Athletes Are Just Like Us: Pointing at Stuff Edition

This one is, admittedly, pretty random. But as someone who spends an inordinate amount of time on social media, both personally and professionally, noticing the many ways in which professional athletes are just like us has become a regular thing.

Look at the photos of your friends and family on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and you’ll notice that grinning and pointing to completely random things is one of the ties that bind us. Seriously, this is something that happens on a cellular level for most people when a camera is pointed at them.

Athletes may be more physically talented than the rest of us—earning bigger paychecks, attracting better-looking spouses and just generally living better—but they aren’t immune to the ties that bind. Hamming it up in photos is one such tie that binds. 

Here are some random athletes pointing at some random stuff.

Matt Barnes

Now with the Memphis Grizzlies, then-Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes does a double point at then-teammate Maalik Wayns, while Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan encourage him in their own special ways. Pointing at a sleeping teammate is one of the best ways to amuse oneself during those endless regular-season road trips.

Richard Sherman

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and his little brother Branton were both born and raised in Southern California, meaning they’ve been Los Angeles Lakers fans since birth. So it makes sense that the two of them would be so tickled to meet up with Kobe Bryant in the flesh.

Golden Tate

Even though wide receiver Golden Tate and quarterback Jimmy Clausen play for rival teams in the NFC North—with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, respectively—the former Notre Dame teammates are apparently still friendly. Tate is pointing to Clausen like the college football relic on display that he really is.

Lindsay Thomas

Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Australian rules football player Lindsay Thomas has played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos since the club drafted him in 2006. Here he is pictured following a recent AFL match against the Carlton Blues, pointing to an aboriginal flag tattoo on his chest.

Russell Wilson

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was recently rewarded with a new contract that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Although it looked like he may go into the season without an extension, Wilson’s entrenchment in the Seattle community may have been one of the reasons a deal finally got done. A regular visitor at Seattle Children’s Hospital, it’s no surprise Wilson is on a friendly pointing basis with some of the nurses.

DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin

Clippers teammates DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin are pictured with “the freshest 60-year-old dude ever.” Despite looking enthusiastic and familiar with that dapper sexagenarian, Griffin gives no other clue as to his actual identity.

Martavis Bryant

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is pictured with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Matt Hazel—Bryant went to Clemson and Hazel went to Coastal Carolina, both in South Carolina—and Hall of Fame wideout Cris Carter at Carter's induction ceremony in 2014.

Lionel Messi

One of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has played his entire professional career for Barcelona, proves that there are few women who can charm a grown man more than his own mother. Messi looked positively pleased with life, pointing to his mother while enjoying a family dinner.

Josh Reddick

Brandon Wade/Getty Images

Oakland A's right fielder Josh Reddick is seen busting out the double point after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Rangers in May. Reddick was understandably excited about the A’s six-run seventh, but it wasn’t enough to give them a win on the road in Arlington.

Jason Demers

Dallas Stars defenseman Jason Demers is pictured doing, quite literally, one of the only things that makes taking photos at an art museum worthwhile. Seeing the pieces in person is always a worthwhile and enriching experience, but they lose a little something when posted secondhand on social media. Pointing at various weird things is probably the best way to bring a painting to life.

Kevin Durant

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant is seen happily pointing to a skateboard that may or may not have wheels. Of course, given the injuries he battled through most of last season, it’s fair to say that OKC would have a legitimate gripe if that thing actually has wheels on the back.

Eugene Sims

Drafted No. 2 overall out of Virginia by the St. Louis Rams in the 2008 NFL draft, defensive end Chris Long is being happily pointed to by teammate Eugene Sims, who also plays defensive end in St. Louis. Looking a bit like an exhibit in a museum, Long is reminiscent of someone else…

Tony Hawk

ROBYN BECK/Getty Images

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has seen an awful lot during an epic career that spans more than three decades, which means it probably takes something pretty noteworthy to impress him. Then again, is there anything more impressive than Tony Hawk himself?

Kyle Long

Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long, son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, has a sense of humor that is readily apparent by following him on social media. His gleeful pointing at bears encased in a glass tomb is just one example.

LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James leads quite the extraordinary life, giving him more than enough things to point at on an average day. Of course, there are few things worth pointing to more than the likes of Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

The Rock

Truth be told, there are few athletes on social media worth following more than WWE superstar The Rock on Instagram. His Throwback Thursday photos are absolutely classic, as are the countless completely random things he points at. Seriously, what's the deal with that blue door?

The Rock

Speaking of The Rock pointing at things! There he is pointing at a completely unnecessary statue of spinach-loving Popeye. Here he is pointing at a life-size Oscar award. Here he is pointing at a Warner Bros. sign. Here he is pointing at himself. Here he is pointing at a dude. And here he is pointing at a completely different dude.

Yasiel Puig

Perhaps it has something to do with the language barrier, but Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Yasiel Puig relies on three standard gestures to animate his many Instagram photos: deuces, thumbs-up and pointing. In addition to pointing at bronze statues in zoos, Puig proudly pointed at soon-to-be MVP/NBA champion Stephen Curry when they met each other at the All-Star Game in February.