NBA Moments … D-League Moments

Posted by Morris Almond on March 05, 2008

‘Highs and Highs?’ (Melissa Majchrzak – NBAE/Getty Images) 

Playing in the D-League isn’t as bad as it’s sometimes made out to be, but every once in a while, you’ll experience certain events that just…we’ll just call them “moments.” They don’t happen often, but every once in a while, something will occur, or you’ll see something in the everyday operations that just makes you realize that you are, in fact, in the D-League. I’ll elaborate further down.

You have “moments” when you’re in the NBA, just like you have them in the D-League—times, events, or incidents that make you say “Man—only in the NBA.” But it’s more on the positive, lifestyle-of-the-rich-and-famous side of the spectrum. The D-league “moments” are more on the other end, closer to the just-trying-to-make-ends-meet side of the spectrum. Of course, the NBDL doesn’t have anywhere near the resources or funds of the NBA, so you can imagine the differences. I’ve experienced “moments” in both leagues throughout this first season.

I’ll start with a few examples of NBA “moments” to set up what I mean by D-League “moments.” Allow me to explain:

NBA MOMENTS

The most memorable and obvious of my first NBA “moments” was when I first signed my contract. It was several pages long; my agent, my father, and I all went over it together. Right after, one of the team officials asked me: “So, how does it feel to sign a contract for a cool million?”

I didn’t even have a car in college, lived on campus all four years, and owned one suit up to that point (I was still always fly though, don’t get it twisted). But…a million? Had to think about that one for a minute. Anyways—that’s an example of an NBA “moment.”

Riding on the team plane for the first time was another personal “moment.” We were headed off to training camp in Boise, Idaho. I had never flown on a chartered plane before—in college at Rice, we always flew commercial, walked through the airport, and went through the security check-in like everybody else (with a hundred and one people asking “Hey–who y’all play fo’?”).

With the Jazz, we flew out of an airport called Million-Air Airport. The plane—which is pretty standard for most teams around the league—is about the size of a regular commercial plane. Every seat is like a first class seat, and everybody gets their own seat though. Plenty of space. There’s usually two or three flight attendants, and they serve full-course meals, desserts, candy, snacks, and drinks the entire flight. When I boarded the plane for the first time, one of the flight attendants asked me and one of my teammates if we were ready for our filet mignon now or later in the flight.

Filet mignon? With Worcestershire sauce and everything? That’s a little bit of an upgrade from the peanuts I was used to. Chalk that up as another NBA “moment.”
You get the picture with the NBA “moments.” Here’s the flipside of that coin:

NBDL MOMENTS
My first nine or so D-League games were home games, in Utah. That was cool—I got to stay in my same apartment, in the same city, and just drive to the games and practice everyday. Didn’t really have my first D-League “moment” until I took that first road trip with the team. Follow me on this:

We left out of the Salt Lake City airport on a Thursday, flying on Southwest Airlines. We played the Albuquerque Thunderbirds on Friday night. Since we take commercial flights, we don’t leave until the next (Saturday) morning (with the Jazz, we always leave right after the game headed to our next destination). Then, check this out: we were scheduled to play Albuquerque Saturday night back in Utah. So we fly back to Utah that Saturday morning, on the same (Southwest) flight as the Thunderbirds (!), and play them again that same night.

I’m sorry, but that whole scenario was definitely a first for me, even in all my years of AAU, high school, and college basketball. Yep, that was a definitely a “moment.”

On a side note: We were joking about that flight just the other day, when one of the newest additions to the team, Curtis Stinson, topped us all. He told us that last year, his Ft. Worth, Texas D-League team played a game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and then rode back to Ft. Worth on a bus four hours with the opposing team (!) to play them again the next night in Ft. Worth.

If you could have seen the look on his face when he re-told that story to us—we about died laughing from that one. On the same bus? I’m sure it wasn’t too funny when it happened, but I’m chuckling as I write this.

Believe it or not, sometimes we walk to games when we’re on the road. Granted, it’s usually only about a block or two—but depending on what city (or town) we’re in and how close we are to the arena or convention center where we play—we’ll just straight walk to the game. The night before, or at shoot-around the morning of the game, our coach will just say “Alright guys—the convention center where we play is a two blocks away across the street, so be there by 5:30. Tip-off’s at 7:00. See you there.”

I remember vividly when we were out in California playing the Bakersfield Jam—I met with one of my teammates in the lobby of our Courtyard Marriott, and we walked on over to the game. Had my shoes in one hand, and my toiletry bag in the other. And if I remember correctly, we didn’t even go through a side entrance or anything—walked right through front entrance ticket counter and everything. Lady even asked me for my ticket stub; I showed her my sneakers and she let me through. To my own game! Too funny.

I had 53 that night—set a new league scoring record. Then I walked on back to my room. Just another day at the office.
Those are just a few examples of the “moments” I was talking about in the first couple lines of this entry. None of the episodes I described are really right or wrong—they’re just episodes. That’s how it is. There’s a first time for everything, and some are more memorable then others. Right after they happen is when I kind of just stop for a second and just think to myself, “Man—I’m in the NBA/NBDL.” The D-League moments are the ones that inspired me to write this blog though—I had to share this with somebody.

You get used to it no matter what side you’re on though. Playing in the D-League kind of reminds me of my college days, in terms of the budget, traveling, and things like that. But you know, it’s all good. The best part is just making the best of it all and laughing with my teammates about it all. It’s like, sometimes, you just have to laugh it all off. Hunting for something to eat in places like Sioux Falls South Dakota, Boise Idaho, or McAllen Texas; playing cards in the room; flipping coins for the exit rows on long flights; we all just do what it takes to enjoy ourselves regardless of the circumstances.

We’re all trying to get (back) to the NBA, but in the meantime, you know, we know that we have to pay our dues before we get back to that other side. Gotta stay hungry—and I when it comes to that filet mignon, I mean that literally.

7 Comments

J R Stewart on March 06, 2008 said:

Mo:

You do a great job on your blog.

You D-League experiences are similar to how the NBA was back in the 80’s, when the Jazz played in the old Salt Palace. My kids would get cards autographed when players walked from their hotel to the game or after, when they walked back. We’d chat with players, while waiting for a commercial flight.

Jazzaholic

RRR on March 06, 2008 said:

thanks for the tales Almond. It’s gotta have been a fun year for you so far, who knows, maybe next year it will be all bus rides and filet’s on a charter!

Sharing a plane is one thing, but the bus? Oh goodness!

BTW know any of your classmates today that are working in fast food? Possibly volunteering their time in their chosen industry just to get a foot in any door?

It happens.

Keep up the GREAt work, and the great writing as well.

Linda McFarland on March 06, 2008 said:

Great Blog. You had my husband and myself laughing like crazy! I don’t ask you to reveal personal financial information but I am wondering……When you sign that nice ($) contract is there a clause about ‘If you go to the D league” is there a reduction in salary? Are you getting paid what you signed for or less? I really have no idea how the money works. If fact I am boggled when I see that much money in print!! You know, the dues you are paying is going to pay off. When you get there you will be fantastic. If you think about it, it has to be nice to be the star right now. The crazy incidents will be wonderful to tell your grandkids!!

JB on March 18, 2008 said:

Great post Mo. They had this in the Jazz program last night and I was laughing as I read it. Great writing, by the way. It’s not everyday a player is writing their own blogs, and doing it well at that.

Keep up the great work in the D-League and we’ll look for you next year on the Jazz roster!

Stephanie on March 25, 2008 said:

Ya know, I’m really not one to leave comments, but I just wanted to say that you are great! You truly deserve the recognition and blessings for your talent. I don’t get to go to your games alot because they are pretty far from where I live, so I watch the ones I can on good ol’ TV. Every Jazz game I have gone to believe me I’ve been watching for you. I was lucky enough to see you play with them back in December (I know that was quite a while ago, but all the same). You are going to do great things in the league in the years to come and I know that this isn’t the first nor the last time you will hear that. It’s like the quote “Are you playing to win?……..Or just playing NOT to lose?” You are definitely playing to win! You pour your heart and soul into every game! I am SO happy that we got you in Utah!!

Stephanie

J.R. on March 31, 2008 said:

NBA moment: first 3 pointer + a board, and a couple assists. Good job Mo! Congrats! As good as your blogs are, I hope we consistantly see you (and Fesenko) in a Jazz uniform next season. Keep up the hard work.

WYguy

Brian on April 15, 2008 said:

HEY MO, DON’T STOP BLOGGIN WHEN YOU MOVE UP PERMANENTLY TO THE JAZZ. IT’S NICE TO HAVE AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THINGS ARE IN THE NBA/ NBADL. CAN’T WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE HELPING THE JAZZ WIN PLAYOFF GAMES.

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