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You may have heard of a little film that is being released this week. I'm sure some of you don't care and I know some of you are even sick of all the coverage surrounding Star Wars the Force Awakens. Me, I'm geeked out to the max and I thought a great way to commemorate the occasion would be to combine two of my great loves into one article. Here's the premise:
What characters would each of the current Celtics be in the Star Wars Universe?
First some general ground rules. For my purposes I'm starting with Episode 4. You can't convince me that the prequels actually happened. It was all just a bad acted nightmare. Though if a certain Gungan happens to die a quick and painful death in the next film, some of that will be forgiven. Also, for the purpose of this article, we're going to make the obviously correct assumption that we are the good guys (the Rebels). Lastly, Han shot first. That's all I have to say about that.
Let's start with the main characters:
Luke Skywalker: Avery Bradley - Like Luke, Avery started out as a wide eyed kid that was in a little over his head but still gave it all he had. In fact, similar to how Luke lost his hand, Avery gave his right arm up in order to block the Sith Master Dwyane Wade in the playoffs. Over the years he's maintained that farmboy innocence while learning much about the Force and developing into a master of his trade.
Han Solo: Jae Crowder - He's got the swagger, the talent, and the charisma that just makes those around him follow his lead. Plus, he has a knack for swindling a loose ball in tight quarters then using evasive maneuvers to take it the other direction for the bucket just ahead of the Empire right at his heels.
Chewbacca: Kelly Olynyk - Hey, he just looks the part, ok? Besides, he's normally calm and friendly, but if you make him mad, he might just pull your arm off.
Princess Leia: Marcus Smart - Gender distinctions aside, Leia was tough as nails, had great leadership skills at a young age, was unafraid of getting her nose dirty, had some interesting hair styles, and had the Force deep inside her that represented a hope for the future. Sound like someone we know?
Yoda: Isaiah Thomas - "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."
Obie Wan Kenobi: Amir Johnson - He's the grizzled old Jedi who has been around the block a few times. His impact isn't always visible, but he's strong with the Force and teaches a lot to the young ones around him.
Lando Calrissian: Evan Turner - He's suave, quotable, and a little mischievous. He hasn't always had the greatest reputation and is prone to making poor choices from time to time, but he's with the good guys now and lending his talents to the right cause.
Wedge Antillies: Jonas Jerebko - A skilled fighter pilot that doesn't stand out much but is good in battle and a nice guy to have around in a tight spot.
Admiral Akbar: David Lee - Akbar is a decorated general, Lee has a Championship ring. Lee also happens to be a veteran of prior battles and as such he can see things on the court that younger players might miss. So they should pay attention to him if he yells out "It's a trap!"
R2D2: Jared Sullinger - Like R2, Sully is short (for his position) and stout (thick with a low center of gravity), but he's surprisingly resourceful in tough situations.
C3PO: Tyler Zeller - Umm, he's smart but a little stiff sometimes? I guess I started running out of characters at this point. But 3PO was helpful when called upon in certain circumstances and so will Zeller be I believe.
Wicket: James Young - Wicket is a little young in Return of the Jedi, and nobody really expects him to be of much help. But he is bold and willing to help out by stealing a speeder bike. He looks a little overwhelmed but manages to help out a little anyway. Also, James has a kind of furry hairdo.
Rey, Finn, and Poe: Terry Rozier R.J. Hunter, and Jordan Mickey - This trio of rookies represents the future of the franchise. Let's see how they develop over the next several years.
Last but not least...
Mon Mothma: Brad Stevens - Mothma was the stoic and serene (yet somehow intense) leader of the Rebel Alliance.
Feel free to critique my choices in the comments below. Also, go ahead and play along with your own characters and comparisons.