Unlike the NBA regular season, most Summer League games are held in a single location rather than at each team's home arena.
The 2001 Boston Summer League was held at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium in Boston, Massachusetts, located at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
This is a basketball gym that can accommodate 3,000 people.
The Washington Wizards are set to play their first Summer League game tonight.
Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers.
There was still half an hour before the official tip-off, but the stands were already nearly full. Not only that, but dozens of media outlets, large and small, had arrived at the arena with their cameras and equipment.
This was a very rare sight for the Summer League.
Clearly...
They were all there for the "Chosen One" who held many "number one" titles—Link.
Before the game, media reporters interviewed fans on-site about their expectations for Link's performance.
"Even though I'm quite optimistic about Link, he's still a high schooler who hasn't even turned eighteen yet. It'll be hard for him to quickly adapt to the intensity of a professional league," a fan analyzed rationally.
Meanwhile, some fans who harbored "hostility" toward Link didn't hold back during their interviews.
"Link is just a kid who's barely grown up; his bit of strength can only bully minors. Now he's facing adult professional players... I don't think he can perform well once he loses his physical advantage."
...
...
On the other hand.
Inside the Washington Wizards' locker room.
Washington Wizards assistant coach Larry Drew was serving as the head coach for the Summer League.
"Link... your opponent today is Speedy Claxton."
"Even though his height is similar to Allen Iverson's, his Speed and driving ability are also quite impressive..."
"His outside shooting is inconsistent. When facing a pick-and-roll involving him and his teammates, you can go under the screen."
"As for the offensive end, you can fully utilize your physical advantage. Just be careful of his Steal."
Larry Drew emphasized the opponent's technical characteristics again to ensure Link was fully prepared.
Speedy Claxton, a budget version of Iverson, was selected by Philadelphia with the 20th overall pick in 2000. However, his rookie season was completely lost to a knee injury. He returned this season to play in the Summer League alongside this year's rookie, Samuel Dalembert—the budget version of the African Mountain, Mutumbo.
This debut match was significant not only for Link himself but also for the Wizards, who had used their number one draft pick to select him.
The outcome of the game could be a loss!
But Link's individual stats had to be impressive!
Before the game officially started, Larry Drew repeatedly emphasized that the players needed to follow Link's "commands" on the court. The other players were more or less dissatisfied, but there was nothing they could do; if they didn't listen, they would be stuck on the bench. Furthermore, in the team practices over the past two days, Link had demonstrated strength that convinced his teammates.
Because of this, everyone found it acceptable to play the role of the prince's study companion.
...
...
Wearing the Washington Wizards' number 7 jersey, Link walked onto the court under the introduction of the arena DJ.
"Man, do you know why Link chose the number 7 jersey? A lot of fans are very curious about it," the commentator for the ESPN2 Channel asked his partner with a smile.
"Didn't he say it was his lucky number?" his partner laughed.
"Haha, I don't believe it... Number One ... he chose the number 7 jersey just for that reason!!!" the commentator from Florida said meaningfully.
Link's entrance elicited bursts of cheers as well as boos; such a polarized scene was quite rare.
After the game began, Brendan Haywood lost the tip-off to the budget version of the African Mountain—Dalembert.
The budget version of Iverson—Speedy—advanced the ball. Facing a fast guard, Link naturally couldn't play tight press defense.
He stepped back a pace inside the Three-Point Shot line, hunched over to lower his center of gravity, and rested his long arms in front of the opponent's chest.
He skillfully utilized the "Hand-check rule" of this era; of course, his long arms couldn't actively push the opponent.
Speedy, who measured 183 cm tall and weighed 75 kg at the rookie combine, had his rookie season last year voided. However, after entering the NBA and receiving scientific, rational training, his weight had increased to 78 kg. But for Link, this was still too light.
Speedy tried to blow past Link with his first step.
However, Link used his guiding hand to predict the opponent's drive path. Combined with a certain gap in positioning, he blocked three or four of Speedy's tentative drives.
"Wow! Wow! Wow!"
The fans in the arena cheered for Link's defense.
The arena announcer was also joking that Speedy's drives were futile. An increasingly frustrated Speedy suddenly lost his cool and tried to force a drive. Thud! Link, who had blocked the path in advance, made physical contact with him.
In that instant, both of them were somewhat surprised.
Speedy was amazed by Link's strength in the confrontation; this tall guy wasn't just for show—his body was incredibly strong.
Link was also surprised. In the High School League, a guard of this size would have briefly lost their balance after a head-to-head collision with him. However, he hadn't expected that after entering the NBA, the situation would remain the same.
Right... after all, I've become much stronger during this time.
Seeing Speedy swaying slightly and losing his Ball Handling, Link's long arm suddenly darted out.
"So fast!" The arena announcer, seeing Link play for the first time, was also startled.
Long wingspan, large defensive presence;
Small stature, small offensive profile;
After successfully poking the ball away, he used his Dragon Claw grip to firmly seize the basketball, completing the Steal.
"That Steal was way too easy."
"Yeah, I think what Link... wants to say in his heart is: 'Is this all there is to NBA intensity?'"
The arena announcer said humorously.
...
...
After the Steal, Link wanted to advance the ball quickly, but the opponent's transition defense was very fast. Even if it was just the NBA Summer League, they were almost all professional players; their awareness of getting back on defense was not something high schoolers could compare to.
Seeing that he couldn't push the fast break, Link didn't panic and advanced the ball with a steady dribble.
Speedy, who had been stripped, picked him up full-court and didn't forget to talk trash: "rookie, you just got lucky. If you've got the guts, don't use a screen and try to blow past me face-to-face."
"Man, according to NBA rules, a redshirt like you is also a rookie."
Just as Link reached the top of the key, he suddenly accelerated, actively seeking physical contact. The defender, Speedy, was directly bumped aside. After penetrating the paint, Link slowed down to observe. Dalembert hesitated but eventually stepped up to help. With a whoosh, Link sent a bounce Passing to Haywood, who had a poor vertical jump. The latter caught the ball and—Bam!—finished with a two-handed power dunk!!!
"Roar!!!"
"Roar!!!"
After completing the dunk, Haywood subconsciously let out a roar.
And this also triggered something in Link's DNA!
"Roar!!!"
"Roar!!!"
Link also let out a roar.
As the roars echoed... this Summer League team, which hadn't had much time to gel, seemed to gain a bit of chemistry.