Most Decorated Olympian Michael Phelps Couldn’t Help but Laugh at His Most Unusual NBA Welcome Ever

Baltimore Bullet Michael Phelps is a hard-core NBA fan. From attending the US-Germany match in 2019 to supporting his favorite basketball teams in the US, the legendary swimmer has never left a chance to express his love for the sport. On 29th March, Phelps attended another much-anticipated NBA match between Phoenix Suns and USA Minnesota Timberwolves where he received a never-seen-before welcome. 

Yesterday, team Phoenix Suns’ official Instagram page shared a fun video of Phelps receiving a grand welcome from its famous gorilla at the NBA match at Footprint Center. Moreover, the welcome left the swimming legend red-faced and tickled. 

Michael Phelps bites a gold medal during the NBA match

In the video, the legendary swimmer immediately started laughing at the sight of the Phoenix Suns gorilla. Hiding his face, Phelps predicted the embarrassment he was going to face. However, the Olympic swimmer showed his sporty spirit and got up from his seat to stand taller than the Phoenix gorilla. He welcomed Phelps to the match with a Phoenix box that had the team’s jersey in it. The official Instagram page of Phoenix Suns shared the video with the caption, “The Suns Gorilla welcomes @m_phelps00 to tonight’s action! #NBACelebRow” 

While receiving the grand welcome and the hamper, Phelps began to laugh again. He hugged the gorilla and posed with him for a picture. As a tribute to the legend, the gorilla wore a set of gold medals just like Phelps did during his prime. As a respect to the grand welcome he received, the swimming legend held one of the medals and bit it, flaunting the Olympian in him. 

Nevertheless, the NBA audience is always elated to find Phelps attending matches. They cheered for him when he received the grand welcome from the Suns. 

Read More: “You’re Not Invited”: LeBron James Threatened by Michael Phelps Once Snubbed Him From a Unique NBA Team Match

Although Phelps has favorite basketball teams and players now, he credits one person for amplifying the craze of basketball. 

Michael Phelps once explained the magic of Michael Jordan

Apart from swimming, Phelps took a keen interest in various sports in his teenage. In the basketball sphere, the swimming legend wrote in his biography, Beneath The Surface My Story,’“Outside of swimming, how can you not be in awe of Michael Jordan? I don’t know that anyone has ever made people appreciate his sport more simply by playing it better than anyone else.” He explained that Jordan’s magic was such that he made basketball “just better”.

Phelps has always been a huge Michael Jordan fan. When he met the legend for the first time, he was star-struck. In his biography, he revealed that during an event in 2013, Jordan had stopped by to surprise him. When Phelps saw, he was frozen for some time before gaining back his senses to talk to the basketball legend.  

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Phelps seems to retire gracefully. Beyond his impressive golf stints and workout regime, the swimming GOAT seems to take time out to enjoy a fierce NBA match.