rozier, Cubone wears a bone helmet and carries around a bone as a weapon.

Cubone isn’t a Pokémon many people think about, but it’s hard not to love what he can do when watching him battle. With Rozier’s potential, it’s only fitting that Cubone is the unevolved version of Marowak. Maybe Rozier is never able to develop into a starter (Marowak), but at worst he’ll be fun to watch and a solid, undermentioned guard.

R.J. Hunter – Tentacool: Once you’re able to go out in the ocean, you realize Tentacool is one of the most common Pokémon in the game. You run into it everywhere, but, at first, it’s still really exciting and cool looking. That’s similar to how Boston felt about Hunter’s three-point game when they drafted him in the first round last year.

Although, just because it looks cool doesn’t mean it’s any good. Tentacool takes a long time to develop and eventually evolves into Tentacruel. If you take the time to evolve it, it can be a very deadly Pokémon against fire types. The same goes for Hunter, he needs time to develop, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll get the time as the Celtics are discovering newer and cooler looking Pokémon.

James Young – Magikarp: What Pokémon describes a bust who came into the NBA as a raw prospect with a seemingly high ceiling? Magikarp seems like the only reasonable answer.

Busts happen every year, and Magikarps are always show up. Young was supposed to turn into a deadly three-point shooter with amazing athletic ability, instead, he struggles shooting on any level. Magikarp literally does nothing to begin with. You put it in at the start of a battle (garbage time) so it can gain a little XP, but, in the end, you know it’s too much work to evolve it to Gyarados.

Kelly Olynyk – Ponyta: What can Olynyk do really well? Shoot threes. Sure, Olynyk isn’t a terrible rebounder and he can sometimes take his defender off the dribble, but he’s basically a one-trick pony. That makes Ponyta, a literal pony, the perfect comparison.

Ponyta is actually really cool, and so is a seven-foot three-point specialist. It even has a chance to evolve into Rapidash – how Boston felt after Olynyk’s career with Gonzaga. However, in the end, that takes a lot longer than anyone wants to spend developing it and it ends up being a solid Pokémon without that knockout punch. The best part is, Ponyta has fire as hair, and we all love Olynyk’s long, luscious locks.

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jonas Jerebko – Nidoran: One of the first Pokémon you encounter is Nidoran. It’s solid at the beginning of the game, and has a chance to turn into something special, but no one evolves it and it’s not considered a main component in the big picture.

Still, Nidoran can be very useful in the early stages of the game. Jerebko has been the same way for Boston. He came up huge in the playoffs last season, playing a key part in their two wins. Also, he’s been a solid bench player for the Celtics, however, the Celtics aren’t making Jerebko a priority after this season when they try to contend for a title.

Jordan Mickey – Bellsprout: Maybe it’s not the first Pokémon you think of, but I doubt Jordan Mickey is the first player on Boston that comes to mind. Despite what some people might think, Bellsprout isn’t terrible. Sure, it’s a walking plant with eyes, but it’s serviceable and has a chance to be really powerful, but many people don’t give it a chance.

That was the same situation Mickey was in last year as the only playing time he saw in the NBA was in garbage time. He tore up the D-League but the Celtics’ crowded front court restricted him from seeing any minutes. Although, if he ever does crack the rotation this season, he could end up being a force to reckoned with.

Jaylen Brown – Charmander: For one of the youngest players on Boston, Charmander is a perfect fit for the third overall pick. Just like at the beginning of the game, the Celtics chose Brown over nearly every other player in the draft. Charmander isn’t great at first, but there’s always a little extra love for your starter Pokémon, just like there is with a high draft pick.

With everyone doubting the Celtics selection, Brown has a fire lit in him to become great – Charmander is a fire-type Pokémon. Some people never develop Charmander all the way to Charizard. But, if Brown does reach his full potential, his dominance will likely be the equivalence of Charizard’s.

Guerschon Yabusele – Machoke: Maybe Machop (unevolved version) would be more fitting since Yabusele is still very raw. However, have you seen his build? 6’7″ and 270 pounds, that’s huge. As the Celtics coaching staff put it, “He’s like a dancing bear out there.” That gives a good indication of how huge he really is.

Machoke is big and tough, and he looks like a Pokémon body builder. Yabusele still needs to prove to be Machoke worthy, but his body is definitely already there. Lets just hope the Celtics don’t need to trade him for him to evolve into Machamp – Machoke only evolves through a trade.

Ante Zizic – Abra: Have you ever caught an Abra? Because I haven’t. Every time I face one in the wild it flees. To be fair, Ante Zizic wanted to come over to the NBA right away, but he’s spending another season in Croatia.

Therefore, the verdict is still out for another year of how dominant of a player he will become. Maybe he can turn into a Kadabra or Alakazam, or maybe he’ll just be an average Pokémon like Abra. At least the Celtics drafted Zizic and don’t need luck to catch him.

More from Hardwood Houdini

Demetrius Jackson – Eevee: The one thing we knew about Demetrius Jackson coming out of Notre Dame was that he was quick and had a chance to be a solid NBA point guard. Although, we didn’t know if his offensive game would be perimeter-focused or if he’d try to drive the lane. Also, his defense and passing ability were in question.

With all the possibilities Jackson’s career can go, Eevee makes the most sense. It can evolve into eight different Pokémon – depending on which stone you give it, similar to how Jackson’s role will determine his career path. Also, it’s a fox, and are there many animals as quick as foxes?

Ben Bentil – Rattata: Early in the game, Rattata is one of the cooler looking Pokémon you encounter. It’s a purple rat that’s not terrible, but at the same time isn’t great. That’s how Bentil was viewed by many as he was a projected late-first round pick. Scouts felt he had a solid mid-range game but needed improvement on the glass and on the other end.

After watching Bentil play in summer league, his game is similar to Rattata. Both joined their team with a decent amount of hype, however, unless you really work on it, they won’t last very long. The problem is the Celtics have a crowded front court, and just like Rattata, will easily get lost in the mix if he doesn’t stand out.

Abdel Nader – Pidgey: Abdel Nader has been the surprise player of the Celtics summer league so far. Despite being the 58th pick, he’s played really well in his little playing time. Pigdey is the same way. He’ll put up some good fights at the start, but he’s not someone you build around.

Next: Has Abdel Nader Been the Best Rookie in Summer League?

He’s easy to get excited about, however, Pidgeotto and Pidgeot don’t have super high ceilings. There’s room to grow, but, in the grand scheme of things, Pidgey isn’t taking you anywhere and likely will be kept in the computer for most of your Pokémon career.