A comeback victory in hand, Denzel Valentine lobbed a pass to Jake Layman in the final seconds. Valentine added a little extra loft to give the 6-foot-9 Maryland product an easy chance for an alley-oop slam or layup.
Layman missed.
Here’s why it stung: Valentine had nine assists to go with 34 points and 14 rebounds.
Layman’s Windy City Bulls teammates razzed him. Valentine looked at him incredulously.
"I actually told him earlier: ‘Yo, man, look up (at the video board). Need one more assist,’" Valentine said. "But it’s all good. Got the ‘W.’"
Yes it was an NBA Development League game, a Friday night victory over the Westchester Knicks before 1,652 fans in a century-old community center. No matter that this was not NBA-level competition, that one of the D-League Knicks tasked to guard Valentine was Jordon Crawford — not Jordan Crawford. Jordan with an "a" is a 6-5 sky rider. Jordon is a Bowling Green alumnus who stands 5-6.
Valentine dominated, proving to be the best player on the court. He generated Tom Brady-like heat on passes he whipped to open targets, who frequently misfired.
"He should have had about 15 (assists)," Windy City coach Nate Loenser.
Valentine shot 6-for-12 from 3-point range, while his teammates combined to make 4 of 26.
Down 94-90 with 15 seconds to play, Valentine stumbled but somehow kept his dribble, then advanced to the 3-point line and knocked it down.
"He had someone all up in his business," said Windy City teammate Duje Dukan, a Wisconsin alumnus who grew up in Deerfield. "It was a big-time shot. He seems ready for that kind of moment."
Dwyane Wade after the Bulls beat the Kings 112-107
Dwyane Wade after the Bulls beat the Kings 112-107 on Monday night. (K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune)
Dwyane Wade after the Bulls beat the Kings 112-107 on Monday night. (K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune)
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He’s ready for the big stage. And it’s beyond time the Bulls gave him a legitimate chance.
Even with Jimmy Butler on the shelf, Valentine did not get in Monday night in Sacramento, making it two-plus weeks since he last played for the big club. The 14th pick in the 2016 draft and Big Ten player of the year at Michigan State was glued to the bench for 10 games in January.
"You go from being the man and doing everything to getting DNPs," Valentine said. "It hurts you mentally."
The Bulls had him play back-to-back games with the Windy City Bulls, their D-League affiliate that plays at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, and he responded with averages of 30.5 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
He played with passion and a desire to win, not just show off. After center Alec Brown missed a free throw Friday, Valentine approached and showed him a right-handed follow-through as a reminder. Brown made the second one.
"That’s my problem, too, on my shot sometimes," Valentine said. "I flick it. So I try to give people advice when they need it."
Loenser, who worked under Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State, detailed before the game what he wanted to see from Valentine: "Conditioning — be able to play hard for longer periods of time. Be an extension of me on the court. Get your shots and set up your teammates. Let your teammates hear your voice. Show you have studied the scouting report and know the game plan."
Afterward Loenser was impressed, saying: "He was constantly talking, whether it was in the huddles or getting guys to the right spots on the court. His expectations are high. He’s into personal development but also into the team getting a win; that’s what you want to see."
Consider Valentine’s odd plight. A year ago he was The Man. With the Bulls, he’s a rook. For Windy City, he’s expected to lead, to score, to do everything right.
"It’s great playing here," Valentine said of his Windy City stint. "My teammates have been unbelievable so far with the amount of encouragement. They could be mad when I come down (because of their reduced shots and minutes), but instead they’re saying: ‘It’s your team. We ain’t supposed to lose with you here.’ I thank them for holding me accountable."
Before Friday’s tip, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called and texted so often, Valentine finally responded: Coach, don’t you have to get ready for a game?
"I keep working every day, listening to the right people," Valentine said. "I feel like I’m ready to be an NBA point guard. My time is coming. It’s been the same story my whole life. Guys were ranked ahead of me (in recruiting), but I will keep grinding until I get to where I need to."
tgreenstein@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
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