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Cade Cunningham and Co Take “Rookie Hazing” To Shocking Heights as 23YO Starlet Gets a Heartbreaking “Welcome to The League” Moment

Published 10/15/2023, 11:41 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Every NBA rookie would get a warm welcome from his teammates and sometimes get a friendly prank out of nowhere. That is the recent story of a 23-year-old Detroit Pistons rookie. Importantly, the heart-breaking prank by Cade Cunningham and Co came on his way, days after he played a crucial role in defeating Oklahoma City Thunder in Canada. Additionally, the Pistons’ official X handle shared the hilarious video of the prank with his teammates’ reactions during the famous rookie hazing event.

The Pistons had a disappointing record of 17-65 in the 2022-23 season. Considering their last season, the teams’ latest victory against the Thunder could be a morale boost for the fans. On the other hand, the team capitalized on the 2023 NBA Draft, roping some of the fine talents. Notably, No. 5 picks Ausar Thompson has a lot of weight on his shoulders. At the same time, another rookie gets an unfortunate welcome from his teammates.

Cade Cunningham & Co troll a 23-year-old Pistons rookie

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It’s safe to say that the Pistons have had a great start to their campaign in the NBA preseason. After losing a close contest against the Phoenix Suns, they walked out with a dominating victory against the Thunder. 23-year-old Marcus Sasser emerged as a noteworthy player on both occasions. Especially against the Oklahoma side, he dropped 17 points, coming off the bench with 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Despite making an authoritative statement in the last game, he received a heartbreaking prank from his teammates.

USA Today via Reuters

In a recent video dropped by the Pistons’ official X handle, candid reactions of the players reacting to Sasser’s prank took to the online world. During the famous rookie hazing event at an open practice session amid fans, a video of Sasser’s car filled with pop corn was played on the big screen, leaving him in utter shock. In addition to it, the announcer said, “Welcome to the league, Sasser.”

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Following that, the video further had the rookie, trying to get out the pile of popcorn from his car. He even termed it as “Rookie duties,” to the camera.

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Apart from the prank, the rookies also get trolled through the ‘rookie hazing’ event.

What is rookie hazing?

Rookie hazing is an infamous tradition in NBA carried out by the veteran players. It is widely said to have done to subtly humble the college superstars. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers star Danny Green revealed his rookie duty, where he was asked to carry Shaquille O’Neal’ shoes and getting donuts.

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In the case of Marcus Sasser and his fellow rookies, Cade Cunningham & Co made them wear costumes of cartoon characters.

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More than the trolls, it helps to break the ice and develop a bond in between players. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Shahul Hameed

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Shahul Hameed is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, where he brings his passion for sports and entertainment journalism to life. With a Master's Degree in journalism from a reputed institute and years of experience in the industry, Shahul always strives to provide insightful and astute coverage of the NBA to the fans. Shahul's love for sports writing dates back to his college days.
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Edited by:

Bilal Handoo