Charlotte Hornets guard Pat Connaughton honored a long-overdue fantasy football penalty by showing up with bleach-blond hair during Monday night’s 102-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 33-year-old veteran kept the new look hidden while warming up in a beanie, but television cameras caught the transformation late in the third quarter. Broadcasters immediately linked the change to a lost bet.
After the game, rookie guard Kon Knueppel confirmed Connaughton finished last in the team’s fantasy football league, triggering the dye-job punishment. The Hornets echoed the explanation on social media, noting they were “1-0 with blonde Pat.”
Connaughton is in his 11th NBA season and has appeared in 22 games for Charlotte, averaging seven minutes per contest.
The Hornets’ win pushed their streak to seven, matching the franchise’s longest run of consecutive victories since the start of the 2000-01 campaign, according to ESPN Research. Monday also marked the 11th time this season Charlotte has limited an opponent to fewer than 100 points, tying the Oklahoma City Thunder for the league lead.
Source: ESPN
