I tried to play, but unfortunately I was not able to.
After hurting myself in the first game of the tournament I became a spectator. Although very disappointed that I could not play, I was glad that I had an opportunity to watch my cousin play professional basketball live. My cousin is really doing it out here. Watching him play was easily the best part of the trip.
Avery and I on the sideline. Im proud of this guy right here.
It was a pleasure watching him. He has everything you want in a ball player. He literally plays every game like it is his last day on the earth let alone a basketball court. His game, his life embodies the term “Adversity is Nothing.” At times I was sick, watching him play as I sat helpless on the sideline.
All he needed was another player out there against a tough Chinese team, which featured two of the best players in the tournament in Ryan Boatright, who won a national championship with the Connecticut Huskies and Samad Nikkah Bahrami, Iranian star basketball player, and FIBA ASIAN basketballer of the Year award winner. Avery, Boatright, and Nikkah Bahrami were the three best players in the tourney.
Bahrami, outside of my cousin this was my favorite player in the tournament. Just solid, extremely solid. So much respect for his game.
Boatright, great player in Asia. Won national championship with UCONN Huskies in college.
Avery is tough as nails, he plays the game at his own tempo, he is a very smart player, confidence through the roof, and he will not back down from anyone. He is great at picking his spots during the games to take over offensively and defensively. He does an amazing job at getting his teammates involved and he is more than willing to give a teammate an earful of encouragement, as well as dish out necessary criticism to get one of his struggling teammates going.
A true leader, a true point guard in every sense of the word.
I saw my cousin take the game to the post, and facilitate the offense effortless, causing mismatches in two of the games we played, forcing a cocky Aussie team to switch their game plan up, and disturbing a very strong Chinese team that we would end up losing to in the finals.
There were times when Avery had to take the game over on the offensive end. He did it in a way that only few can. Jumping the passing lanes on defense, and putting defenders on skates.
He plays the game like a man on a mission. He is water on the court, a combination of the sound of Lee Morgan playing his horn beautifully and Tupac’s hardcore lyrics. Tenacious when in attack mode, he was unstoppable at times, hitting jumpers, getting to the basket effortlessly, all while continuing to get his teammates involved and contributing on the boards and in ways that don’t necessarily show in the box score.
They got his assist wrong. Impressive fourth quarter to lead the team to a spot in the semifinal game.
He had already established himself as one of the best players in Asia. This tournament was just another opportunity for Avery to show how good he is, as this year’s Seri Matiara featured some great players and teams. Avery shredded the competition, he led the whole tournament in assists and almost led an injured squad to a championship.
Wish that I was out there with him He played great ball the whole tournament.
There were two moments in the tournament that had me looking around like this guy is on another level. The first moment came against an Australian team that kept the game interesting going into the fourth. Avery decided to put the team on his back. The game was important, a win secured a spot in the semifinals. After scoring 4 points the first three quarters, Avery noticed that his team needed a boost. With no one hitting shots, he took it upon himself to provide the boost, scoring 14 points and dishing out 5 assists in the fourth quarter alone. He played the game with so much love, you could see with every pass he made, and every shot that he took. I was so impressed by his performance, and just proud that I could say I was his cousin.
My second moment during the tournament came in the semifinal game against an All-Star Croatian team that absolutely knew they were going to beat us. There was a lot of trash talking by one of the Croatian players. It seemed to get Avery in assassin mode, because he absolutely went off.
Most impressive game of the tournament. The Croatian player pictured is the player that was talking shit. I asked Avery, why did he get you started!!!??? My goodness.
One-minute talking, the Croatian guard was dumbfounded, I don’t think that he realized what he had started. Watching Avery against the Croatian guards, was like watching Muhammad Ali against Ernie Terrell, where he kept asking him, “What’s my name?” after Terrell insulted the champ in the pre-fight interviews by not recognizing Ali’s name. My goodness, it was a beautiful sight to see.
Top three players in the tournament, one of the best players in Asia, and one of the best players from the city of Seattle. Proud and happy for my cousin, he deserves all the love and admiration he receives in Asia!
He is a big deal. My guy has posters out there. He has earned it.