Game-winner in the Garden
Posted: Sunday, November 27 at 05:37 pm ET by Nate Robinson
Stephon Marbury and I celebrate after our victory over the 76ers on Nov. 26. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
It was an unbelievable feeling to play against Allen Iverson on Nov. 26. I got to play against my favorite player. It was great. I talked to him before the game and he just told me that he loved the way I play and to keep playing hard. It just meant a lot to me because I was in Madison Square Garden, playing against A.I. It was just a great moment.
He came up to me and asked me how I was doing playing for Larry Brown. (editors note: Iverson played for Brown for six years in Philadelphia). I told him it was fine, that it was tough and it was a challenge. And he said “listen to the man because he’s going to make you better.” He just said to keep at it and keep on working hard.
The actual game was great, too. We won it in overtime when I hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer over Iverson. The game was fun because I really got a chance to play, and play a lot (a season-high 33 minutes). I had 17 points and six rebounds. And it helped to get to play against Iverson. To get to guard him and get a feel for how you play against a player in person who is that good.
I also managed to draw a couple of charges against him. To do a pretty good job on defense against Iverson, that just boosted my confidence and as a player, that made me feel pretty good.
The finish to the game was amazing. Iverson made a 3-pointer to tie it. After they scored we knew we just had to get a bucket. We didn’t want to call a timeout because we didn’t want them to get their good defenders in. So we just held with it. Steph (Marbury) brought it down and made a move to the basket. Iverson kind of helped a little bit by sagging down on him, and that freed me. When Steph got me the ball I just shot it. It felt good once it left my hand. I put arc on it and everything to get it over Iverson, and it just went in.
The celebration was great. A couple of the guys told me they didn’t think a Knicks rookie had ever hit a game-winner in the Garden at the buzzer.
Me and GP
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Team: NY Knicks Position: Guard Age: 22 Height: 5-9 Weight: 180 lbs. College: Washington |
Games: 64 (5 starts) MPG: 21.2 PPG: 10.1 RPG: 2.4 APG: 1.4 SPG: 0.8 |
2006-07 season numbers | |
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NATE DOG-
I LOVE THE BASKETBALL OF THE KNICKS OF NEW YORK. I ALWAYS LOVE TO SAY "I LOVE THE KNICK, GO KNICK. I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN A RESTRAUNT TO SAY HELLO AND SAY GO KNICK!
TAKANI SIM, MERCER ISLAND,WA (Sent Dec 9, 2005 9:19:16 PM)
YO NATE WHAT UP, LOVE TA SEE YOU DOING YA THING JUST KEEP WORKING ON GETTING SEPERATION ON YOUR SHOT BECAUSE YOU ARE SHORTER THAN YOUR COMP AND IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO PREDICT WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO SHOOT.OTHER THAN THAT LOVE YOUR AGRESSIVENESS AND THE WAY U PLAYED AGAINST NASH. LOVE 2 C U DUNK ONE!!!!
BRAVO, COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA (Sent Dec 12, 2005 7:32:20 PM)
Nate..you show alot of class for a young man with all the challenges and temptations in front of you.I watched your dad play at UW and now your rise to excellence. Commend you parents for your character and give em hell in the big apple
Dan,Olympia,Wa (Sent Dec 12, 2005 11:31:15 PM)
Keep working hard and good luck with this season. May God bless!
Sonny, Richmond, VA (Sent Dec 15, 2005 11:06:23 AM)
Nate I love your hustle and your defense, You are a inspiration for all undersized basketball players like me, I would like to see you win the slam dunk contest in the coming years, Good Luck with the knicks.
John Russo, NY,NY (Sent Dec 15, 2005 5:10:22 PM)
Nate keep balling and doing your thang up in big NY.. love your game. Big-time knicks fan born and raised in NY living in Wa. Keep representin to the fullest and dunk on Shaq for reals kid.
Mike, University Place,Wa (Sent Dec 26, 2005 12:20:05 PM)
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