Wesley Matthews, a starter since joining the Bucks, is still adjusting to his role but has contributed as a three-point shooter and defender.(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / USA TODAY Sports)

An NBA player choke-slamming his teammate and then hitting him with a folding chair isn't usually the kind of pregame activity that screams positive team chemistry. It's working pretty well for the Milwaukee Bucks, though.

Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez joined the Bucks as free agents this summer, rekindling a friendship they built over two years together in Portland from 2013-15. Acting out wrestling scenarios was part of their high jinks back then and they've resumed the practiceas members of the Bucks, playing out pregame skits in arenas around the country much to the surprise of arena staff and the delight of their teammates.

In Boston, Matthews ambushed Lopez in a narrow hallway, hitting him with team equipment as teammates continued their stretches nearby. There was a stone-cold stunner in Oklahoma City, the aforementioned chair appearance in Chicago and most recently the two played out a nearly minute-long tag-team match that included a cameo kick from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Were going to run out of material soon," Matthews said with a smile. "Its something weve done for a while now we did it in Portland but nothing, like, to this magnitude. Its just kind of goofing around but were really starting to embrace it, have fun with it, the teams starting to get in on it a little bit more and now weve got to keep it fresh. ...

I think Im going to start sending RoLo some film. Were going to start bouncing ideas back off each other.

Although he was never much of a wrestling fan, Lopez has always been game for playing the heel. He's got plenty of practice from his famous, playful interactions with mascots around the league and when Matthews the wrestling fan and brains of the operation needed a worthy adversary, Lopez was ready to step up.

I like to think of myself as a thespian," Lopez said."Im not a wrestling connoisseur in the same way Wesley is, but its something weve been doing for a little bit. I found that we have a lot of wrestling fans on the team, so its something thats kind of blossomed, taken a life of its own.

One of the team's biggest wrestling fans is none other than Antetokounmpo. He took his family to WWE Raw in Chicago on Christmas in 2017 and less than a week later he took some of his teammates to another event on a road trip in Toronto.

The interest of Antetokounmpo and other Bucks players is what has helped Matthews and Lopez's routine go mainstream, taking their act to the tunnel before the teamheads out to the court instead of being a random sideshow for sparse crowds in the hallways of the arena. As a collectively sanctioned event, more and more players want to get involved.

Its fun," Antetokounmpo said."I told them I wanted to join the routine and they allowed me to join the routine. So, it's fun."

This new act adds a new wrinkle to what was already one of the more positive locker rooms in the NBA. Last season, the Bucks established a fun, loose, cohesive culture that permeated everything they did.Everyone kept a laser focus on the court, but outside of game time their intensity melted away as they enjoyed each other's company and kept things light and drama-free.

A new pregame bit from a pair of veteran additions fits in nicely with the vibe.

It kind of just gets everybody loose, ready for the game," Matthews said.

Of course, performing in games is more important than performing beforehand. Through 15 games heading into a clash at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with the Detroit Pistons at Fiserv Forum, both Lopez and Matthews are still adjusting to their new roles.

Robin Lopez has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over 14.2 minutes per game as a member of the Bucks.(Photo: Associated Press)

Lopez, backing up his twin brother, Brook, has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over 14.2 minutes per game. He has worked to stretch his game out beyond the three-point line with tepid results, going 6 of 25 (24.0%). However, before an 0 for 2 night Thursday against the Trail Blazers, Lopez had made three-pointers in three straight games.

Matthews has had more of an impact, particularly lately. He's been an every-game starter since joining the Bucks, though his contributions have generally been understated and reserved his defense and three-point shooting. Thus far, 61 of Matthews' 87 shot attempts have come from long range.

I think it should never be underestimated or not appreciated what he does for us defensively," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before Wednesday's game in Atlanta."I think hes locked in, he makes things difficult on the wings. So, I think thats where we want him to start. Hell get more and more comfortable. I think his patience is good, I think hes in a good place and I think things will start happening for him on both ends.

Budenholzer's words proved prophetic. Matthews got going a bit on offense against the Hawks, putting up 10 points and displaying more offensive balance than any game to this point in the season, scoring inside and out while dishing out three assists. On Thursday, Matthews predominantly spent his time behind the three-point line, making 4 of 7 attempts, including one in the fourth quarter that padded Milwaukee's lead to eight points.

"You know every night hes going to defend," Antetokounmpo said."You know hes going to do that no matter whats going on, but when hes locked in offensively, knocking down shots hes definitely taking this team to the next level.

The challenge now for Matthews and Lopez will be to help the Bucks get to that next level. That applies both on the court and to their pregame shenanigans.

Well see, thats the fun of it, Robin Lopez said. Well keep you on the edge of your seats. Were not sure what turn were going to take next.

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'Well keep you on the edge of your seats': Newcomers have brought game and WWE antics to the Bucks - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel