Survival seems the perfect word to describe the NBA career of Sundiata Gaines. Gaines, who has one of the best Cinderella-like stories in league history, was signed by the New Jersey Nets for the rest of the season. Believe it or not, the 6-1 former University of Georgia standout had seen action for four teams this season including three 10-day contract stops before finally ending his seemingly never-ending journey with the Nets. He is currently posting norms of 4.3 ppg and 1.3 apg in 16 total games with the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors and the Nets this season. His defining moment in the NBA came during his very first game last season after being signed up by the Jazz from the NBA D-League when he nailed the winning basket on a buzzer-beating long jumper against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nets head coach Avery Johnson says the decision to keep Gaines until the end of the regular season came during the 2-game London series against the Raptors wherein Gaines played impressively, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
“When we went to London, we didn't know what was going to happen with Sundiata, but if he doesn't do what he did, we don't win game one. Sundiata in his short seven or eight minutes was really good. That's what we need.”
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