Willie Cauley-Stein during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers (Getty)
After performing well during the preseason, it didn’t take long for Phoenix Suns rookie forward Marquese Chriss to experience his first official “welcome to the NBA” moment thanks to Sacramento Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein.
Cutting towards the basket from the top of the key Cauley-Stein, one of seven former Kentucky Wildcats playing in the Kings-Suns game, received a pass from Ben McLemore with only Chriss standing between the 7-footer and the rim.
When a player as athletic as Cauley-Stein gets a free run at the rim, the outcome is predictable. And after initially having thoughts of going all out for the block, Chriss offered up a modest jump and seemingly accepted his fate in mid-air.
Cauley-Stein with the thunderous jam ⛈⛈⛈ #NBAVine t.co/Mm0b2r3UKH
More angles of Willie Trill’s vicious slam!! @SacramentoKings
Chriss, an athletic talent out of Washington, will have his moments in the NBA as he gains experience. But on this night, he was on the wrong end of a powerful dunk.
