Rudy Gay did not waste Link's brilliant pass. His long two-pointer dropped cleanly, helping the Grizzlies seize control while giving Link the first double-double of his career.
The arena's big screen immediately showed a close-up of Link, with his stats displayed beneath it: 17 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Link had answered his $2 million contract with an all-around stat line.
For a forward, recording double-digit assists was no easy feat. After all, Link was not the Grizzlies' primary ball handler, nor did he have that much control of the ball. And while dishing out 10 assists, Link had committed only 2 turnovers. Without a doubt, that efficiency made his double-double all the more impressive.
Moreover, Link had done more than reach double figures in assists; he had also grabbed plenty of rebounds. And on the defensive end, he had completely shut down Harden today. James Harden, the Thunder's sixth man, had scored only 8 points in the entire game. Just now, he had even been defended so thoroughly that he did not dare shoot.
It was clear that Link's performance today had been about far more than merely posting a double-double.
After Gay scored, the cheers inside FedExForum reached a fever pitch. But the fans were not celebrating the victory, nor were they celebrating Gay's basket. They were celebrating their good fortune in having such an outstanding bench player.
"Link's behind-the-back pass was incredibly decisive. He found Rudy Gay with perfect accuracy. Seventeen points and ten assists—Link has recorded a double-double. It is the first double-double of his career, but I believe it will not be the last. Before the game, people were questioning whether Link deserved an annual salary of $2 million. After all, many first-round rookies did not make as much as he did.