Prior to Thursday night’s TNT game between the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the basketball world knew very little about Sundiata Gaines.
After Gaines sank the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift the Jazz to a 97-96 victory over the Cavaliers in Utah, Jazz fans were signing his name. His teammates, guys he’s known only 10 days, all rushed to the court to embrace him. Half of them probably don’t know his name!
But the fans at EnergySolutions Arena could care less that the former Georgia Bulldog guard was a late roster addition. He was the hero of the moment and a shot that would last a lifetime. A true feel-good story.
Last month, Gaines was struggling to get noticed while playing for the Idado Stampede in the D-League. This week, he is on every sports highlight and just signed another 10-day contract to be with the Jazz. Life is good for Sundiata. And can’t believe the Jazz didn’t sign him for the entire season after what he did against the Cavs.
Check out his game-winning, buzzer-beater: