Is Sun Setting for Sunny D?
It was with a twinge of disappointment that I saw last week that the Timberwolves had waived Sundiata Gaines, the former Jazz player.
If you follow the Jazz, you’ve followed Gaines. He was the guard who landed a buzzer shot against Cleveland, a year ago, and became a nationwide sensation for a day or two.
But Gaines was cut during training camp by the Jazz last fall and played just eight games with the T-Wolves. Now he’s among several players vying for a 10-day contract with the Suns. I hope he makes it. Other than an interview or two, I didn’t know him, but he seemed a nice guy. And his kind of story never gets old.
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That’s the thing, though. It’s a business. One year, your career seems to be taking off. The next year, you’re out of the league.
The Gaines saga points out the harsh reality of the NBA – and a point Jerry Sloan often makes: You have to bring it every day. Despite the fact Gaines won a big game for the Jazz, he wasn’t good enough to produce at a high level every night. He couldn’t do it in Utah and apparently he couldn’t do it in Minnesota.
Still, I’m wishing good fortune on the player with the singsong name. Whatever happens, he’ll remain a memorable moment in Jazz history.