Athletes Are Just Like Us: 2016 Edition

LeBron James doesn't like to use his phone if he's not in Wi-Fi range. Novak Djokovic rides public transportation. Sometimes, for the occasional brief moment, it's possible to forget these are worldwide superstar millionaires.

Just because a person has money doesn't mean he or she has to be frivolous or impractical. It's refreshing to see these big-time sports stars acting with a little more frugality from time to time. Makes them more relatable, no?

Here are a few times athletes acted "just like us" (re: like the proverbial "Average Joe") in 2016. You think you're the only one who binge-watches Game of Thrones? Think again.

Honorable Mention: Noah Syndergaard Stays with Wil Myers

Who needs hotels when you can stay with friends, right?

New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard stayed with San Diego Padres first baseman Wil Myers during MLB's All-Star weekend. According to Rachel Crader of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Myers posted a bedroom in his San Diego apartment on Airbnb.com for $63 a night.

Full disclosure: This was part of a promotion for Airbnb, so it only sort of applies. Average Joes certainly crash with friends and use Airbnb when traveling, but they probably don't do so as part of advertisements for major vacation rental companies.

Gabor Kiraly Rocks Gray Sweatpants

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Who here does not own a pair of gray sweatpants? Some of you have probably even donned the comfortable wardrobe staple to play a little pickup soccer or football on a chilly day.

Not only does Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly rock sweatpants, but he also rocks them for actual matches, like during Euro 2016, for instance.

On his awesome kit, Kiraly told Hungarian publication Le Journal Francophone de Budapest (via Sky Sports), "I'm a goalie, not a top model!" Yes.

He also added, "It's essentially a question of comfort. I've played on clay or grass that's been frozen in winter; it makes your legs hurt when you fall so jogging bottoms seemed obvious."

What a man of the people.

Jeff Teague Plans to Move in with His Parents

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Now, of course not every 28-year-old lives with his or her parents, but it is a cost-saving option more millennials are taking advantage of.

In May, Richard Fry of Pew Research wrote, "In 2014, for the first time in more than 130 years, adults ages 18 to 34 were slightly more likely to be living in their parents' home than they were to be living with a spouse or partner in their own household."

And yet, if you were set to make $8 million in 2016-17, would you move into your parents' basement? NBA guard Jeff Teague—who was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Indiana Pacers in June—did just that.

Teague told Fox Sports 97.5 he plans to live in the basement of an Indiana home he bought and later gave to his parents.

Eli Apple's Mom Drops Him off at OTAs

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Just like not everyone lives at home with their parents, surely not everyone gets dropped off at work by their parents. However, such a situation would certainly seem more believable for an Average Joe than for a professional athlete.

Eli Apple was drafted by the New York Giants at No. 10 overall in April. And on the first day of OTAs, who was behind the wheel of his ride to work? His mom.

Annie Apple said, per Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports, "We enjoy these important life moments as a family. You only get one first day of OTAs. Plus we're close by. So yay."

Harrison Smith Drives a 2002 Chevy Tahoe

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Just because professional athletes make the big bucks, that doesn't mean they can't make practical choices.

For instance, Harrison Smith signed a five-year, $51.25 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings in June that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

And yet, according to Aj Mansour of KFAN.com, Smith continues to drive a 2002 Chevy Tahoe with 135,000 miles on it. Per Mansour, Smith said it's "the perfect car for Minnesota."

Kawhi Leonard Uses Wingstop Coupons

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San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard will do Harrison Smith one better—his Chevy Tahoe is a 1997 model.

Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated wrote in March, "He often drives a rehabbed '97 Chevy Tahoe, nicknamed Gas Guzzler, which he drove across Southern California's Inland Empire as a teenager. 'It runs,' Leonard explains, 'and it's paid off.'" 

Leonard is also reportedly a spokesperson for Wingstop, a gig that affords him coupons for free food. According to Jenkins, Leonard once "panicked when he lost his coupons."

As a reminder, Leonard signed a five-year deal worth over $90 million in 2015.  

Elena Delle Donne Plays 'Pokemon Go'

Pokemon Go is sweeping the nation, and sports are not immune. Even big-time athletes are getting caught up in the craze.

For instance, here is Chicago Sky star and 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne hangin' with Meowth.

Other athletes such as Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris and ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel have also been documented playing the mobile virtual reality game recently, according to Eric Goldwein of the Washington Post.

Courtney Lee Binge-Watches 'Game of Thrones'

Spoiler Warning. 

Just like some athletes play Pokemon Go, some are also huge Game of Thrones junkies.

When that shocker about the Red Woman's real age came out during the Season 6 premiere, New York Giants lineman Marshall Newhouse tweeted, "Red Lady been witchin out in these streets for a thousand years. It wears on you." Indeed. 

Likewise, New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee apparently spent part of his NBA offseason binge-watching the show.

Per Nina Mandell of For the Win, Lee said, "I'm catching up, I'm starting from season one. I'm on episode nine right now, so I've been moving through them, but I catch myself having to rewatch them a couple of times because if I miss somebody's name or anything, I have to make sure I understand going forward."

Kris Dunn Sports a JCPenney Suit

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Back at the 2015 NBA draft, Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky shouted out department store chain JCPenney for sponsoring his suit, and apparently it's a thing now.

In 2016, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Kris Dunn wore a JCPenney suit. After he was selected at No. 5, ESPN's Lisa Salters asked Dunn if he shopped at the store often.

He said (via Eric Freeman of Yahoo Sports), "Yeah, actually I do, and actually a lot of my friends do, too."

LeBron James Dodges a Question About 'The Godfather'

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In June, LeBron James told ESPN's Chris Broussard (via Alysha Tsuji of For the Win) he had watched The Godfather six times during the NBA playoffs.

Later, it became unlikely he had actually ever seen The Godfather when he struggled to answer a question about his favorite part.

Per Brett Smiley of Fox Sports, James said, "Oh, Godfather? There's too many different phrases and too many different lines in that movie to just categorize one."

Come on, who hasn't been in this position at one time or another? "Sure, of course I've seen Braveheart—who hasn't? What's that? What's my favorite part? Um, er, well there's just so many great moments. It's impossible to say."

Andrew Luck Has a Book Club

In addition to a $140 million contract, Andrew Luck also has his own book club.

Many athletes are involved with charity work, Luck included, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback recently decided to do something fairly common to encourage others to read. He started the Andrew Luck Book Club.

Per Darren Rovell of ESPN.com, Luck explained, "I've been called the unofficial librarian of the Colts, which is kind of cheesy. But the truth is that I love to read both fiction and nonfiction and I feel strongly about the power of reading. So I thought, 'Why not start a real book club?'"

Novak Djokovic Rides Public Transportation

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Not only did Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic take public transportation around London, but he also took a family selfie while he was at it. How very typical of him.

In town ahead of Wimbledon in June, Djokovic posted a photo of himself riding the London Underground metro system. He tweeted, "I'm officially a Londoner. Best way to avoid the traffic :)." 

It really is the best way to avoid traffic, save, you know, a helicopter or something.

Darren Clarke Believes in the 5-Second Rule

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Sure, some of you will say, "Gross!" to this, but others will say, "Five-second rule."

Northern Irish golfer Darren Clarke was just minding his business during the Open Championship in July, putting on the 14th hole, when he endured something many likely have.

Clarke's gum fell out of his mouth—oops. Within a reasonable amount of time, he proceeded to pick it up, inspect it and put it back in his mouth.

Gross or efficient? You decide.

Darrelle Revis Tweets His Kevin Durant Take

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Athletes can be fans, too. When something big happens in sports, theirs are sometimes some of the best takes to read.

For instance, when the Golden State Warriors won their 73rd game to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record for regular-season wins, NFL free-agent Emmanuel Acho tweeted, "Steve Kerr the shooting guard is gonna be real mad when he realizes Steve Kerr the coach broke the record!"

Likewise, when Kevin Durant decided to take his talents to the Dubs in the offseason, athletes reacted on social media just like everyone else.

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was all of us when he tweeted, "Golden State 82-0?"

LeBron James Needs That Wi-Fi

Raise your hand if you only use your smartphone's data if the Wi-Fi is turned on.

That is a pretty basic precaution everyday folk take, because that data is not cheap if you go over your allotment. It doesn't seem like the type of thing a man with a lifetime Nike contract possibly worth $1 billion would worry about though.

NBA star Dwyane Wade co-hosted Live! With Kelly in early July. Afterward, in a bonus segment with his wife Gabrielle Union, the two revealed LeBron James has the same hangup about Wi-Fi as you (probably) do.

Per Charlotte Wilder of For the Win, Union said, "He doesn't take his phone if he's not assured of Wi-Fi."