court? Who hasn't fantasized about sharing the hardwood with
. It lets every hoops junkie live the dream. Since NBA 2K1
asy? Making that leap is damn near imp
nk had
t turning that dream into reality? That depended on whether h
pshaw's place, the two hit the crac
t last a week out here. Cracks spiderwebbed across the cement, and the chain-link
-foot-eight, two-hundred-something pounds... but hi
eek Freak who'd explode onto the scene later. But those guys only looked "raw"
andle like a point guar
the NBA. Especially since Link's body
ots? Get the feel back?" Upsha
. He thought he was decent. Truth was, he only shot because he coul
ball, words flash
d, the ball cl
ed the head injury was acting up. Getting knocke
I'll stretch a bit more." Link waved him off,
he could see the
rant Hill Abilit
eared. Empty. Above it, smaller text:
orite player! The night of the storm, he'd been watching
I, or Kobe, Link had always been dra
l of Fame. Some had questioned it, citing a lack of
MJ's first
anked. They desperately neede
wo players: Penny Hard
the 90s. His all-around game, smooth style, and squeaky-clean ima
nal Dream Team – MJ, Pippen, Magic, Bird – in a scrimmage! No pro
oit took him third overall. He delivered: 19.9 pp
voting as a rookie. In the MJ-les
year couldn't dethrone Hil
rpg, 5.2 apg. His first step was lightning. His cr
tag fit. All he
ned to read the game, entering hi
ayed. He eventually got healthy, but the explosivene
l-Star starter. Zero champio
t shouldn't hav
That grit was why Link loved him. Not just the peak highlights, but the refus
was tangled up
Implanted.* What did that mean? Did
amin'! Warm up's over,
ed Link back. The pr
ging up memories
yer for Phoenix. But 13.2 ppg in the NBA? Th
His shot was pure. If he really had Old Man Hill's
lled out, steppin
shot threes. But, eh, jus
lt... different. Natural. L
ase. Fluid. A feeling
. The chains rattled. Link stared at
Upshaw grinned, figumoved right. Same s
imes. Ten straight makes.
l the time. But for a G Leaguer, especia
circling Link. "That knock on the
. Got lucky, I guess." Link scratched hi
eviously empty bar. Training? G
the 09-10 Hill?
led all the way
s too big. Lin
ro? Maybe... just may