Which NBA Team is Your Favorite Challenge Double Agents Player?

Both the NBA and MTV Challenge seasons are in full swing. It is a great couples month to be alive for staying in and quarantining as each week you got a slate full of games to watch and a Challenge episode every Wednesday. I decided to go through the remaining 19 players on the Challenge Double Agents and figure out which team they are most like. Most of the time, I focus on a specific player on a team because a team’s identity often becomes warped by the players they choose to build around. You might also notice certain key teams getting omitted. I don’t think there is a player on this season that I would put on the same level as the Lakers right now. Likewise, as a Clippers fan, I would not give any living Challenge competitor the burden of being labeled the Clippers.

Also, before we jump into the NBA portion, here is a Vid breaking down who are the WORST Daily Challenge competitors in the show’s history statistically.

Onto the comparisons!

CT — Denver Nuggets

I have always thought Denver Nuggets Superstar Center Nikola Jokić playstyle was similar to Old Man CT. They are both giant men who can overpower people, yet they dominate with their otherworldly skills and finesse game. Watching CT navigate heights and balance challenges at his size is similar to how the 7 foot Jokić can be the primary playmaker for the Nuggets, threading beautiful passes through holes nobody knew existed. Watching them compete is art. Another through-line between them is they have both lost a significant amount of weight during quarantine and have hit another level in their sports.

Kam Williams— Utah Jazz

Kam’s ascension on the Challenge the last few years has gone in line with Donovan Mitchell on the Utah Jazz. Each of them had stellar rookie seasons where fans argued over who was the true rookie of the year in each sport, Kam or Tori, and Ben Simmons or Donovan Mitchell. Both players established themselves quickly onto the scene, Donovan being the lead scorer on a Jazz team overcoming Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony in the playoffs is like Kam defeating Ashley, Tori, and Natalie in succession on Vendettas. After their rookie years, they maintained a high level of performances with some ups and downs along the way. They have dealt with the media picking at their faults and general fans being divisive regarding where they rank in the league. Nonetheless, they keep proving themselves and are currently at the top of their games, with Kam dominating the political game on Double Agents, and the Jazz have a league-best 19–5 record (at time of writing).

Jazz fans are die-hard supporters, and Kam’s fans go just as hard for her. It helps knowing that Kam and Donovan Mitchell are both outstanding humans in their lives outside of their sports.

Lolo Jones — New Orleans Pelicans

You look at the Pelicans and Lolo Jones’ on paper stats, and you want them to be better than they are. Lolo Jones and Zion Williamson and are names with brand recognition — Prestige Worldwide. They are physical marvels who can perform ungodly athletic feats. Even with that, they come with their own problems. Zion’s health (minutes restriction) and Lolo’s personality (and shoulder issues?) have not fully translated to their performance at the top level. Yes, they have had moments where they look like the best players on the field (Zion has been dominant in his limited time, but it’s felt very limited), it just has not come together into any real success. Zion is still only in his second year, and this is technically Lolo’s rookie season, so maybe we should be patient. Then again, when the magnifying glass is on you, you need to perform to get people off your back.

Leroy Garrett —Memphis Grizzlies

Leroy is someone who was always in Championship contention yet either had bad luck or did not have the all-around talent necessary to pull off the big one. The Grit N Grind Grizzlies of the 2010s were the same way. What is unique about those teams is they were always fighters, had incredible moments of perseverance, pulled out some great upsets, and at the end of the day, they might not have won a title, but they are beloved.

In 2021, Ja Morant has given the Grizzlies a new lease on life, and even though the Grit N Grind era is over, the new age Grizzlies have many of the old elements, with a lot more excitement. 2021 Leroy with Kam by his side feels like a refreshed version of the guy we loved for a decade.

Fessy Shafaat — Milwaukee Bucks

Fessy made the final last season quite easily, and he probably should again this season with the Gold Skull twist in play. He is a physical specimen with all the tools and alliances to do well on this show. Giannis and the Bucks were the #1 team in the East the last two years and should be again this year. Despite all their successes, we saw Fessy crumble at the end of the final last season, just like we saw the Bucks get dispatched quickly in the second-round by the Heat in the bubble last year. No matter what stats they put up, fans will not take them seriously as championship contenders till they win it all.

I will say, I am a massive Mike Budenholzer/Giannis Stan and really do hope he can put it all together because what they have achieved together is something that should be celebrated. The fact Giannis is a massive Challenge/reality tv fan is the cherry on top.

Kaycee Clark — Boston Celtics

The same skepticism placed upon Fessy/the Bucks goes in the direction of Kaycee and the Celtics. Jayson Tatum is an elite scorer who has been 19 years old longer than it has been March 2020, and Kaycee is a top player whose dominated in the same boring way since Big Brother 2020. Most casual fans understand that Kaycee and the Celtics are great and could win it all if the ping pong balls fall their way. Nobody would be excited about it other than their fanbase, half due to general apathy and half due to hatred of their origin (Boston/Big Brother).

Big T — Oklahoma City Thunder

Both are super fun to watch live. The Thunder and Big T are both limited by their raw talent, and even with that, they still try their best, edging out much better teams from time to time. Sometimes they get walloped, and other times they are the most fun underdog team to root for. Big T and the Thunder’s Luguentz Dort have become my favorite athletes who definitely are not superstars, but people will tweet about them like they are because they are fun to watch.

Darrell Taylor — San Antonio Spurs

Consummate professionals. The Spurs won titles in 99, 03, 05, and 07, Darrell won his in 2003, 2005, and 2007. They are calm, cool, and collected organizations focused on winning. Darrell losing that first elimination on Fresh Meat 2 (2010) was like the Spurs getting upset by the Grizzlies in the first round in 2010. Darrell’s purge and redemption losses on Dirty 30 and the Spurs finally ending their playoff streak in 2020 maybe marked the end of an era. However, if you have been watching the Spurs in 2021, they have a little bit of juice in them; DeMar DeRozan is having a career renaissance. Meanwhile, Darrell is still in the hunt on Double Agents as we speak.

Cory Wharton — Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons and Cory Wharton are one and the same. They were each highly-touted draft prospects who had to sit out their first season, Simmons due to a broken foot, Cory due to all of his exes declining the casting call for Exes 2. When they did debut, they made a splash, Cory finishing second-place on his rookie season, and Ben Simmons leaders the 76ers to the second-round and elevating them out of their “process” days. Off the court, the two went pound for pound in the bedroom game, for every Kailah, Alicia, Camila, Jenna, and Aneesa that Cory was hooking up with, Ben Simmons was driving into the lane of Brittany Renner, Kendall Jenner, and Tinashe.

As time went on, both these players went under intense scrutiny over what they could not do. Memes aplenty got made poking fun of Ben Simmons’s inability to shoot, and Cory got made fun of for lack of cardio and puzzle prowess. They each went on to have excellent 2020s, Ben Simmons becoming mega elite defensively, leading the league in defensive plus-minus, and Cory finally improving his cardio en-route to a solid 3rd place performance on Total Madness. Their 2021’s have been a bit rocky, Cory has lost allies and partners, and Ben has been dealing with injuries, yet look at the layout of the land, and winning a Championship is totally in play right now. The 76ers are in first place in the East, and Cory has one of the strongest females as a partner currently (he could steal a better partner before the final as well, potentially).

Aneesa Ferreira — Sacramento Kings

The Kings have not been to the playoffs since 2006, Aneesa has not been to a final since 2009. Each season there is always a sense of optimism, and then things fall apart faster than Lolo Jones can run the 100-meter hurdles.

Nany Gonzalez — New York Knicks

New Yorkers love the Knicks. It is in their DNA; they ride for them no matter what they put them through. The same goes for Nany on the Challenge, where the moment you decided you are with Nany, you are with her for life. It is a toxic relationship being fans of them, though. They make so many poor choices and bad decisions that make you question your humanity. In my years as a Challenge fan, I have watched Nany hook-up with the worst men, get fucked over by the weirdest eliminations, or put too much trust into people who take her friendship for granted. All I can equate to is the Knicks fans always dealing with terrible trades, bad heading coaching and free agent hires, or ill-timed injuries.

Even with all the bad times, you still celebrate and cherish the good ones. From Linsanity to the Chronicles of Naniya, the two have remained relevant without ever being real top players over the last decade.

Kyle Christie— Indiana Pacers

Nobody ever expects anything from Kyle or the Pacers, then suddenly the Pacers are the 4 seed in the playoffs, and Kyle is still in contention to win a Challenge championship. It is like clockwork. They are not easy teams to beat by any stretch of the imagination; however, they also do not win championships either — sneaky fun to watch at least.

Josh Martinez— Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic keep making it into the playoffs every year as a 7 or 8 seed, and you are confused how they made it there. Josh has been the same way the last few seasons where they always make it to the end of the season. It is baffling. They are both located in Florida as well.

Theresa Jones —Atlanta Hawks

Being a 2021 Theresa Jones fan is like being a Trae Young fan right now. They make so much noise that you cannot get a firm grip on how good they actually are. Theresa is a hell of a talent who puts up these incredible performances in the same way that Trae lights up a box-score and makes crazy shots. Then you check the records, and the Hawks are 10–13, and Theresa’s career elimination total is 2–6.

Gabby Allen—Minnesota TimberWolves

On paper, Gabby is a personal trainer who is in great shape, displays an ability to play the game politically and socially, gives good confessionals, and then you watch her perform, and it does not come together. You could say the same about the TimberWolves because you look at their roster, and based on the name recognition, they should be better than how they are playing.

Devin Walker— “Bubble Phoenix Suns”

Last season during the NBA Orlando quarantine bubble, the Phoenix Suns became the media darlings by finishing off the season 8–0, playing out of their mind basketball. For years, people made fun of the “bright future” Suns as they had not made the playoffs in a decade and kept restarting new cycles of “rebuilding.” Through the first 8 episodes of Double Agents, Devin has been the male star of the season (or at least one of them). We all knew the Phoenix Suns were not the best team in the league, and we all know Devin’s luck will run out at some point. Until then, enjoy the ride.

Amber Martinez — Washington Wizards

A fun bad team. Amber has not shined in any of the daily challenges thus far; in fact, she has performed poorly more often than not. Even then, she has provided entertainment and has some chops when it comes to confessionals/game-talk. The Wizards are not winning many games, but at least their games are high scoring.

Nam Vo — Chicago Bulls

Another pair where you look at all their on-paper skills and abilities, and you expect them to be awesome, except for whatever reason, it has not come together. The Bulls need a complete reboot in some way, and Nam needs a new partner that is not Lolo Jones.

Amber Borzotra — Miami Heat

I do not have anything for this one. Amber looks like someone whose Instagram DMs that Tyler Herro would slide into.