He played 34 minutes, hit eight of nine three-pointers and all four free throws, and scored a career-high 28 points with three rebounds, leading his team back from behind to beat the Los Angeles Lakers and end their three-game losing streak.
Call him a sharpshooter—Goodwin!
<He came back from a 17-point deficit. He's too good!>
<I have to ask: why did he fall to the second round?>
<OMG! I feel like I'm back at the 2003 NCAA championship game.>
Eight of nine from three, and he hit the game-winner. Who else can do that?>
He's this year's Rookie of the Year!
Ainge, you're the best.
The next day, Goodwin nearly took over the sports headlines across the United States.
With the game broadcast nationwide and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry drawing plenty of attention, Goodwin had become an overnight sensation.
Plenty of fans had already started following the Boston Celtics' rookie, Goodwin.
It turned out that among the 2003 rookies, alongside LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Wade, and Hinrich, there was also a second-round pick—Goodwin.
And Goodwin's existing fans went even wilder, especially those in Boston.
Around Boston, plenty of dessert shops, supermarkets, and other businesses put up signs: "To celebrate Goodwin's game-winner, everything in our store is half price today!"
Half price?
People who hadn't even needed to shop headed out in droves to buy, buy, buy...
Later, this came to be known as the Goodwin Effect.
That night, the man who'd hit the game-winner received plenty of congratulatory calls. Carmelo Anthony and Yao Ming called, and even LeBron reached out. Goodwin was a little caught off guard. He didn't want to become LeBron's "brother."
Afterward, he returned to Boston with the team.
Although he'd hit the game-winner against the Los Angeles Lakers, it was only a regular-season game. Goodwin knew