Sometimes it’s easy to forget that NBA players are actually people. This is especially true on media day when expectations are high and eyes are focused on the upcoming season. It’s here—as players are paraded in front of awaiting cameras—where both fans and media can forget about the outside world, focusing more on pick-and-rolls and rebounding. Beyond the lights, however, is reality and for Dennis Smith Jr., that reality is filled with water.
On the morning of September 14, Hurricane Florence slammed into the North Carolina coast as a Category 1 storm. Although the storm had been downgraded, it still packed a punch with 90 mph winds and heavy rainfall.