Union Soldier
Page 4 Draft night. David Stern had just named DeShawn as the 23rd overall pick of the draft, and TNT rolled highlights of the kid most had only read about. For many, this was the first visual evidence of the rumors and printed exploits. Sandwiched in the middle of another cross-over and killer rip, you saw it. D-Steve was in the midst of three defenders who were doing a solid effort at attempting to slow his fast break run. Then it happened. With options seemingly gone, the ball appeared behind one of the dudes who were about to be posterized. With a flick of his wrist, DeShawn set the trap as he sent the rock up towards the glass. His defenders followed the flight of the bait as they made the fatal mistake of turning their backs on their former prey. In an effortless leap, DeShawn skied to pull in the dime off the glass that he had sent to himself. The thunderous tomahawk that followed was almost anti-climatic. A playground flush that is usually reserved for all-star games looked almost fundamental. Just ask Coach Webb. "The one they showed on draft night wasn’t unique at all," Webb says. "He tried to do that every game, and he completed a lot of ‘em. For DeShawn that wasn’t a highlight, that was a move." Bounces off the window during a 1 on 3 break is exactly the type of move that has critics of his game shaking their heads. As if fearing the plays that might result in a Duncan-like nickname from Shaq, DeShawn often attempts the spectacular instead of the fundamentally correct. Most call it boatin’. D-Steve calls it fun. "To see people come out and watch me play is an honor," DeShawn says. "I want to give them something back for coming." Regardless, the kid who has toyed with his high school contemporaries is about to make the walk down the road that has been paved by Kobe, KG and Tracy McGrady. Already his journey has proved rocky. On the very night the Jazz made him their first pick of the draft, DeShawn was involved in a 20-man brawl after a hoop all-star game in California. Stevenson did not play in the game, and claims he was jumped at the conclusion of the run. One eyewitness account, however, reportedly states that DeShawn was in fact the instigator of the fight. To make the situation even sketchier, D-Steve has reportedly been hesitant to cooperate with authorities during the ensuing investigation.
|
