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Losing the entire game. Down five. Down seven. Down eleven.
Not expected to win. The underdogs. Playing in Oklahoma City against the team with the NBA’s best record this season.
Two minutes to go. Down five.
The Joker. Top of the key. Swish.
The foul game ensues. With the Thunder up and less than 10 seconds to play 1 OKC’s Chet Holgren bricks two free throws.
Christian Braun grabs the rebound. Outlets to Russell Westbrook who crosses towards the foul lane. Zips a pass over to Aaron Gordon for a wing three.
Four seconds left. He elevates, follows through, reaches for the peach.
Bucket.
Denver Nuggets win game one. They weren’t supposed to. For the second time in a week Gordon makes a last second shot to give his team the victory. Teammates maul him.
This is starting to feel like destiny. A Nuggets run to the NBA title.
Joker had all kinds of laughs last night. Another 42 point 22 rebound game. For him that’s normal. For everyone else it’s impossible.
But he doesn’t deserve to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. He’s just not valuable enough to his team.
Even though he is now coaching the team, standing up during time-outs where the coach usually does telling them all what they should be doing because he is the Mozart and Einstein and Galileo of basketball.
After the game Gordon was asked about his improved shooting this season. The context is he came into the league known for his elite jumping ability and athleticism but a clanky shot.
“You have a basketball gym at your house. How often do you practice shooting?” a reporter asked.
“Pretty much every day,” he said.
There are few things I love more than a person recognizing what they need to improve on – in this case shooting a basketball – and spending the hours sweaty and alone practicing that skill endlessly. Gordon has done this and he’s getting the benefits. He hit the big shot.
The two most humble and coolest human beings in the NBA are Gordon and Joker. They truly care about each other and don’t seek the credit. They just go to work every day. They’re tight friends. Gordon flies to Serbia in the offseason to visit Joker. Forty years from now you can see them in the stands in Serbia watching Joker’s horses reminiscing about last night’s game.
“Remember that three I hit at the top of the key,” Joker will say.
“Remember that game-winner I hit?” Gordon will say.
Actually, that’s not what they will say. They’re not about bragging about themselves. They’re friends for life. They’re teammates for life. They love each other and that’s a very cool thing.
The game ended way past midnight Eastern Daylight Time. I was the only person in that time zone watching the game and then all the post-game pressers.
Joker stepped to the podium.
“How do you feel about tonight’s game?” a reporter asked.
“I’m ready now for the season to end and to go back to Serbia to watch my horses race,” he said. “But I will now keep playing for Sportface. He’s my biggest fan and he’s got millions of people reading his blog and I want to keep doing this for him because it brings him so much joy. This run we’re on is completely dedicated to Sammy Sportface.”
This morning he woke up and, while lying in bed, read this Sportface blog.
“That guy Sportface,” Joker said. “He’s the real Joker.”
Author Profile
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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