The internet is obsessed with the new film “Prey,” which premiered on Hulu on Friday. I’ll be seeing it shortly, but first I wanted to watch the first film in the series, “Predator.”
It’s a strange movie with a lot to enjoy and a lot to dislike, but there are five fantastic statements that should be used in as many NBA games as possible. What will power those quotes? Doncic, Luka. We all know he enjoys trash talking.
Here are the five quotes and the contexts in which they should be used.
5. “Stick around.”
Scenario: Right after Luka breaks some ankles
In “Predator,” Arnold Schwarzenegger says this after severing someone’s torso with a huge knife and pinning him against a wall. It’s a great scene and a great line. The sardonic smirk with which Schwarzenegger delivers this remark makes it even more powerful and amusing.
This should be a simple one for Luka to deliver in several games. Consider him hitting someone with a series of vicious crossovers, knocking them down, and then scoring. On his way back down the court, Luka sprints by the player before they can stand up, smirking and saying, “stick around.”
4. “What’s the matter? The CIA got you pushing too many pencils?”
Scenario: After Luka out-muscles someone
Luka has two options for making this work, and both are fantastic. First and foremost, I’d like for him to say this after a large man attempts to post him up on a switch. Assuming Luka holds his ground and forces the offensive player to pass the ball out and reset the offense, Doncic looks him in the eyes and delivers the line. It would be disheartening.
The second option is superior and most likely more feasible. Assume Mikal Bridges is watching out for Luka. He’s a superb defender with a lot of respect in the league, but he’s not nearly powerful enough to keep Luka at bay. So, Luka drops his shoulder a couple of times, maybe even elevates for a dunk, and then shouts this in the defender’s face after overpowering him for an and-one.
3. “Get to the chopper!”
Scenario: After Luka hits a game-winning shot
We have to use some imagination here and get a little creative because NBA teams don’t take helicopters to and from games, but it would’ve been criminal to leave this quote on the sidelines.
We could use some lengthy setup to make this one hit even harder. Maybe the Dallas Mavericks start letting a few guys rotate who gets to fly into the stadium on a helicopter? Then whenever Luka hits a game-winner, it feels more natural? I’m just spitballing here.
Regardless, as long as Luka yells this in true Schwarzenegger fashion so it sounds more like, “Get to the choppaaaa!” we won’t have any problems. The world will be riding high from Luka hitting a game-winning shot. The emotion will be palpable. And Luka will deliver a line that will live on forever, just in a new context.
It’s not perfect, but everyone would love it.
2. “I ain’t got time to bleed.”
Scenario: After Luka starts bleeding in a playoff game
Another easy one here. NBA players are humans that are competing in a physical competition, and when humans compete in physical competitions, they get hurt and sometimes bleed.
When this happens, the refs stop the game and have the training staff cover up the blood (for health and safety reasons). Whenever this happens to Luka in a playoff game, I need Luka to look the ref dead in the eyes and yell, “I ain’t got time to bleed!”
It makes no sense. It’s barbaric. It’s perfect.
1. “You’re one ugly”
Scenario: Next time Luka scores on Devin Booker
After all the Devin Booker-Luka Doncic stuff in the 2022 Western Conference Finals, I’m expecting this to be a rivalry that lasts forever.
So, instead of elevating our trash talk to creative levels, let’s just keep it simple. Next time Luka scores a bucket on Booker, I need him to just look at him and say, “You’re one ugly” in the exact same rhythm and tone that Schwarzenegger tells it to the alien predator when it takes off its mask and reveals its face.
Yeah, I’m petty.