Brandon Roy's consummate all-around game will be missed by basketball fans in the Northwest and around the country. Despite the sad news of Roy's premature retirement, he's more than left his mark as one of the best players to ever come out of Seattle.
Coming up with his top ten moments was a difficult task for me. Roy's career as a Husky wasn't full of highlights like fellow Husky Nate Robinson. Instead, Roy came out every night for Lorenzo Romar and produced. He wasn't overly flashy, but he got the job done — and he got the job done pretty well.
1) December 31, 2005: Roy Almost Wills A Win Over Arizona
Washington Huskies vs Arizona Wildcats 2005-2006 Highlights (via TDawg1388)
It's a shame that the Huskies couldn't win this Pac-10 game against Lute Olsen's Wildcats, but this is the one Roy moment every Husky fan remembers. In a double overtime game against the Wildcats, Roy hit one three-pointer with time expiring in the second half to send the game into overtime (see: 2:31 mark) and then proceeded to hit another three-pointer, this one at the buzzer to send the game into the second overtime (see: 3:22 mark). He just refused to lose. I still can't get over this loss.
2) December 19, 2004: A Heroic Return From Injury
broy @ ncsu.mpeg (via SamJizzo45)
Looking back at the stat sheet, Roy only logged 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block and two steals. Despite these sub-par numbers, Roy was instrumental in Washington's toppling of No. 12 ranked NC State. Twenty days earlier, Roy had undergone surgery for a torn meniscus; he was projected to return four-to-six weeks later. After only three weeks, Romar inserted Roy into this game late in the first half. In only 18 total minutes Roy helped defend Julius Hodge and was 5-for-5 from the field, including a ferocious tip-slam dunk off of a Tre Simmons miss (see :17 mark). This 68-64 victory was one of the signature wins for a team that became a No. 1 seed in the 2005 NCAA tournament.
3) June 28, 2006: With The No. 6 Pick...
Brandon Roy - Rookie Season Mix (via 0pravy0)
After being picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 6 overall, Roy was traded to the Portland Trailblazers in the 2006 NBA Draft. Roy became the league's Rookie of the year, leading all rookies with 16.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. He is one of two players of the past decade to win Rookie of the Year and make it to the All-Star game in his first two seasons. The other? LeBron James.
4) February 6, 2005: "Pin It On The Backboard"
Brandon Roy Pin it on the Glass (via hotcarl72)
After hitting two free-throws with 4:35 left in the game, UW was up by seven points in a crucial Pac-10 game against UCLA. Bruins freshman point guard Jordan Farmar leaked out after Roy's second make for a breakaway dunk, but Roy wasn't about to let that happen, especially at Hec Ed. Roy heard teammate Conroy say, "B get him! B get him!" before he made the block.
5) March 21, 2006: Steal And Dunk Against UConn In The Sweet 16
Washington vs Uconn 2006 Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament (via godawgs06)
I'll spare Husky fans and choose not to recount the end of this game, but this play is a classic Brandon Roy play. After missing a tough layup with under five minutes remaining in the first half, Roy stole the ball from UConn point guard Marcus Williams in the backcourt and slammed it home to bring UW's lead to ten points (see the 1:34 mark). This was Roy's biggest game as a Husky, and at least in the first half he showed everyone watching why he was one of the best players in the nation.
6) March 7, 2006: Roy Is Named Pac-10 Player Of The Year
Roy's senior campaign is perhaps the greatest individual season in Washington Huskies men's basketball history. In the Pac-10, he ended the season ranked in the top ten of 13 different statistical categories; including a league-leading 22 points per game. Roy was later recognized as a consensus All-American.
7) January 18, 2003: Fifth Time Is A Charm, Roy Passes The SAT And Becomes A Husky
Taking the SAT is hard task for anyone. Taking the SAT with a learning disability is even more difficult. And taking the SAT five times is even harder. However, with perseverance and determination Roy put in countless hours of extra tutoring and academic work to academically qualify at the University of Washington.
8) April 26, 2005: He's Coming Back
Roy wanted to be in the NBA and could've easily left after his junior year, but decided instead to try to improve his projected second-round draft stock in his senior season. He told reporters, "I didn't want to go to the NBA through the back door. I want to go in the front door, and I think coming back next year is the best way for me to do that." Good decision.
9) February 28, 2006: Senior Night Victory Over Cal
"Right now I feel very confident down the stretch that it's hard for opponents to stop me," Roy told reporters after his 19 point fourth quater performance on Senior Night at Hec Ed. Roy scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half, lifting the Huskies to a 73-62 over Cal. This game put Washington into a second-place tie in the Pac-10 and and extended their win streak to six games.
10) December 29, 2005: Roy Drops Career-High 35 points in Pac-10 Opener Against Sun Devils
Roy's performance against Arizona St. was a preview of what the Pac-10 was going to see all season long. He was 13-for-22 from the field, going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, helping UW win in a 91-67 rout despite only leading by two points at halftime. After missing seven of his first 10 shots, he ended the game 8-for-12.