1 Celebrity Doppleganger for Every NBA Star Heading to the Playoffs

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, it's the perfect time to have a little fun by pairing up today's stars with various celebrities. 

The likeness between certain players and celebrities is uncanny, as multiple double-takes are often needed to correctly identify the athlete from doppleganger. 

It should be noted that most of the similarities are from the neck up only, as most NBA players tend to be physical specimens unmatched by the vast majority of society. 

The play that takes place on the court has permeated into American culture for decades, and the same could be said of pop culture influencing NBA players.

In order to qualify for this slideshow, a player must be on a playoff-bound team. This distinction kept a few classics off the list, with the Ricky Rubio/Gotye (musician) and Dirk Nowitzki/Barry Pepper (actor) duos missing the cut by default. 

If a certain player/doppleganger isn't listed here, please leave a comment because there are way too many to fit in just one slideshow. 

Josh Smith and the Game

While Josh Smith may move on from the Atlanta Hawks this summer as an unrestricted free agent, he will continue to resemble Jayceon Terrell Taylor (The Game) beyond that. 

It's easy to see the resemblance in the picture above, although Smith has fewer facial tattoos than Game.  

Game was a former member of the rap group G-Unit, which was headed by 50 Cent. That partnership didn't work long term, though, as Game was dropped from the group after having a dispute with 50 Cent, according to SilverChips.edu. 

In Game's song titled "All I Know", the rapper mentions how people think he looks like Smith. And you know what they say: Once it's in a rap song, it must be true. 

Chris Paul and Alfonso Ribeiro

Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA, but Alfonso Ribeiro was America's favorite supporting actor on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, so we'll call it a tie. 

Perhaps it's the haircut, but it's impossible to deny that Paul and Ribeiro look like long lost brothers. Their appearance is so similar that Blake Griffin could be forgiven if he were to confuse a young Ribeiro for Paul in the midst of an offensive set. 

You may have expected to see "Cliff Paul" in this spot, as State Farm's separated-at-birth ad campaign has been getting its fair share of attention recently. However, since we're focusing on look-alike celebrities, the actor who played Carlton on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is easily Paul's doppleganger.

If the Los Angeles Clippers can find the same run of success in the postseason that Ribeiro's hit show once enjoyed, then Vinny Del Negro may keep his job coaching job.

Chris Bosh and Snoop Dog

No, Chris Bosh is not going to be compared to a dinosaur in this article. Just because he started his career as a member of the Toronto Raptors and resembles a T-Rex at times doesn't mean that Bosh can't resemble a celebrity. 

Bosh also bears a resemblance to music icon Snoop Dogg (who now goes by the alias, Snoop Lion), though what physical similarities they share aren't matched by their personality traits. Snoop latter is a pop culture legend, and Bosh is content to be the third option on the NBA's best team. 

While the Miami Heat have been dominant this season, most of the media's attention has been focused on LeBron James.

Sure, Bosh should have realized that was going to happen when he signed with the Heat in the summer of 2010, but he has handled the situation flawlessly. 

If Bosh minds being overlooked by the mainstream media he doesn't let it show, as Miami's center appears to be happy playing inside and contributing whenever asked. 

Whether or not Snoop would mind being relegated to third option is unknown, but he probably wouldn't take the demotion as well as Bosh. 

Zach Randolph and Darius McCrary

If you were to make a list of five NBA players that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, Zach Randolph would easily make the list. That isn't to say that Randolph is a bad guy, he's just not the type of guy with whom you want to have strained relations.

The Memphis Grizzlies have the potential to create quite a ruckus in the playoffs but will need Randolph to play his absolute best in order to do so.

While Randolph is usually a walking double-double, he has struggled throughout the months of March and April. In fact, his scoring and rebounding numbers in those two months are both below his season average.

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Grizzlies need Randolph to be progressing not regressing. 

Randolph's celebrity doppleganger is a no-brainer, as he strikingly resembles actor Darius McCrary.

McCrary is best known for his role on the 1980s sitcom Family Matters, in which he portrayed Eddie Winslow. 

Steve Nash and Liam Gallagher

Steve Nash has struggled this season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he shouldn't look back in anger.

Well at least that's the advice Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher would give him if the two were to have a chat. If you didn't know any better, it would be easy to confuse Nash and Gallagher, as they have a similar facial structure. 

This duo is also close in age, as Nash is just 18 months younger than Gallagher. 

The band Oasis enjoyed an 18-year run, which will be matched by Nash next season. What are the odds that Nash's NBA career ends up equaling the longevity of Gallagher's run as the singer of Oasis?

That all depends on whether or not Nash is able to bounce back after trying to get healthy in the offseason. 

Dwight Howard and Stringer Bell

Since Kobe Bryant will miss the postseason due to a ruptured achilles, it will be up to Dwight Howard to carry the load. 

Throughout his professional career, Howard has sported many different looks. When he entered the NBA as a member of the Orlando Magic, Howard was tall and lanky. 

As he developed and worked in the weight room, Howard added a significant amount of muscle onto his frame.

Through it all though, Howard has never drawn many comparisons in terms of looking like other celebrities. That being said, he most closely resembles the character Stringer Bell from the HBO show The Wire. 

Stringer is played by Idris Elba, and the two look similar when donning glasses. 

As Howard's off-the-court career has progressed, he has taken to wearing glasses more often, which means looking like Mr. Bell more often. 

Manu Ginobli and Bronson Pinchot

Take a deep breath and just say it. Manu Ginobili isn't the player he used to be, as anyone talking about the San Antonio Spurs' big three is talking about an extinct trio. 

Injuries and age have slowed Ginobili down, as father time is undefeated. However, Manu still resembles Bronson Pinchot in earnest. 

Pinchot is an actor best known for appearing on Risky Business and Beverly Hill Cops. 

Kevin Durant and Frank Ocean

Kevin Durant and Frank Ocean both happen to be amongst the best at what they do, they also happen to resemble each other. 

While Durant led the league in scoring for the past three seasons, Frank Ocean's album entitled Thinking About You went platinum and won a Grammy.

Once the playoffs begin, Durant will be one step closer to securing his first NBA title. While the Oklahoma City Thunder improved upon their past playoff result in each of the last two seasons, they will have to win it all in order to keep that streak intact.