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Pelicans Buy into Travis Kelce–Jonas Valanciunas Doppelganger Joke

Published 02/12/2024, 8:53 PM EST

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via Reuters

The Super Bowl 2024 thriller kept fans worldwide on the edge of their seats, creating fantastic storylines. The congratulations are still pouring through various realms for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ remarkable feat, including the NBA. However, amid all the glamor and glory, the New Orleans Pelicans managed to steal the spotlight uniquely.

Before facing the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pelicans took a hilarious route to play on the similarities of Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and their center, Jonas Valanciunas. Taking the joke to X, they posted a photo of Jonas with the clever caption, “won the Super Bowl last night and already back to work.”

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Kelce, with a massive figure, stands at 6’5″ and weighs 250 pounds. With that, Valanciunas has often been humorously dubbed a supersized version of him, towering at 6’11” and weighing 265 pounds. Fans have playfully highlighted the uncanny resemblances between the two over the years. Adding to the fun, Travis Kelce himself acknowledged the similarity back in 2017 when a fan pointed out that the two would be similar to Valanciunas if he shaved his head.

Read More – “Loved the Energy From Kelce”: Travis’ Aggressive Shove Justified By Dissecting Andy Reid’s Elite Reaction

The Pelicans’ post stands out as a fantastic PR move, celebrating the achievements of athletes from different domains and amplifying fans’ voices, even when the focus shifts away from the court.

Valanciunas takes the Travis Kelce joke to another level with SB win

On Super Bowl Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans were gearing up for their upcoming road games. They will play Grizzlies and Washington Wizards before the all-star break. Valanciunas, along with teammates, was watching the game alongside the team in a bar. When the Chiefs scored the game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers, a teammate promptly turned the camera towards Jonas. Amid cheers, he declared, “Travis, we won,” Valanciunas immediately rose in celebration with both hands wide open.

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Despite never meeting in person, both players seem aware of their doppelganger status. This isn’t the first time Jonas has played along with the narrative. In 2019, he shared a photo on Instagram wearing a Kansas City Chiefs hat, humorously claiming Travis Kelce as his “brother from another mother.”

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While the Pelicans and Valanciunas have a lot of ground to cover compared to Kelce’s championship streak with the Chiefs, the team is coming off a 93-84 victory against Portland on Saturday night. Valanciunas is particularly having a great season so far. He is averaging 13.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. Moreover, the Pelicans have a slight advantage over opponents per 100 possessions when Jonas is on the court.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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“Places you go in life – it opens your eyes up and you kind of understand who you are.” - This is my philosophy in life. I want to go to innumerable places and get inspired by the people and experiences I come across, just like Dwayne Wade.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe