Yesterday, the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls finalized a trade in which one underperforming fourth-year guard, Michael Carter-Williams, was sent to the Windy City in exchange for another underperforming fourth-year guard named Tony Snell.
Unless you’re an expert on the Chicago Bulls, you probably don’t know much about the newest Milwaukee Bucks employee. In his first three seasons (213 games total), the 20th overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 boards, and just shy of one assist per contest while being predominately relegated to the end of Chicago’s bench. He’s not exactly a three-point threat (career 35.1 percent from beyond the arc), but the 6’7″, 217-pound guard brings more size and physicality to the Bucks than Carter-Williams. He could see a considerable increase in playing time in Milwaukee, and he could even wind up starting on a regular basis.
But in the grand scheme of things, none of that matters. You see, Tony Snell’s most impressive accomplishment in his young career came in February when he received a Chipotle “Celebrity Card,” which the fast-casual franchise gives out to famous athletes and, evidently, dudes who average 5.3 points a game.
Thanks to @ChipotleTweets for the celebrity card. Best gift I’ve ever received! pic.twitter.com/nBZmxCyGBL
— T.Snell (@TonySnell20) February 22, 2016
Reason 548,714 why life isn’t fair: After expressing his affinity for the popular burrito chain, the professional athlete with close to $4.5M in career earnings, and who will make $2, 368,327 during the 2016-17, was sent a wooden box with a personalized card inside. That card grants Snell free Chipotle burritos for life (limit one per day). Snell is just one of many NBA players to be awarded this luxury. He isn’t even the only Bucks player to have the honor. In 2013, then-Bucks forward Drew Gooden—estimated $67,930,972 career earning—received a card from the company.
Bucks fan favorite and renowned Chipotle lover John Henson, who signed a $44M extension last year, also has one. He says he eats there at least four times a week. He’s known to frequent the Ogden Avenue location. When Chipotle was dealing with e. coli and norovirus issues back in in January, Sporting News asked Henson if he was worried. “I’ll be all right,” he told Sporting News. “I actually like it more now because the lines aren’t as long.”
Though Milwaukee can’t offer Snell as many Chipotle locations as Chicago can, he’ll have to settle for getting significantly more playing time. On an unrelated note, does anyone know if the NBA is hiring?