Sundiata Gaines has been around the world and back again. And it hasn't been easy.

Having gone from undrafted to Italy, to three NBA camps, to the D-League, and finally to the Association - Gaines appreciates his journey that much more. Way much more.

Last month Sundiata essentially shot his way into the NBA annals when he hit a game-winning three-pointer (his first three-pointer of his NBA career) at the buzzer against the Cleveland Cavaliers on TNT.

“I don’t know when I’ve been so excited about a win or a game,” said head coach Jerry Sloan, standing in the hallway at the Rose Garden and remembering Gaines’ shot.

“Here’s a kid who just got there and didn’t know and was just trying to see what was going on.”

Called up from the Idaho Stampede, Gaines had been with the team only five days on his first 10-day contract before that shot. He earned his second 10-day contract the next day. Nearly two weeks later, the Jazz signed Gaines for the rest of the season. Yet before Gaines could think about where he was, he couldn’t help but think about how he got there.

“It was tough. It was just a different cultural [experience]. It was tough. But I hung in there,” Gaines said without making eye contact about his time playing overseas in Italy.

Undrafted out of the University of Georgia, the 6’1 Gaines played for NGC Cantu in the Italian League during the 2008-09 season. The experience wasn’t exactly pleasant.

It was his second trip overseas. During his high school at Archbishop Molloy in Jamaica, New York, he traveled to Italy, France and Belgium for two weeks on a basketball tour. But this time was different. He was fresh out of college and was on his own for nine months trying to make a living out of his love.

“The best thing that helped me out over there was playing 35 minutes in the game. I learned a lot about the professional game. That’s the part that helped me out. But everything else was a struggle.

“I had a couple of incidences where my paycheck came a month-and-a-half late. I had to tell them I wasn’t going to practice until I got paid. The next day they put it into my account. They look at it like it’s a privilege for you to get paid on time. Some teams, especially when you are losing, they want to use that [as a reason] to hold your money. That’s the tough thing about being over there. A lot of things are out of your hands. You could take them to court, but most of the times you are going to lose. That’s what made it tough.”

Having just turned 23, Sundiata knew it was time to home for good.

“I was young and thought I was ready. That’s when I decided to stay here, and I got my chance,” Gaines admitted nonchalantly.

Gaines spent last summer like so many other basketball vagabonds trying to make the league. He went from one NBA camp to another. Gaines attended a two day audition with the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks and a four-day workout – along with 20 other hopefuls - with the Atlanta Hawks.

It wasn’t meant to be.

“A lot of times you don’t get a fair look. Teams don’t look at you serious. They don’t really know about you. My chances were kind of slim. I didn’t really play in the Atlanta camp, or Dallas or New York. Sometimes they look over you, but right now Utah is giving me a chance.”

Honestly, it would have been real easy for Gaines to become cynical and give up on the dream. But he pushed on his unconventional path towards the NBA.

“Oh, it was disappointing. It’s easy to be like, ‘I hate this team or I don’t like this team’. But my wish now is to produce on the court and show them where they messed up at. That’s my wish.”

Instead, Sundiata opted for the D-League and the Idaho Stampede. It wasn’t “The Show”. Not even close.

“It’s definitely different. It’s a step back in some ways. You have to do a lot of things on your own. A lot of times you have to find your own transportation. You’re making about $20,000 for the year, so you really have to budget for that,” Gaines started.

“It’s just a big adjustment. Sometimes you have to carry the team bags and do things that you’re not accustomed to doing. But it does make you grateful when you do get the opportunity, like right now. Now, when they tell me to do something – some guys look at it like, ‘oh, you’re doing that’. But down in the developmental league it’s a whole lot worse.”

On Tuesday night, Gaines was named to the 2010 NBA Developmental League All-Star team. Ineligible to participate, Sundiata has finally found a home in Utah, even if it is only until the end of the season. Still, the past year has been straight-up crazy for Gaines.

Crazy good.

Heading into Wednesday's game against Portland, Gaines has appeared in 9 games and is averaging 3.9 points and 1.6 assists in 9 minutes per game.

Ask him about beating LeBron James and the Cavs on national television and he’ll flash that Sundiata grin. But ask him to decide between that shot and signing an NBA contract, and the grin only grows.

“The contract is bigger. You’re always going to get a chance to shoot a shot like that against Cleveland. I have more opportunities of hitting a game-winner than actually not being on a team,” said Gaines.

“I just have to wait my time and when it comes I’ll be ready.”

It’s been well worth the wait.

photo: KSL

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