As he knocked in one step-back jumper on top of another 25-foot 3-pointer, the crowd rattling around the FedEx Forum in Memphis last month gradually started cheering for the Grizzlies newest signee.
The Grizz were long since eliminated from the playoff race but when this shooter with the puffy afro began matching hoops with Portland star C.J. McCollum, the home crowd perked up a bit. And with that, MarShon Brooks was back in the NBA.
“It felt great,” said Brooks, the former Providence College scoring star. “Things have been good for me. I’ve played in Italy and China but the NBA, that’s always the goal.