BROOKLYN, N.Y. – As the Auburn team bus pulled into the Barclays Center before the championship game of the Legends Classic, it was mostly silent. The only exception was Samir Doughty quietly rapping to himself in the back. It was subtle, but it was clear that he was in his element. This was his moment.
Doughty grew up two hours away in Philadelphia. The chance to play on the big stage of an NBA arena in New York City had always been the dream.
"He always wanted to play in New York," Doughty's childhood friend Gary Johnson said. "That was a big thing of his, playing in New York in front of a crowd. He loves playing in front of big crowds. It brings the best out of his game. He's used to playing in front of big crowds, big games like this. This is what he lives for. He always said it. This is what he wanted to do."
Johnson was one of maybe 40 people who made the trip from Philadelphia to Brooklyn to see Doughty play. The entourage included Doughty's immediate family along with aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends he grew up with.
Samir Doughty had his own cheering section at the Barclays Center.
Between the bright lights and everybody watching, it was no surprise that Doughty put on a show. The senior guard led Auburn with 19 points in the semifinal win against New Mexico and then followed that up the next night with 22 points in the championship game as the Tigers beat Richmond. His 41 combined points were the most scored by any player in the tournament.
And every time Doughty sliced through the lane for a layup or knocked down a 3 or made a behind-the-back pass, he'd look over and see his brother and his friends standing up to celebrate – amazed at what they just witnessed.
"This is a dream come true," Johnson said. "We talked about it forever when we were kids. He always talked about it. To actually see him playing here, it's unreal."
"It's amazing," added Jordan Burney, another childhood friend of Doughty's. "Knowing his struggles and what he went through just to get here, it's amazing just to come out here and see him play against big-time players."
For Doughty, it was a great experience to play in front of friends and family. He hasn't had the opportunity to do much of that since he arrived on the Plains. But until the final whistle blew, his primary focus was on winning two games and bringing a trophy back to Auburn.
"It was good," Doughty said. "I haven't really been able to see a lot of family like that since Maryland (Veterans Classic). Before that, it's been like four or five years, so it's been great to play with family and friends out in the crowd. But I was really just focused on getting the win. I really didn't notice them until the end of the game. It was really just about getting the win."
"I think this is a team that can get back into the Final Four. That's our goal, but we're taking it one step at a time." 🏆
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) November 27, 2019
Samir Doughty (@_Ticket52) caught up with @TheAndyKatz after @AuburnMBB claimed the Legends Classic Championship! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/NK7NLSKwwT
After celebrating the championship with his teammates, Doughty stayed behind to spend time with his people. There wasn't much basketball talk. It was more just catching up on life and seeing how everybody was doing.
Two days later back in Philadelphia, Doughty enjoyed Thanksgiving at his aunt's house with the whole family there. He can't remember the last time he's been able to do that.
"It was just good to see everybody," he said. "Everybody was excited to see me, congratulating me."
On Sunday, Doughty and his teammates were back at practice with a home game against Furman on the schedule for later in the week. It was business as usual. But like so many memories he's had at Auburn, Doughty will remember winning that championship in the Barclays Center for a long time to come.
So, too, will those that drove up to see him.
"It goes back to last year first and foremost," said Charles Jones, Doughty's AAU coach. "Having an opportunity to play in the Final Four, win an SEC championship – the season before that, be a part of the team that won the SEC regular season. Since he came here, to be a part of such winning – for me the biggest part is seeing his mom, his father, his family being able to see him enjoy this type of success at this level. I think that's a great thing."