"That's his go-to shot", said center Arinze Onuaku. "De'd been shooting that shot all week in practice".
If his teammates were truly confident about his ability to make it, they must've been holding their breath for good measure. The air went out of the building as Justin Dentmon, then 2-of-9 from beyond the arc, pulled up for the off balance, contested, one-legged go-ahead bucket.
A beaming, still sweaty Dentmont, smirked at reporters as he talked about his signature shot. "People don't know this, I actually do that shot a lot – off my right foot with my right hand. People say it's a Dirk shot, but Dirk goes off his left foot."
For the second straight year, the Magic's White team played in the summer league title game, but this year the result was different.
The final challenge featured the Detroit Pistons, led by star prospects Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson. Johnson, the eighth pick in 2015 enjoyed a solid rookie season highlighted by Detroit's first playoff berth in since 2008. Ellenson, a potential-laden one-and-done that figures to be the next in a line of Stan Van Gundy's three-shooting big men, is entering his rookie season after being selected nineteenth in this year's draft.
Both young phenoms put on a show, with Johnson netting 12 points and Johnson scoring 22 to lead all scorers.
Again, the Magic White would share the rock, but this time with some fresh faces. The White squad that suited up in the final game was much different than the one that played in game one, mainly due to the hectic nature of Summer League.
Two-way forward Patricio Garino was on international leave, practicing with his home country Argentina for Olympic trials. Center Nnanna Egwu and guard Brandon Fields left to fulfill other obligations at the Las Vegas Summer League.
White coach Bill Peterson, who also coaches the Magic's D-League team, the Erie BayHawks, said that he admired his team's next man up mentality. "To be a pro, that means you play on demand, if someone demands that you play, you’re ready", said Peterson. "Just like when you go to a fast food restaurant, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, you want the food now. Some of these guys didn’t play all week and they were ready to play."
With the game tied at 79, the Magic sank two clutch shots to get out to a five-point lead. The Pistons would fire back, however, thanks to Stanley Johnson. He assisted on a Tekele Cotton lay-up and nailed a three-pointer of his own to force overtime. That set the stage for Dentmon's game winner.
After both teams went scoreless for the first minute and a half, the Magic White held for a final possession that Dentmon used to bring home the Summer League title.
After a week of hard work, this ragtag squad that featured no draft picks can call themselves champions.
"They used to call us the underdogs but, we found a better name – The Replacements", said Dentmon. "In the movie The Replacements they came together and they won, just like us we came together we rallied together and we won."