Halloween Costume Idea for Every NBA Team's Star Player

The NBA lockout means players across the board have a wealth of time on their hands—time they could spend arduously thinking about what to dress up as for Halloween.

Halloween is a huge holiday for some, and an afterthought for many. For each team's star player, though, this year they should make it a major holiday, one that they celebrate to the fullest extent.

Why, exactly?

It gives them something to do that may take their mind off of the lockout.

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

Costume Idea: Andre Johnson of Houston Texans

Why should Joe Johnson dress up as Andre Johnson for Halloween?

Because it only involves a uniform change.

Joe and Andre may not be related, but they look strikingly similar. Joe should throw on a set of football pads and a Texans jersey not only for Halloween night, but perhaps a random Sunday, just to see if anyone in Houston's locker room could tell the difference. 

Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce

Costume Idea: Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

Paul Pierce was already a frog, so he obviously cannot do that again.

As a result, he should give himself the a chance to explore the other side of that story and don some princess gear this time around.

Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin

Costume Idea: Drake

As Kobe Bryant demonstrated once upon a time, NBA players should seldom explore the realms of the rap scene.

We make an exception here for D.J. Augustin, though, as the resemblance between him and Drake is clearly there.

This is sure to be the "best he ever had." In terms of Halloween costumes, anyway.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

Costume Idea: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) in The Fast and the Furious

When it comes to cars, Derrick Rose has had his fair share of volatile experiences. 

In 2008, Rose was fined and ordered to traffic school for driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit, and he was the passenger of a car driven by a friend under the influence this past month.

For anyone who follows The Fast and the Furious movies, you know that Vin Diesel's character has his fair share of illegal automobile excursions. Hopefully Rose doesn't take his any further.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis

Costume Idea: Ben Affleck as Larry Gigli from Gigli

To all the Kyrie Irving fanatics—sorry, but Baron Davis' name holds way more weight, so he gets the nod.

If you click here, you will see Davis execute one of the worst flops in NBA history.

Wouldn't it be fitting for him to dress up as the character from one of the biggest movie flops of all-time then?

I think so.

Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki

Costume Idea: Sig Hansen from Deadliest Catch

These days, being Dirk Nowitzki is pretty damn good.

As a result, Nowitzki shouldn't stray too far away from himself this Halloween, making Sig Hansen a good candidate.

Nowitzki has already snagged an NBA title, so maybe it's time he tested other waters. Pun intended.

Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari

Costume Idea: Kris Humphries

Nene Hilario is a free agent, so the Italian prodigy gets the nod here.

Danilo Gallinari was apparently the apple of Kim Kardashian's eye before Kris Humphries, yet he declined her invitation for a date.

Maybe he should dress himself up as Humphries this Halloween and get a taste of the life he refused to walk into.

Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton

Costume Idea: The Man in the Iron Mask

On a team nearly void of stars, the highest paid player/former star is selected here.

Richard Hamilton is already the man in the plastic mask, so why not take a shot this Halloween at being the man in the iron mask?

Maybe he'll even prefer it and don it on the court next season.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

Costume Idea: Michael Scofield from Prison Break

Why exactly should Monta Ellis dress up as Michael Scofield from Prison Break?

Because he would have to do very little material shopping to pull it off.

You'll understand better when you check this out.

Houston Rockets: Luis Scola

Costume Idea: Russell Brand

Luis Scola's hairstyle isn't exactly flattering, but it does allow him to look uncannily similar to Russell Brand.

This isn't to say Brand's hairstyle is flattering either, but it landed him Katy Perry.

Perhaps if Scola dresses up on Halloween to look even more like him, he'll land a pop star as well.

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

Costume Idea: Donkey from Shrek

Last summer, Danny Granger played for Team USA and spent a lot of time in Europe.

While there, he apparently learned that no one wore deodorant, and compared the smell he was experiencing to "dead donkeys."

Far be it from me to call him a liar, but I'm not to sure he can make such a proclamation. That being said, maybe he should spend some time among the donkeys dressed as a donkey—and a famous one at that.

Granger was open to buying a whole mess of people dinner, so he might be receptive to the idea of dressing up like Donkey as well.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

Costume Idea: Buzz Lightyear

It's unclear whether Blake Griffin's acrobatics are him actually flying or if he is in fact "falling with style."

Either way, his hops have a Buzz Lightyear type of reach, making it a great idea for Griffin to dress up as the famous Toy Story character.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant

Costume Idea: Shaft

There is a lot of chatter on the Internet about Kobe Bryant looking like Tupac Shakur, but I'm of the mind that Bryant should stay as far away from the rap scene as possible. 

Stewie Griffin was also given some consideration here because of the facial expressions the two share, but that would involve Bryant spending the entire night walking on his knees, and they are susceptible to injury enough on the basketball court. 

Shaft's character was suave and debonair, much like Bryant's basketball skills.

Both emulate smoothness—the only difference is that Shaft got to fight crime.

Perhaps Halloween night, Bryant can too.

Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Randolph

Costume Idea: Eddie Winslow from Family Matters

Not only does Zach Randolph look like Eddie Winslow from the television series Family Matters, but it may be a good PR move for the Grizzlies' leading scorer to dress as a low-key character from a show about the value of family.

Additionally, it is unlikely such a costume will provoke any drug-related violence or arrest on Randolph's behalf.

That being said, I cannot speak with certainty, as I have never been to one of his Halloween parties.

Miami Heat: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

Costume Idea: Batman and Robin

Originally, this spot was reserved strictly for LeBron James, but this picture was too good to pass up.

For the Heat to succeed, it may be imperative for Dwyane Wade to take the lead.

That can start on Halloween, if James dresses up as the Robin to Wade's Batman.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

Costume Idea: Stacy Patton from Eddie 

The 1996 movie Eddie, about a New York Knicks team almost as bad as the one Isiah Thomas put together, had a character named Stacy Patton. 

Patton rarely passed the ball, and neither does Brandon Jennings. It is even worse in Jennings' case because he plays the point guard position.

He's a ball hog on the court, so why not dress like one for Halloween?

Here's a side caveat—some believe that Patton's character was based off Isiah Thomas. Just saying.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love

Costume Idea: Mike Posner

The facial similarities between Mike Posner and Kevin Love are slightly disturbing—they seriously do look similar.

This summer, Love already tried to play the part of a volleyball athlete, so why not try and take a shot assuming the role of a popular singer?

After all, he has to do something during this lockout.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

Costume Idea: White Goodman from Dodgeball

Deron Williams has already dressed up like Cal Ripken Jr., so why not try his luck dressing up as another professional athlete?

A dodgeball player, to be more precise.

Williams actually hosts an annual charity dodgeball tournament every summer with former teammate Kyle Korver, so its only fitting that he dress up as perhaps the most famous dodgeball player of our time.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul

Costume Idea: Carlton Banks from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Why should Chris Paul dress up as Carlton Banks for Halloween?

For starters, they are both short compared to their supporting cast, are both quick—watch Carlton frantically run from episode to episode—and they look strikingly similar.

All Paul has to do is trade in the basketball for a preppier-than-life outfit and learn the famous Tom Jones shuffle—check it out, it's definitely worth a gander—and he has himself a first-rate Halloween getup.

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

Costume Idea: P. Diddy

Carmelo Anthony stated that he may be dressing up like Bill Cosby for Halloween, but last time I checked, the Jell-O theme song wasn't played in every New York Knicks-related commercial after he joined the team, but "Coming Home" was.

That isn't the only reason that P. Diddy should be the costume of choice for Anthony, though.

I'm inclined to believe that the singer has more swag than Cosby, and thus better suits Anthony's personality.

Nothing against Cosby, though.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

Costume Idea: Jamie Foxx

Kevin Durant can be a funny guy, and so can Jamie Foxx.

The fact that the small forward looks fairly similar to the singer/actor is merely a bonus.

Even better, though, anything that Durant does on Halloween night that he may regret, he can simply blame on the alcohol.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

Costume Idea: Otis Smith

Sure, Dwight Howard could make like his moniker and dress up like Superman/the Orlando Magic's savior, but that hasn't been working these past few seasons.

Instead, Howard should dress like Otis Smith, Orlando's general manager, and see if it can't put together a plan to assemble a team that entices him to stay or, at the very least, doesn't severely handicap the organization's financial future.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala

Costume Idea: Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong sang Jazz and the Blues, the latter of which Andre Iguodala should be singing right about now. 

Considering Iguodala is Philadelphia's franchise player, he has been on the chopping block for what seems like forever.

It may be fitting for him to emulate Armstrong this Halloween, bellowing "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" at the top of his lungs.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

Costume Idea: James Blunt

Is Steve Nash a talented singer?

Who knows, but if he grows out his facial hair a bit he could be a spitting image of singer James Blunt.

All Nash needs to do is wake up, stay unshaven, grab an acoustic guitar and raise his voice a few octaves so he can recite "You're Beautiful" properly.

Only stipulation is that while singing said song, he cannot be singing about or referencing the immediate future of the Phoenix Suns.

Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge

Costume Idea: Underdog

LaMarcus Aldridge is still underrated, it's a fact.

His talents are somewhat known, but he doesn't quite get the respect his play warrants.

Why not embrace his current role, and make a statement this Halloween by dressing up as the most famous Underdog of them all?

And if he is not so keen on the idea, he should pass it on to new teammate Raymond Felton.

Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins

Costume Idea: Charlie Sheen

Just to clarify, DeMarcus Cousins' media dominance, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Tyreke Evans, makes him the Kings' star.

Cousins had an incredibly volatile rookie season.

He got fined, made some enemies both on and off the team and was unpredictable in regards to off-the-court issues to say the least—just as Charlie Sheen has proven to be off-camera.

See the connection?

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

Costume Idea: Curious George

Is Tim Duncan curious?

No idea, but his face bares a striking resemblance to that of Curious George. This is especially true when Duncan throws up his hands in dismay when getting called for a foul.

The only thing that would make this a bad costume idea is if Duncan is not partial to the taste of bananas.

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani

Costume Idea: Harry Houdini

Andrea Bargnani is nicknamed "Il Magio," which translates to the magician. 

While Bargnani is an offensive force, I'd hardly call anything he does on the court—especially on defense—magical.

As a result, it's time he lived up to that nickname somehow.

Dressing up as one of the best magicians/illusionists the world has ever seen would be a good place to start.

Utah Jazz: Al Jefferson

Costume Idea: Aunt Esther from Sanford and Son

This idea isn't implying that Al Jefferson is crazy, because he isn't.

He's a dominant low-post player and a pillar for the Utah Jazz to build around.

That being said, if he tosses on a bonnet and cardigan, and maybe a long skirt, he looks like Aunt Esther from the old NBC television show Sanford and Son.

Such a comparison doesn't make for good locker-room talk with his teammates, but it does make costume hunting much easier.

Washington Wizards: John Wall

Costume Idea: Speedy Gonzales

How fast is John Wall? Worthy of dressing up like Speedy Gonzales fast.

Just like Speedy, Wall may not be the biggest or strongest of the bunch, but he is the quickest. 

One flaw in this costume idea, though, is it's not entirely clear how Wall would look donning a sombrero. Perhaps he could pull it off. 

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.