Cavaliers Pranks Rookie Udeh With Popcorn-Filled Car

Teammates filled rookie Ernest Udeh Jr.'s vehicle with popcorn after a note accused him of failing to bring donuts twice.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball

Cavaliers Pranks Rookie Udeh With Popcorn-Filled Car

Cleveland Cavaliers teammates filled rookie Ernest Udeh Jr.'s car with popped popcorn kernels, as shown in a TikTok video posted online. A note on the driver-side door read 'October 26th, you failed to bring donuts twice.'

Why it matters

The prank shows the team's rookie hazing culture and light-hearted camaraderie as the Cavaliers settle into their roster. It offers a glimpse of how veterans welcome newcomers in Cleveland's locker room.

The only quantified context is the Cavaliers' 52 wins in the prior season, the record the roster is building from. The video's date and the team's response to it were not confirmed in the source.

The players

Ernest Udeh Jr.

Udeh is a rookie forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who was the target of the prank.

Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell is a veteran guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who was seen grabbing popcorn from the vehicle in the video.

The details

Teammates including Donovan Mitchell filled the driver's seat area of Udeh's vehicle, parked in the Cavaliers' parking garage, with popped popcorn kernels. A note stuck to the driver-side door referenced Udeh failing to bring donuts to the team twice.

October 26: date referenced in the note accusing Udeh of failing to bring donuts.

Roadmap

Light hazing of rookies is a long-running NBA tradition in which veterans use playful pranks to build team bonds. The Cavaliers' popcorn prank follows that pattern as the team works to repeat its recent success.

The prank is a lighthearted look at the Cavaliers' locker-room dynamics that fans can follow on social media. It offers insight into how Udeh is settling in as a rookie on the roster.

The takeaway

Team pranks like this one help rookies integrate into a locker room. The moment also shows how quickly team culture shows up in public through social media.