He started the season as the butt of a visual joke on ESPN SportsCenter. Jacque Vaughn went the first three games -- and 22 shots -- without a field goal. When the Hawks backup point guard finally scored, on a driving layup, ESPN gave Vaughn a comedic salute complete with stock footage of fireworks exploding and fans storming the court in celebration.

Not exactly the start Vaughn needed to quash the reputation he was dogged with his first four years in the league with the Utah Jazz -- a floor leader who was a poor shooter.

"I kept that in perspective," Vaughn said. "I'm a confident young man, blessed with a gift to play basketball. A few comments from ESPN weren't going to derail me."