Jason Terry loses a bet, loses his high socks, would like to play in Miami. In that order
Both Orlando Pinstriped Post and The Basketball Jones mentioned this on Thursday, but it's worth pointing out to our readers that if you see Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry working without his trademark high socks and without his usual headband on Friday night, that there's no point in panicking. He hasn't given up on what has been a tough season for him and the Mavs, he just lost a bet with Magic guard Jameer Nelson, one that will be paid off when the Mavericks visit Orlando on Friday. Watch the genesis:
As Trey Kerby pointed out, Terry's time spent without a headband is not unprecedented, as he didn't wear one during his rookie year of 1999-00 (the season the headband craze went out of control to the point that even Detlef Schrempf wore one for a few games as a Portland Trail Blazer), but JET's fascination with several pairs of super-high socks dates all the way back to his time in Arizona in the mid-1990s:
Terry remains one of the league's most superstitious players, as far as I know he still habitually eats chicken fingers before every game, so to work without something that provides him with both physical and emotional comfort might be a little jarring.
That is to say, why did you agree to this, Jason? Couldn't you and Jadakiss just have written a comically large check to charity, or something?
On Nelson's side, and especially with his up-and-down Magic scratching for every win, this is a smart move. Recruit Bill Bellamy, and cut out Dallas' best offensive option from the bench months in advance. Evil genius, that Jameer Nelson.
Smart guy, though, that Jason Terry. Even before the Miami Heat dismantled the Mavericks on Thursday night, Terry didn't hesitate before going on record to point out that he could be an asset to Miami as a free-agent acquisition this summer. As quoted by Fox Sports' Chris Tomasson:
"No question, they need a veteran shooter, a guy who can score besides LeBron (James) and (Dwyane Wade), and they know they can count on. I'm a guy that's been in this league 13 years, (averaging) 15 points a night, easy. Off the bench or the starting lineup, it doesn't matter. So I think I'd be an asset to them."
Mind you, he said this before the Heat downed the Mavericks, taking both 2011 Finals rematches by a combined 36 points on the season. Terry went on to say that it wouldn't be "at all" weird to play for the team that matched up against his Mavs in the 2006 and 2011 NBA Finals, and then went on to tell Tomasson this:
"[The Mavericks] said they want me back. But you can say all you want, you got to show me. Like Jerry Maguire said, 'Show me the money.'"
Jason Terry has long been one of my favorite players. I don't know if posts like this are the reason why.