One of the bigger rivalries that has blossomed this decade in the Western Conference is the one between the Lakers and Suns. Each game is full of trash talking, intentionally thrown elbows and coaches telling each other to sit the fuck down. But even in that environment, a prank call made (supposedly) by a Laker fan to the Suns’ guard Leandro Barbosa right before the two teams met seems low.

Barbosa fell victim to a hoax where his hotel gave him a message saying that Suns GM Steve Kerr wanted to meet him to discuss a trade to the New York Knicks.

The Brazilian player sought out assistant coach and mentor Dan D’Antoni who reassure him. D’Antoni told reporters, “I said, ‘L.B., use your head. Don’t you think I would have told you if something like that was even possible?’ I told him, ‘You’ve got to use someone else’s name when you check into a hotel.”

What? We thought using clever sobriquets were not only the norm in an athletes’ life, but a must even in Brazil. Here’s a couple of our faves he should take a clue from…

• Shaquille O’Neal: Vladamire Mandingo
• Jaret Wright: Turd Furgeson
• Luis Sojo: Harry Pelotas

Knicks Trade “Joke” Scares Phoenix Player [Gothamist]
Image [NBA.com]