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The Bucks’ star — goggles, overalls, and all — leaned fully into the animated chaos of the yellow creatures, turning pregame tunnel arrivals into a moment of pure joy. Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images It’s that rare moment in the sports calendar when athletes trade in their uniforms for wigs, masks, and a touch of mischief. Halloween, that perfect mix of performance and play, has once again proven to be the ultimate locker room equalizer — and this year’s costumes didn’t disappoint. In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo showed up at Fiserv Forum in full Minion gear, straight out of Despicable Me. The tallest Minion you’ve ever seen. pic. twitter. com/rj Gb Hhf4q X — Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 30, 2025 The Bucks’ star — goggles, overalls, and all — leaned fully into the animated chaos of the yellow creatures, turning pregame tunnel arrivals into a moment of pure joy. It was a costume choice so lighthearted and unexpected that even his teammates couldn’t help but laugh. The Greek Freak wasn’t alone in his Halloween ambitions, though. The Bucks’ creative team joined in, producing a cartoon lineup of the squad as iconic pop-culture characters: guard Mark Sears transformed into a Teletubby, center Myles Turner donned a Jedi robe as Luke Skywalker, Bobby Portis revived Beetlejuice energy, and Giannis — in another timeline — appeared as Batman. Advertisement A few states east, the Chicago Blackhawks’ Nick Foligno embraced the ongoing joke about his resemblance to Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, dressing up as the Philadelphia head coach for Halloween. The attention to detail was so precise it bordered on performance art — and his wife elevated the act further, shimmering as the Lombardi Trophy itself. It was a Halloween pairing worthy of a Super Bowl parade. Nick Foligno or Nick Sirianni? the world may never know pic. twitter. com/YE6Qy Sr OWH — Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 25, 2025 Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers’ rookies made their team flight unforgettable. They boarded the plane dressed as an animated mix of heroes and horrors — Frozone from The Incredibles, a few Flintstones, and even a menacing Michael Myers checked in. For a team trying to stay warm in November’s chill, the costumes brought a different kind of heat. WHERE’S MY SUPER SUIT? ! ? ? : @Vita Vea & @Antoine WJr11 pic. twitter. com/Wk HJRA56Bb — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 25, 2025 Not all the Halloween stories were about laughs. Over in New Jersey, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart spent part of his Halloween week at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, visiting one of Tackle Kids Cancer’s MVP “Most Valiant Patients, ” a young fan named Giuseppe. It was a moment that cut through the theatrics — a reminder of what “spirit” really means. Jaxson Dart visits one of our @Tackle Kids Cancr MVPs (Most Valiant Patients) Giuseppe at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital during our annual Halloween visit ? ? pic. twitter. com/Ty2b8NCLqm — New York Giants (@Giants) October 29, 2025 Back in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts turned social media into a guessing game. The Eagles’ quarterback showed up in blue coveralls, mop in hand — dressed, as what some fans assumed was God from Bruce Almighty. Only Hurts could reinterpret Morgan Freeman’s role into an on-brand Philly version, swapping the Yankees cap for a red Phillies “P. ” Fans joked he was “cleaning up the NFL, ” and with the Eagles sitting atop the NFC East standings, it wasn’t far from the truth. Standing beside him, tackle Lane Johnson went full Harry Potter — literally. His Hagrid costume came complete with beard, coat, and a booming caption on X: “You’re a wizard, Harry! ” Behind them, a faux tombstone listed the Eagles’ seasonal victims: Cowboys, Chiefs, Rams, Buccaneers, Vikings, and Giants. Halloween, Philadelphia style. You're a wizard, Harry! ? pic. twitter. com/6KBbxl SL2n — Lane Johnson (@Lane Johnson65) October 28, 2025 Up north, Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson and Jahmyr Gibbs added another layer of creativity. Hutchinson channeled Stranger Things’ Eleven — yes, with the wig and Eggo waffles — while Gibbs embraced his inner showman as WWE icon Jeff Hardy, complete with face paint and finger guns. Lions Star Jahmyr Gibbs Channels WWE Legend Jeff Hardy At Team Halloween Party https: //t. co/KWt Er Q9q KF #Jahmyr Gibbs #NFL #Detroit Lions pic. twitter. com/Eh Gkjjw6o I — Pro Wrestling News Hub (@PWNews Hub) October 30, 2025 Even Hollywood found its way into hockey’s haunted halls. Actor Adam Sandler joined the Seattle Kraken’s Halloween bash, where players dressed as characters from his movie universe. adam sandler ? adam sandler(s) pic. twitter. com/TLFd Ps Er0b — Climate Pledge Arena (@Climate Arena) October 31, 2025 Across leagues and locker rooms, from Minions to mop-wielding messiahs, Halloween reminded everyone that athletes aren’t just competitors — they’re storytellers. And for one night, the games shared the spotlight with the costumes, as sports’ biggest names showed that imagination might just be the most powerful play of all. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Denny Alfonso is a trending news writer for The Athletic. An Emmy Award–winning New Yorker, Denny previously covered the NBA, MLB, and MLS for ESPN, where she produced and reported the Soccer in America series, earning a Telly Award. She also covered the Rio Olympics for ESPN. Before joining ESPN, Denny worked as an investigative reporter for NBC Telemundo in Los Angeles and has been a contributor to both Yahoo and The Associated Press in New York.