INDIANAPOLIS – James Irvin had a flashback as he sat in the front row at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday, watching his son race around the court in Michigan’s open practice.
More than a decade ago, he was in the same stands watching the same kid, with no idea what the future held.
Zak Irvin was just a fifth-grader, playing for the Hamilton Southeastern district Royals youth travel team.
Irvin sat in those stands for Indiana Pacers games but knew in the moment “it’s different actually being on the court.”
He and his friends would launch three-pointers from the NBA line, just being kids and goofing around.