Have you ever watched a play that symbolizes two franchises at once? All the examples I can think of are in playoff games. Michael Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989 comes to mind, as does the Kobe-Shaq slam dunk in 2000 against the Trailblazers.
Video: Tyreke Evans Steals Ball From Gilbert Arenas To Seal The Win
But you don’t see those types of plays often during the regular season. That’s why this play in particular was pretty amazing, when you consider the symbolism.
There’s Gilbert Arenas, who three years ago was the “it” player in the NBA for arguably the league’s “it” team, breaking a play, as he tends to do with 10 seconds left in a close game, to go one-on-one. On the other side, there’s Tyreke Evans, the phenom rookie for the league’s youngest and most surprising team to date. Present vs. future. Young vs. established. A classic showdown.
In the end, it’s Evans who wins, stealing the ball from Arenas and sealing the win for the Kings. It’s a play that signifies the direction of these two teams. One is young and up-and-coming, the other is old and on the downswing. One thought this would be a year they would contend, the other knew it was going to be a rebuilding year. One has a bright future, the other ... well ... not right now at least.
As Sactown Royalty, SB Nation’s Kings blog, puts it, “I have feeling that ESPN will be getting the Kings back on national TV in seasons to come.”
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