One of the biggest stars of the week was one of the most unlikely. Former Georgia star Sundiata Gaines, who went undrafted in 2008 and played last season in Italy, hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for Utah in a 97-96 win over Cleveland on Thursday.
Gaines was playing for the Jazz on a 10-day contract after averaging 23.9 points for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA's D-League. Gaines, who was in a Hawks mini-camp this summer, was playing in his fifth NBA game. He signed a second 10-day contract Friday.
Hitting a game-winner on national television and then having the shot get huge air time on ESPN afterward was a departure from Gaines' D-League life. In his last D-League game, at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho, Gaines played before 869 people.
After the game, Gaines told reporters, "[Jazz guard] Ronnie (Price) gave me a good pass, and I was lucky to hit it. I just had the feeling Ronnie was going to get the ball to me, and I also had a feeling my shot was going to go in. After Utah picking me up, this is the next best thing to happen in my career."
Nowitzki reaches milestone
The greatest basketball player ever to come out of Wurzburg, Germany, passed a significant milestone Wednesday.
With a 14-foot fadeaway jumper, Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. Of the 34 players to have reached 20,000, 23 are in the Hall of Fame, six are active, three are not yet eligible (Karl Malone, Reggie Miller and Gary Payton) and the last two (Tom Chambers and Mitch Richmond) barely made 20,000.
"He'll be recognized because he's a European player, and he's come into our league and been very dominant," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said.
Nowitzki has established himself as the best shooting 7-footer of all-time and the best European player to play in the NBA. Further, at just 31, Nowitzki has time to entrench himself among the game's legends.
If he averages his points and rebounds totals from the past three seasons for the next four, including this season, he would get into the top 15 for career scoring and top 45 in rebounding. There is no reason to think that Nowitzki couldn’t keep playing beyond that, particularly since he plays so much of his game away from the basket.
"There's no question he'll rank at the top if he stays healthy and he keeps scoring the ball like he has scored the ball," Woodson said.
Dalembert leads Haitian aid
Philadelphia center Samuel Dalembert, who was born and grew up in Haiti, donated $100,000 for earthquake relief in his native country and pledged to match donations made by fans during the 76ers' Friday game against Sacramento, reportedly more than $30,000.
Fans can also give through Dalembert's foundation, online at dalembertfoundation.org.
Hawks center Al Horford, a native of the neighboring Dominican Republic, said he is contributing to fund-raising efforts by former NBA star Alonzo Mourning, who has flown to Haiti to assist in recovery. Horford is also helping with a fund-raising telethon in the Dominican Republic.
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