In the world of NBA legends, Vin Baker’s name might not immediately spark the same as some of his contemporaries. Still, his impact on the basketball court and in the locker room was undeniable. A 4x All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, Baker’s career with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics was a testament to versatility and skill. However, one of his other off-court abilities has come to light now that no one had previously thought of.

In the latest episode of the ‘Uninterrupted Podcast’, Iman Shrumpet asked the guest of the segment, the former New York Knicks player Trevor Ariza, about who his top vets were. The 39-year-old mentioned some of the great NBA icons, which included names like Stephon Marbury, Tim Thomas, and Quentin Richardson. But the former small forward surprised the company when he mentioned the name of Vin Baker. “Vin Baker was one of the funniest people in the world. He’s so funny… Yeah he was really, really, really funny,” said Ariza during the podcast. Upon hearing this description of the former power forward, Iman Shrumpet couldn’t stop himself from asking if Baker was as funny as Shaquille O’Neal. But why Shaq?

We can say very few players have left a mark on the hardwood as ‘Big Diesel’. The seven-footer is already regarded as one of the best players and veterans of NBA and his accolades of 4 championships and 15 All-Star selections speak for him. However, he was also well-known for his other qualities. Besides his occasional stint on the silver screen and in the rap scene, the seven-footer was loved by the public for his larger-than-life personality and unparalleled sense of humor. From his playful feuds with Charles Barkley on ‘Inside the NBA’ to his infamous ‘BBQ chicken alert‘ commentary, there are numerous instances that proved that Shaq is real with his humor. Thus the hosts of the show came up with this comparison. However, Ariza was quick to mention that Baker possessed a different kind of wit.

According to the 39-year-old, Baker was someone who was serious on the court but was funny when he was off it. Ariza even shared one of the funny incidents between the two. He continued that Baker had the habit of giving excuses for not receiving anyone’s call but while going to watch a movie in Charlotte on an off-day he was caught red-handed.  “So I call his phone like three times, he don’t answer. I get to the movies. I see this [Baker] trying to hide in the corner of the movie theatre,” said Ariza “I called his phone… He picks the phone up… He flips the phone up, he look around, he don’t see me. He closed that and put it right in his pocket. At this time I’m like man, you know what… I walked down, I’m like ‘man what’s up with you?’ He be like ‘bruh’, like that’s not even for us.”

This revelation of the incident made the whole cast burst into laughter. The revelation of Baker’s comedic prowess adds a new dimension to his legacy. While his on-court accomplishments are well-documented, this insight into his personality provides a more complete picture of the man behind the statistics. However, even though the former Supersonics player had a great wit, his life was full of hiccups.

Vin Baker and his ‘personal’ problems

Vin Baker, once a prominent figure in the Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks, faced a harrowing journey through addiction that nearly cost him everything. His story of redemption is one that gives hope.

Baker’s career was marked by success on the court during his rookie season, but off the court, he struggled with alcoholism and gambling addiction. The amount of alcohol that he consumed had taken a toll on his body during the early 2000s and his gambling addiction had nearly resulted him in losing $1 million in a nightclub in Vegas. “There was a point where it was just waiting for the train to crash,” said Baker in an interview (as per LA Times).

The day was April 17, 2011, when Baker quit drinking alcohol forever; he’s currently the assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. Baker’s encounters show a powerful reminder that people who look successful can still struggle with serious barriers and may find their way past them.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger