Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers' Hibbert says Blake Griffin would be NBA's best pro wrestler

Published Sep. 23, 2015 12:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

When you're an NBA big man like Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert, you're used to mixing it up in the paint with your fellow leviathans. Although you're unlikely to see a collar-and-elbow tie-up, it can still resemble a WWE event down low.

So it's no real surprise to find out that Hibbert is a professional wrestling fan, according to the Lakers' official team website. And when Lakers reporter Mike Trudell asked Hibbert which NBA player he thinks would be the best pro wrestler, the 7-footer pointed to a fellow Staples Center denizen:

"Tell you the truth … I’d have to say Blake (Griffin). He could be the heel, he could be the hero. He has the athletic ability and can act as well."

Trudell and fellow podcast host (and former Laker) Mychal Thompson mentioned Draymond Green, and Hibbert was on board with that. But when one of the NBA's biggest, strongest big men was suggested, Hibbert became concerned for physical safety. On the idea of Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic getting into the ring, Hibbert said:

"Pekovic is a very, very strong guy. I’d just want to make sure whoever got in that ring wouldn’t hurt themselves, and you have to think about that. Vince McMahon wants his superstars out there all the time, so you don’t want anybody getting hurt."

There is, of course, a somewhat storied tradition of NBA players stepping into the squared circle and the league embracing wrestling traditions. Rasheed Wallace famously made having a title belt popular as an NBA player, something the Heat emulated in 2014. Shawn Michaels once delivered some Sweet Chin Music to the Bobcats mascot. And one would be remiss in failing to mention the time Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone teamed up with the NWO and Diamond Dallas Page, respectively, just weeks after Rodman's Bulls and Malone's Jazz faced each other in the NBA Finals.

(h/t NBA.com)