MADISON, Wis. — On Feb. 15, Wisconsin will be retiring the jersey of Frank Kaminsky and hanging his No. 44 in the Kohl Center rafters prior to the Badgers' game against Purdue. During the 44 days leading up to that historic night, in no particular order, we'll be listing 44 reasons why we love the legendary Kaminsky.
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1. HIS RECORD (AND BREAKOUT) NIGHT
As Josh Gasser and Ben Brust walked off the Kohl Center floor on November 19, 2013, they exchanged a laugh over the improbable feat, the certain-to-be obscure trivia answer, they had just witnessed.
"In 20 years, no one is going be able to guess who holds the Wisconsin record for most points in a game," Brust chuckled.
"They're going to say, 'Frank who? Frank Kaminsky? Are you kidding me?' No one will ever know that," Gasser agreed.
Turns out the joke was on them. Kaminsky's 43-point outburst against North Dakota turned out to be the breakout performance in what became one of the most celebrated careers in Wisconsin history.
Kaminsky made 16-of-19 shots, including 6-for-6 from 3-point range and went 5-for-6 from the foul line. The junior, who was making his fourth-career start, went to the bench with about 5 minutes left with 41 points, prompting groans from the Wisconsin student section. "We want Frank! We Want Frank!" the students chanted before a timeout with 3 minutes left. They got their wish, as Kaminsky re-entered the game and promptly drove to the hoop for his final two points.
"When those first couple of shots went in, I kind of said, `I'm feeling it,'" Kaminsky said. "I kept shooting and it kept going in."
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2. 'FRANK THE TANK' METÂ 'FRANK THE TANK'
From the moment Wisconsin's 2015 NCAA Tournament draw came up and L.A. was a potential regional destination, an idea was hatched… what if Frank the Tank could meet Frank the Tank?
UW's All-American and resident goofball Frank Kaminsky had developed the nickname Frank the Tank during his high school days at Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois, and the legend only grew with his remarkable stardom. In fact, the cover of the March 23, 2015 issue of Sports Illustrated even pictured Kaminsky standing in front of a retired Army battle tank emblazoned with the words 'FRANK the TANK.'
As legendary as Kaminsky is, no one popularized the Frank the Tank moniker like Hollywood icon Will Ferrell in the blockbuster hit Old School. His lovable character, Frank Ricard, is at a crossroads deciding between a life as a responsible adult and family man or embracing the fun-spirited hijinks of his frat-brother, alter-ego "Frank the Tank."
Given Kaminsky's poised yet playful duality, the two Tanks seemed a perfect match. This meeting had to happen.
UW's Director of Athletic Communications Brian Lucas had originally dreamed of Ferrell visiting the team at practice the day before taking on North Carolina in the Sweet 16. Turned out Ferrell was receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that day, which evidently trumped our little meet-and-greet. The nerve, right?
Undeterred, an alternate plan revealed itself.
"UW alum and big Badgers supporter Kenny Dichter first put us in contact with Billy Bush, the host of Access Hollywood," Lucas explained. "Apparently Bush is friends with Will Ferrell and he thought we should send Bucky Badger down to the Walk of Fame ceremony to deliver an invitation to meet Frank and the team."
Lucas and company went one step further: why doesn't Frank just do it himself. The ceremony was around 11 a.m. and the Badgers didn't practice until that afternoon, so with the blessing of his head coach, Kaminsky was headed down to Hollywood.
"That's when Billy Bush said, 'Well Access Hollywood always gets the first interview with the celebrity after they receive their star, why don't we have Frank interview Will Ferrell as our correspondent?'"
"I've never been so nervous in my whole life," Kaminsky admitted moments before the interview. "I'd be more comfortable playing basketball in front of a million people in my underwear than doing what I'm about to do."
Kaminsky handled the interview like a seasoned veteran, asking Ferrell to stand back-to-back so he could compare heights. When the 7-footer towered over the 6-foot-3 Ferrell, Kaminsky joked, "Kevin Hart (5-foot-4) asked me to do that so you know how he feels."
Off air, Kaminsky and Ferrell visited for a while and took photos before the comedian signed a copy of the Sports Illustrated cover with the words, "Hey Frank - nice name, Will Ferrell."
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3. HIS DANCE MOVES ARE INTERNATIONAL
As an undergrad at UW, Frank Kaminsky never shied away from entertaining the masses with his dance moves or perfect comedic timing. It was great to see that a jump to the NBA didn't change him one bit.
During his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets in 2015, Kaminsky was subjected to a rookie "orientation" of having to dance at center court in front of a crowd during the team's NBA Global Games trip to Shanghai. What unfolded next can only be fully appreciate in video format.
Go ahead and
enjoy the masterful performance for yourself.
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4. 'TANK' WAS PART OF HIS FABRIC...LITERALLY!
Frank Kaminsky developed the nickname "Frank the Tank" during his high school days and he embraced the moniker throughout his time at Wisconsin (even posing in front of a tank for a Sports Illustrated photoshoot).
The "Tank" became a part of his fabric… literally. On the night of the 2015 NBA Draft, Kaminsky wore a custom-tailored suit with two army tanks sewn into the interior lining of his jacket. Kaminsky was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets and he flashed the tanks on ESPN's broadcast moments after his name was called.
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5. HE BECAME AN MVP IN ATLANTIS
Frank Kaminsky's 2014-15 campaign as the nation's best player began on an international stage.
Playing in the early-season Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, Kaminsky led the Badgers to the tournament championship, earning MVP honors along the way. In the opener against UAB, the senior tallied 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in a runaway 72-43 win.
Kaminsky's teammates picked him up in a 68-65 semifinal win over Georgetown as he went 1-for-8 and had just 6 points and 4 rebounds. The big man would bounce back in the championship game, scoring 14 of his game-high 17 points in the second half of a 69-56 win over Oklahoma to take home the trophy.
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6. FRANK POSED WITHÂ A REAL TANK
On March 23, Sports Illustrated named Kaminsky its College Basketball Player of the Year, presenting the scruffy superstar on its cover – his third such appearance in a 12-month span. The image featured Kaminsky, clad in his red Wisconsin jersey and shorts standing in front of a 1978-built M60A3 Main Battle Tank. Playing off his "Frank the Tank" nickname, the photo shoot came together just outside Madison at American Legion Post 360 in Waunakee. However, conditions weren't ideal.
"That was one of the crazier media things we did," Kaminsky remembered. "We had snow and freezing rain the night before so the photographer had to clear off the tank and dig out a place for me to stand. Plus, it was like 25 degrees, so being out there in shorts and a jersey was freezing."
"I remember standing out there for a few pictures, then jumping into a running car with the heat blasting to warm up. Then going back out to shoot a few more and then get back in the car, repeating that for a half hour. It was fun, though, and the cover turned out pretty cool."
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7. HIS HIGHLIGHT PLAY AGAINSTÂ MARQUETTE
Wisconsin and Marquette recently celebrated the 100-year anniversary of one of the best rivalries in college basketball. Kaminsky never seemed to shy away from the stage and came up with some big plays whenever the fierce rivals met.
With Kaminsky as a starter, the Badgers never lost to the Golden Eagles:
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- 12/6/14, UW 49, MU 38 | Kaminsky: 15 pts (5-9 FG), 10 reb, 4 stl, 3 blk, 1 ast
- 12/7/13, UW 70, MU 64 | Kaminsky: 11 pts (4-7 FG), 4 reb, 3 blk, 1 ast
One of Kaminsky's most memorable plays against Marquette came during a 2013 victory, which included
a sequence where Kaminsky and teammate Sam Dekker traded alley-oops.
It's always good to beat the team located just 75 miles down Interstate 94.
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8. HIS FASCINATION WITH FISHEYE LENSES
Press conferences during Wisconsin's magical run to the 2015 national championship game were must-see TV. The Badgers often struck an incredible balance of intelligent insight and humor. The humor manifested itself in many ways, one of which was Frank Kaminsky's fascination with the fish-eye lenses used on the Final Four dais.
The result was ridiculous-looking photos. Not that Kaminsky would care.
"I don't care if I look like the biggest dork in the world. I embrace who I am."
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9. ONCE A BADGER, ALWAYS A BADGER
Frank Kaminsky prides himself on his loyalty and he wears his Wisconsin pride on his sleeve. From
tweets supporting his alma mater to priceless reactions like the one below, Kaminsky embodies the saying, "Once a Badger, always a Badger."
10. HELPED PUNCHÂ A 2014 FINAL FOUR TICKET
March 30, 2014 is a date that will live in the pantheon of greatest moments in Wisconsin basketball history. That was the day the Badgers punched their ticket to the 2014 Final Four with
a heart-stopping 64-63 overtime win over Arizona.
Kaminsky scored a modest eight points in the first half, but Turner Sports analyst Charles Barkley had seen enough to devise a second-half gameplan for the Badgers. During the TBS halftime show, Barkley stood in front of a chalkboard marked "Coaching With Chuck" and explained:
"The first thing I'm going to do is get the ball to Mr. Kaminsky. The second thing I'm going to do is get the ball to Mr. Kaminsky. The third thing? I'm going to get the ball to Mr. Kaminsky."
Bo Ryan and the Badgers took Sir Charles' advice.
Kaminsky scored three of Wisconsin's first four buckets of the second half, including a 3-pointer that tied the game at 34-34, which tied the game for the first time since the score was 0-0. The game would be a white-knuckler the rest of the way. In fact, the margin was never more than a one-possession game for the final 12:09 of regulation and the overtime period.
By the time Kaminsky was finished, he would turn in a virtuoso 28-point, 11-rebound performance that earned him West Regional Most Outstanding Player honors and the admiration of Arizona coach Sean Miller.
"Frank Kaminsky is the reason Wisconsin's in the Final Four," Miller resigned after the game.
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11. HIS REASONS TO RETURN AS A SENIOR
On the heels of a standout showing in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Frank Kaminsky had just finished his junior season and had put himself squarely in the crosshairs of NBA draft personnel. Kaminsky's father was hearing from agents and professional executives at a rate with which he could hardly keep up. After seeking consultation and leaning on head coach
Bo Ryan to solicit feedback from pro scouts, Kaminsky decided to return to Wisconsin for his senior season. The reasons were many and
the Badgers big man took to his personal blog, "The Moose Basketball,"Â to explain them. "I made a commitment to the University of Wisconsin, and they made a commitment to me. Who would have thought that I would be in this position at the end of last season? If any, they wouldn't have been willing to bet on that. If you know anything about me, you would know that I pride myself on being loyal. I will always be loyal to anyone or anything that I care about, and I care about this school and this basketball team. They have become part of my identity and who I am.Â
"I love this place. I am exactly where I need to be. The University of Wisconsin has provided me with an opportunity to be the best I can be. So why not provide the University of Wisconsin with the best basketball team that has stepped foot on this campus?"
"This year, this run… it started with Frank saying he was coming back," Ryan would divulge after the season. "Whatever he decided on, we were going to go with and support him. But everybody was happy that he wanted to be a big part of what was coming."
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12. HIS COLLEGE GAMEDAY DRAFT REACTION
Frank Kaminsky's college career was filled with hilarious moments. One of those moment came on Feb. 7, 2015 when ESPN's College Gameday show asked if the national player of the year candidate would assist with a segment of the show.
The show was holding a player draft where hosts Jay Bilas, Jay Williams and Seth Greenberg selected college basketball players for a fantasy competition over the season's final month. After Bilas picked Duke's Jahlil Okafor No. 1, Jay Williams drafted Kaminsky second overall and
the 7-footers reaction was priceless.
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13. HIS HUNGER GAMES CELEBRATION
Frank Kaminsky wasn't necessarily a big showman on the court during his Wisconsin career, but he did introduce us to a subtle 3-point celebration in 2014 that Hunger Games enthusiasts surely appreciated. For a few games early in the season, Kaminsky would celebrate a 3-pointer by pressing his middle three fingers to his lips and then holding it up in the air.
The lead character of the Hunger Games series, Katniss Everdeen, explained that the salute "Is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love."
It seemed that for Kaminsky that the tribute was a way of acknowledging teammates. But if it also meant goodbye, perhaps it was a nod to opponents. Kaminsky's team did go 36-4 that season.
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14. HE MADE SNAPCHAT SPECTACLES STYLISH
Frank Kaminsky Snapchat Spectacles NBA All-Star Weekend = hilarious meme
What exactly are Snapchat Spectacles? Those who are into social media likely know already, but for those who are unaware, Spectacles were glasses designed by Snapchat to work with their social media sharing app by allowing users to wear them and record a first-person account of what they themselves are seeing, then share it on Snapchat. Kaminsky decided to show up at the 2017 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest wearing them and he instantly became a social media conversation. Never change, Frank... never change.
15. HIS DANCE-OFF TO A T-SWIFT JAM
He may have been rated the No. 1 college basketball player in the country by ESPN.com during his senior season, but that never changed Frank Kaminsky. Point in case, check out the time he agreed to a dance-off against David Grube of
Fundamentally Sound.
16. HE ROCKED GOGGLES AND A HEADBAND
Take a look at the picture above. Masked by the headband and large sport glasses, it may be hard to tell at first. But, yes, that's National Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky when he was a sophomore during the 2012-13 season.
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17. "MAKE 'EM BELIEVE"
Frank Kaminsky and his 2015 teammates introduced us to the saying "Make 'Em Believe." A mantra that would follow them all the way to the national championship game. It'sÂ
a motto with a backstory as silly as the collection of characters who dreamed it up.
The slogan was born in a gym in Lisle, Illinois -- Kaminsky's hometown -- but resurfaced throughout the season, including the team's final pregame huddle before knocking off previously unbeaten Kentucky at the 2015 Final Four.
It started as a challenge, "Make 'Em Believe," and ended as an accomplishment, "Made 'Em Believe."
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18. CATCHIN' CONFETTI
Catching snowflakes on your tongue?
Frank Kaminsky tried to catch confetti on his tongue during the trophy ceremony after Wisconsin won the Big Ten tournament championship in 2015, which helped the Badgers secure the program's first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
19. HE LOVES A PIZZA PARTY
How do you celebrate after your team just won the Big Ten tournament title? For Frank Kaminsky and the Badgers, it involved a postgame pizza party as they waited to find out their NCAA tournament seed and path in the bracket.
Frank, along with teammates Duje Dukan (left) and Josh Gasser (right), decided to commemorate the moment by taking a selfie together. In typical Frank fashion, personality remained on full display.
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20. HELPED PUNCH AÂ FINAL FOUR TICKET #2
In the 2014 Elite Eight, Frank Kaminsky torched Arizona for 28 points and 11 rebounds. In the 2015 rematch, he was even better.
For the second straight season, the Badgers and Wildcats met in the NCAA tournament West Regional final. And for the second-straight year Kaminsky was the catalyst of a Wisconsin win. On UW's first possession, Kaminsky scored a three-point play and the Badgers were off and running. Kaminsky would finish with a team-high 29 points (hat tip to Sam Dekker and his career-high 27 points) in the Badgers' 85-78 win.
With a second-consecutive trip to the Final Four secured, Kaminsky was nearly at a loss for words, simply saying postgame, "I'm just so happy right now."
Weren't we all.
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21. HE LOVED HIS GOPRO
During the 2014-15 season, Frank Kaminsky fell in love with his personal GoPro. Who can blame him with all the memorable moments and experiences the Badgers had on their way to their second straight Final Four and a national runner-up finish.
Kaminsky became so caught up in wanting to capture every moment of his memorable senior season that he even wore his GoPro during a sit-down interview with Big Ten Network's show, "The Journey."
See the picture above. Those aren't suspenders. Kaminsky has his GoPro harnessed to his chest.
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22. HIS '38-1' BIRTHDAY GAME VS. KENTUCKY
Wisconsin vs. Kentucky. It was the rematch many in the college basketball world were hoping for, and fortunately the stars aligned in 2014-15. Just one season after the Wildcats knocked off the Badgers in heartbreaking fashion at the 2014 Final Four, fate would have it that the two meet again just one year later for a rematch at the 2015 Final Four.
Wisconsin was in the midst of one of its greatest seasons in program history. Kentucky entered the game a perfect 38-0 and seeking college basketball history as an undefeated national champion.
One year after he and his teammates solemnly walked off the court in defeat at the hands of Kentucky, Frank Kaminsky returned the favor with a standout performance that helped carry Wisconsin to its first national championship game since 1941.
National Player of the Year Kaminsky finished with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds, plus 2 blocks and 2 assists, lifting the Badgers to a 71-64 victory over the Wildcats.
Even better, it all took place on what was Kaminsky's birthday.
23. HIS HELP DEVELOPING ETHAN HAPP
How did
Ethan Happ go from a lowly-heralded three-star recruit to an All-American sophomore?
Frank Kaminsky played a part in his development. Watch the video above to learn how.
"What I learned was that I wasn't a very good post player," Happ said of when he entered the Wisconsin program. "Frank didn't really tell me, 'Do this better. Do that better.' He would just block my shot or score on me over, and over, and over again. Eventually, I would pick up on it after so many practices."
"You love to see a guy who you know works hard, a guy that cares and a guy that goes out and has a performance that really picks up the rest of his team," Kaminsky said of Happ in an interview with "The Journey" on Big Ten Network.
24. HE'S A SELF-PROCLAIMED GOOFBALL
At the NBA Draft Combine...
In the NBA...
Frank Kaminsky is a goofball. Nothing else needs to be said.
25. HE LOVES ENTOURAGE...A LOT
While the Badgers were out in Los Angeles during the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Doug Ellin and Jerry Ferrara stopped by one of the team's practices prior to their Sweet 16 game against North Carolina. Ellin is the creator of the HBO television series "Entourage," which Ferrara stars in.
When Ellin found out that Kaminsky and other members of the team were big fans of the show, he invited the group to a private screening of the Entourage movie, which was set to be released later that year.
Needless to say, Kaminsky was pretty excited when he found out about the private screening after the Badgers had defeated North Carolina.
26. HISÂ BIG TEN TROPHY CELEBRATION
All personality. All the time.
Fresh off Wisconsin winning the 2015 Big Ten Tournament, Frank Kaminsky and the Badgers awaited their NCAA tournament seeding and bracket at a postgame watch party. When the CBS cameras cut to the room after UW had been announced as a No. 1 seed, Kaminsky awkwardly and hilariously rubbed the trophy and gave the camera a glare.
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27. HIS ESPN MAGAZINEÂ PHOTOSHOOT
Prior to his senior season, ESPN the Magazine came to Madison to profile "A day in the life of Frank 'The Tank' Kaminsky" and learn more about why "Wisconsin's big man on campus put off the NBA to kick it old school for one more season in Madison."
Check out the feature by clicking here.
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28. SENIOR DAY VS. MICHIGAN STATE
In his final home game at the Kohl Center, Frank Kaminsky scored 31 points and helped the Badgers clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title with a 68-61 victory over Michigan State.
After the game,
Tom Izzo said Kaminsky was "sensational" and the best player he'd seen in the Big Ten since Glenn Robinson.
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29. HE HAS A FUTURE IN AXE THROWING
Yes... you read that right. Just watch the video above for more from Sports Illustrated.
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30. HIS PHOTO BOOTH FUN
There was a photo booth at the 2015 Final Four. Frank and teammates (left to right) Nigel Hayes, Josh Gasser, Bronson Koenig and Sam Dekker did NOT disappoint...
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31. HIS WACKY PARTNERSHIP WITH SKITTLES
Talk about next-level sponsorship... Frank Kaminsky was made for goofy partnerships like the one he had with Skittles during his second season in the NBA.
32. HE ALREADY HAS ONE RETIRED JERSEY
A week after Frank Kaminsky flooded the national spotlight as college basketball's top men's player, the 7-footer
returned to his alma mater in Lisle, Illinois for a ceremony retiring his Benet Redwings jersey No. 44.
33. HIS OUTRAGEOUS PRESS CONFERENCES
"Welcome to the 2015 Wisconsin Badgers: ruthlessly-efficient assassins on the court, delightful misfits off it."
Frank Kaminsky and the 2014-15 Wisconsin men's basketball team will be remembered for many things. But above all,
they'll be remembered most for their witty, playful and colorful personalities, which always seemed to shine the brightest during press conferences.
34. BACK-TO-BACK FINAL FOURS
Why go to only one Final Four...
When you can have back-to-back Final Four appearances?
Frank was a big reason why that happened for Wisconsin in 2014 and 2015.
35. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Frank and his teammates were always willing to get involved in community events and spend times with fans. That often included a number of visits to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin with teammates.
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36. HE LIFTED UW TO A B1G TITLE
Behind 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from Frank, the Badgers cut down the nets for the second time in the 2014-15 season, this time after capturing the 2015 Big Ten Tournament Championship with a thrilling 80-69 overtime victory over Michigan State in Chicago.
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37. "WHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYY?"
What was Frank Kaminsky's reaction at Big Ten Media Day when he was told by UW staff that he would be named 2014-15 Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year?
"Whhhhhhhyyyy...? I don't wanna..."
Frank may not have wanted the early attention and spotlight, but it's safe to say he more than lived up to the billing and embraced the spotlight in a way only Frank "The Tank" Kaminsky could.
38. FRANK DEFERS TO MJ'SÂ GREATNESS
Could Frank beat NBA legend and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan?
"Although some athletes might come out and try to deny that a 52-year-old could beat them, Hornets rookie Frank
Kaminsky has too much respect for Jordan, aka the greatest basketball player ever, to say that he would he beat the Chicago Bulls legend—even if he is 30 years younger.
Kaminsky went on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday and was asked if he thought he could beat Jordan in a game of one-on-one. As confident as he might be in his game, the 22-year-old rookie says he would lose that matchup."
39. HIS STEVE BARTMAN JERSEY
What do you wear in Chicago? A
Steve Bartman jersey, of course.
A lifelong Chicago White Sox fan, Frank Kaminsky couldn't help himself when he and the Charlotte Hornets were in Chicago at the United Center for a game against the Chicago Bull.
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40. DID WE MENTION HE DANCED?
Frank danced... and danced... and danced... and we were here for it.
41. FRANK GAVE BACK TO THE KIDS
Frank Kaminsky was active in community service with the Badgers Give Back program, which included visits to local elementary schools.
42. HIS GAME AT MICHIGAN (FEB. 16, 2014)
In a late-season road game at Michigan during Frank Kaminsky's junior season, No. 21 Wisconsin was on the verge of letting a tremendous first half on the road against No. 15 Michigan be all for naught. The Wolverines cut an 18-point deficit down to just three in the second half, but then Kaminsky personally went on a 7-2 run en route to finishing with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.
"I wanted the ball in my hands,"
the 7-footer said. "I was able to make some things happen."
43. HE BEAT GARY PAYTON IN JENGA
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Yes, you read that right...
Frank played (and beat) Gary Payton in a heated game of Jenga.
44. HIS DANCE BATTLE VS. JAHLIL OKAFOR
Rivals in the National Player of the Year race all season long, you saw Frank Kaminsky and Jahlil Okafor of Duke battle a couple of times on the court during the 2014-15 campaign.
But... did you ever see their dance battle on ESPN's SportsNation?
