It's been about a month and a half since I published my annual post detailing the bobbleheads available as in-game giveaways around the NBA. Since that time, a few more teams have revealed their promotional schedules so we now know (1) where there are some additional bobbleheads for the taking and (2) which franchises are passing this year. Time for an update!
First the bad news. If you are a Timberwolves or 76ers fan, looks like you are out of luck in the bobblehead department this year, although the Sixers did produce a Joel Embiid bobblehead to hand out at their G-League team's game in Philly on November 20. Yes, I realize that was last month but I did make it clear in my post two months ago that this one was on the slate. With no bobbleheads on the schedule, the most exciting item on Philadelphia's promotional schedule is the free mittens on December 12. I'd definitely be there early for that one.
There's also some bobblehead uncertainty out there for me right now. The Atlanta Hawks have a graphic of a throwback Harry the Hawk bobblehead on their website (and shown below) but it appears nowhere on their schedule that I can see, although it does appear to be tied to the purchase of tickets like the Dominique Wilkins bobblehead that they made available last month. And in a surpise, the Dallas Mavericks have not released a promo schedule on their website; Dallas has been a great source for bobbleheads over the last couple of years with at least 10 in each of the last two seasons. Doesn't mean they are sitting this season out, just that I can't find it.
But enough about who's not giving away bobbleheads, let's get to the supplement to my original post.
January
12 Gus T. Bull & Benny The Bull Bobblehead (Windy City Bulls)
How awesome is this double mascot bobblehead? Very awesome is the only reasonable answer. The Bulls' G-League franchise is taking the safe route here by not issuing a player bobblehead (who knows who's going to be around in January on a G-League team) but I don't care. This thing is fantastic. I assume Gus is a younger version of Benny? There's a striking unibrow resemblance but what color is Gus exactly? Not sure about the ochre colored hair any more than I'm sure about how Benny came to have red hair.
25 Julius Randle (New Orleans Pelicans)
2018 was a big year for the New Orleans Pelicans. They not only made it to the playoffs for the second time since they drafted Anthony Davis number one overall out of Kentucky but they also made it out of the first round. But late in the season, DeMarcus Cousins tore his achilles tendon and both he and Rajon Rondo left in the offseason. Julius Randle was probably the team's best shot at re-loading in the offseason since the Lakers seemed to be focused on other folks filling their roster this summer. The Pels reward Randle for his commitment here by getting him his own bobblehead in January.
February
12 Nikola Mirotic (New Orleans Pelicans)
Apparently the Pelicans are into handing out bobbleheads of players who might not be in New Orleans next year. Julius Randle has a player option for next year and Nikola Mitotic is an unrestricted free agent. Maybe the team hopes that making a bobblehead of each will help them to stay in the Crescent City. On the other hand, their tens of millions of dollars of cap space might do the same thing. The only thing I'm curious about with the Mitotic bobble is: beard or no beard?
21 Black Panther (Brooklyn Nets)
Yes, the Nets, after their disastrous first attempt at a mascot with the BrooklyKnight are getting back into the superhero game. This one, though, seems way safer than the mascot they invented. Who isn't going to show up in Brooklyn for a free Marvel Black Panther bobblehead?
The Nets, by the way, are not the first professional sports team located in Brooklyn to give away a Black Panther bobblehead. The minor league baseball Brooklyn Cyclones did it this summer. The picture above is the Cyclones' version, not the Nets' version.
27 Caris LeVert (Brooklyn Nets)
Last year was not a good year to be a Nets player who was also on the bobblehead schedule. Allen Crabbe was just fine but D'Angelo Russell missed almost half the season with knee issues and Jeremy Lin missed the entire season (well, minus 25 minutes...) with a ruptured patella tendon. How's this season going for the Nets' bobblehead players? Well, LeVert, after a strong early season showing, had a horrendous ankle injury in November. It looked way worse than it might actually be but suffice it to say, I'd be worried if the Nets had my bobblehead on their giveaway schedule.
If you are a Wizards fan looking to collect an opponent's bobblehead when you are on a roadie, February 27th's opponent is the Wizards.
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| I love the Harry the Hawk throwback bobble. It's just not entirely clear how to get one. |
March
11 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Brooklyn Nets)
How nervous should Rondae Hollis-Jefferson be about making it through this year fully healthy with the Nets? Depends on if you believe in the Nets bobblehead curse or not. Either way, assuming he's still on the team, it looks like March 11 will get you your third of three Nets bobbleheads for the year.
April
5 TBD (Washington Wizards)
Finally my beloved Washington Wizards announced the date for their (one) bobblehead giveaway of the year but just like some previous years, they are refusing to disclose who that might be. My early money was on Dwight Howard but with his mysterious back/butt injury requiring early season surgery, I'm not sure any more. Maybe ownership knew there was disaster coming and couldn't commit to keeping anyone on the roster this late in the season. Nah...that can't be it, right?
That's all I'm going to say about bobbleheads this season until the mystery Wizards bobble gets handed out on April 5. Unless something major happens in the meantime, that is.
One final note on a past bobblehead and a reason why I used the cover photo above. The Kevin Love bobblehead game in Cleveland is passed, as might be Kevin Love's time in Cleveland (we'll have to see about that one). As it turns out, the Cavs gave away two versions of the bobblehead that night: one wearing the Cavs' (awful) wine-colored jersey and one wearing what looks like a Goodyear company jersey (what else could it be?). Apparently they only made 100 of the Goodyear version and handed them out randomly. Head to eBay, Cavs fans.
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