Nobody on the San Antonio Spurs' roster could have planned for Nick Van Exel to be the man standing between them and a series victory. In Game 5 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals, with overtime winding down and the Lakers needing something extraordinary, Van Exel already had one clutch three in his pocket from regulation. He had tied the game at 88 with 10.2 seconds left to force the extra period, and he wasn't finished. With five-tenths of a second on the clock, Van Exel launched a running three-pointer that dropped clean, giving Los Angeles a 98-96 victory and extending the series to a Game 6 the Lakers would not survive. It was the signature moment of a career built on fearless shot selection and floor generalship that made Van Exel one of the most dangerous guards of his era. · May 16, 1995