The game was over, and the fans inside the Bradley Center had completely lost control of their emotions.
Some cheered wildly, while others couldn't hold back their tears.
After rolling the ball out of bounds, Link embraced his teammates one by one.
Marc Gasol was the first to rush over. He wrapped Link in his arms.
His brother had Kobe. Now, he had a lifelong friend of his own.
"Link, come back and visit often. We won't know what to do without you." Gasol held him tight. After all, he and Link had worked together for ten years.
Link leaned against Gasol. He was exhausted, but he knew that whenever he was worn out, he could always count on the Spaniard's sturdy shoulder.
"You're the leader of the locker room now, Marc. Keep them in line, and don't let them tarnish the name of Memphis basketball." Link patted Gasol on the back. It was never easy to say goodbye to a friend he'd worked with for ten years.
After Gasol, Mike Conley came over too.
In all his years as a pro, the guard had never received a technical foul. He'd also won the Teammate of the Year award twice in a row. For ten years, he had quietly fed Link the ball and controlled the team's tempo.
He might have been overlooked by outsiders, but Link knew just how much he could count on Conley when it mattered most.
And Conley, the son of an Olympic champion, hadn't forgotten who had stood firmly by him when he was under scrutiny.
"Enjoy what comes next, Link." Conley kept it simple. The Grizzlies' floor general wasn't one for many words. He kept his most heartfelt feelings to himself.
Iguodala came over with a smile and patted Link on the shoulder. He