Pop culture and sports have found ways into each other's lanes as far back as they both go. There's a long history of examples proving that many actors have often envied and, at the very least, have immense respect for athletes and vice versa. So, with the final season of Stranger Things—one of the most popular shows of the last decade—upon us, I figured we could have some fun.
Besides, it's time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Not everything has to be so serious. (Shout out to the Joker.) The premise here is pretty self-explanatory, so let's dive into my character and San Antonio Spurs player biases with reckless abandon.
From Spurs players to Stranger Things good guys
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### Hopper - Mitch Johnson
Much like Jim Hopper, Mitch is the adult in the room. He was thrown into the overseer position under unconventional circumstances, but he's the perfect man for the job of helping these quirky kids fight the monsters of the league and reach their potential while he simultaneously reaches his.
### Joyce - Sean Sweeney
An underrated mastermind behind the scenes. Joyce was putting together the clues that led to the Upside Down before anyone believed. She's unconventional, but she's a valuable asset that Hopper can't succeed without. Every word I just wrote about her can be said about Sean Sweeney.
### Steve Harrington - Harrison Barnes
The smooth, older guy that you didn't know was this cool until he was needed. Harrington has often found himself stepping up in the biggest moments, and Harrison has been the same way. Without them, their younglings wouldn't have made it as far as they have.
### Robin - Julian Champagnie
A little goofy and funny, but in a short time, they've become integral pieces. You don't always see Robin coming, but then, boom!, she has a great idea. Much like how Champagnie has the random stretch where he can't miss, even making four-point plays that help turn the tide.
### Argyle - Luke Kornet
Successful comic relief. Not every scene is an Argyle scene, just like not every game is a perfect matchup for Kornet, but when it's their time, they shine. Where else were those kids going to get all that salt?
### Max - Dylan Harper
Max was a compelling character from the jump. She brought an interesting, yet controversial, family dynamic (Hello, Ron Harper Sr.), but she was quickly rising to stardom until Vecna crippled her. Now we're all waiting to see what's next for her because we have no idea. Sound familiar? Get well soon, D. Harp. Haha
### Dustin - Stephon Castle
The underrated, underappreciated dude in the bunch. They get the most disrespect, but they're one of the most versatile characters in their groups. They find a way to demonstrate leadership, regardless of who they're working with at the time.
### Will - Jeremy Sochan
These guys weren't always put in the best spot to shine. Will was the hopeless kid who needed saving and then a whiny third wheel. Sochan has been forced out of position so many times that he hasn't had a chance to develop into who he really should have been. But, regardless of the reason, fans are split on them.
### Nancy - Keldon Johnson
An unwavering spark plug. In the beginning, you didn't know exactly what you'd end up with from either of these two. Nancy seemed prude, and KJ was a late first-rounder. They've found their niche, though, and often surprise you with explosive moments. (Still can't believe Nancy was wielding that shotgun like that!)
### Mike - De'Aaron Fox
I've often heard fans ask, "What does Mike do?" It's truly no different than the questioning of De'Aaron Fox before he got on the court this season. But they're the pulse of the show/team. Without them, they don't make it just off the strength of a lack of heart. They're both the key to pushing their groups across the finish line when adversity strikes.
### Lucas - Devin Vassell
Lucas is the rational one. He doesn't want to just run into danger without a plan. Reckless is not his style. Nor is it Dev's. Some want him to be Kobe Bryant or something, but he's not, and he's not going to try. He stays within himself, and you know what you're getting. That consistency is comforting.
### Eleven - Victor Wembanyama
This one is the easiest. They're the stars of the whole show/team. Eleven's powers and Wemby's extraterrestrial everything are the engines that make their squads truly formidable against forces they shouldn't be competing with.
From rivals to villains
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### Martin Brenner (Papa) - Chris Paul
Chris Paul is a longtime rival, just as Brenner has a long history of committing evil acts. But in season four of ST and in the 2024-25 NBA season, both Wemby and Eleven were guided by their respective versions of Papa, and without him, there would have been important lessons neither would have learned.
### Jason Corver - The Rockets
Was I entertained while watching the Jason Corver scenes? Mildly. He was mostly very annoying, but you had to worry about him strictly based on how seriously he took his mission. That's Houston in a nutshell.
### Demogorgon dogs - The Refs
You just can't do anything about the poor refereeing job we're seeing on an almost nightly basis. It happens at home; it happens on the road. Demo dogs also seem to be everywhere, but they're the only villains that don't play favorites. Anyone can get it if you're in their path. I'm sure the rest of the league can relate.
### Vecna - Nikola Jokic
Obviously. He's a damn problem. Jokic, like Vecna, has way too many abilities. Why can you terrorize people on Earth while simultaneously hanging out in the Upside Down? Why do you have telekinesis and mind control? Why is the Joker so efficient in the paint but also a deadly clutch shooter? Why can he throw no-look passes on the move at 7'0" like Magic Johnson? Why is he pulling down boards...? You get the point.
### The Mind Flayer - OKC
I hate to admit it, but they're the big boss at the end of the video game. They pose the largest problem for anyone, and they have their hands in the draft pockets of too many teams across the league. Even if you can knock them off in one year, they're destined to keep coming back over and over. It's really unfortunate.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the comparisons. For my fellow Spurs fans, don't worry too much about the Mind Flayer. We have Eleven, and we know what happens [when that nose starts bleeding.](https://airalamo.com/wemby-shatters-record-books-with-another-historic-performance)