He wasn’t close to the star of the game yet he commanded the spotlight. Bryant Dunston showed why he still holds value in the basketball world on Wednesday night. The 38 year old didn’t roll back the clock for Zalgiris Kaunas, writes Emmet Ryan. Instead, he used old man guile to get his side past Crvena Zvezda for a crucial Euroleague win.
This looked to all concerned like it was going to overtime. Crvena Zvezda had struggled all evening to reel Zalgiris Kaunas in. Codi Miller McIntyre looked to have finally drawn them level. Basketball doesn’t end until the clock reads all zeroes. Bryant Dunston has seen more games than most. He made this one a special one in his Euroleague career.
A big dash of efficiency
Before we get to the moment, it’s worth noting how Bryant Dunston makes sure he remains relevant at his age. In normal years, 38 is hitting your prime. In basketball years, it’s ancient. Dunston hardly plays a style suited to longevity either. He’s been in the wars throughout his career. That was crucial to keeping him employed at a Euroleague level.
The IQ of the big guy was really underrated at his athletic peak. It’s only now, that he has to make adjustments, that we realise we should go back and rewatch old film of him. The outing for Zalgiris Kaunas on Wednesday was a prime example.
In 17 minutes against Crvena Zvezda he took 4 shots, making 3 of them. He had 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists, to go with 1 turnover. Already, the numbers point to a man picking his spots on when he involved himself in play. Here’s the wildest one. Dunston was only involved in 1 foul. That is to say he committed just the 1 and had none committed on him. This is not a banger. It’s a man picking where he engages and ensuring it’s on terms that heavily favour him.
Now the cool bit
When Codi Miller McIntyre hit that three, it felt like the closing moment. Well, at least in terms of regulation. The emotional hit of that could easily put any side off the barely a second they had to run a play.
Bryant Dunston, of course, has seen pretty much all there is to see. The man doesn’t feel big moment pressure the way a player 10 years his junior would. It’s from sheer volume. In the wide context of Dunston’s career in Euroleague, this was another day at the office.
EVERY SECOND MATTERS. pic.twitter.com/ADtxUIpifD
— BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) October 30, 2024
There wasn’t a great barge to put the shot up from point blank range. Dunston didn’t jostle and try to do anything physical at all. He just stood back, kindly accepted the basketball, and put it up unguarded for the win. By the time it dropped, there were only zeroes on the clock. Zalgiris Kaunas got the W.
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Getting those last drops
It’s still only October but this had a playoff feeling to it in terms of atmosphere and tension. Granted, these are two sides potentially fighting for the exact same spot in the postseason. Zalgiris Kaunas sit in second place right now. Granted, it’s still really early but this is a club better known for its late campaign charge.
Crvena Zvezda were trying to avoid following up a 3 game winning streak with a 3 game losing streak. Miller McIntyre looked to have done that for them, or at least kept the conversation open. Yet Bryant Dunston knows his worth. This isn’t about dignity or casually getting one last payday. The big guy is fully aware there are only so many campaigns left in his body. If this is to be the last one, he wants to give his full measure.
Doing that involves extraordinary focus. He has turned basketball into links golf. Everything is about removing errors and not over doing it blindly. Dunston knows he’s going to have to push himself but everything is measured. When it is time to take a chance, he knows it. There is always a gamble in every play. That doesn’t mean he can’t shape the odds in his favour.
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So of course he wears 42
The actual reason that Bryant Dunston wears 42 is because of Jackie Robinson. On this day, it really felt inspired by Douglas Adams. The names that were the narrative of this game were Uros Plavsic, who had quite the coming out party for Crvena Zvezda, or Deividas Sirvydis for Zalgiris Kaunas.
Yet, it was a weird one to watch. It was captivating basketball but oh so strange. By the middle of the fourth quarter it felt odd that Zalgiris hadn’t ended it. Yet, at the same time, it felt odd that Zvezda hadn’t fully reeled them in and taken charge.
So when confused in life, or in this case Euroleague, sometimes it’s easier not to seek an explanation. An answer will suffice. In this case, the answer was 42.
