Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

The night that cost Bryce Dejean-Jones his NBA dream — and his life

Mountain West Conference Tournament - UNLV vs. San Diego State

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones complains to coach Dave Rice that he was fouled by San Diego State on a previous play during their Mountain West Conference semifinal game Friday, March 14, 2014, at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Aztecs won 59-51 to advance to the finals.

It might have been a second, or a millisecond, or a milli of a millisecond. Even were it the absolute slightest measure of time, Bryce Dejean-Jones had an opportunity to turn around. To take a deep breath. To pace the hallway. To gather himself. Wasn’t that exactly what Alvin Gentry, his coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, had told the 6’6” rookie shooting guard just a few weeks earlier? Bryce, you need to be able to walk away. Wasn’t that what Dave Rice, his coach at UNLV, had said on multiple occasions?

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