Ben

16 players in camp. Thirteen players have spots guaranteed, and the Sonics won't have more than 14 entering the regular season. That leaves Galen Young as one of three guys fighting for the same chance, and he has to play catch-up after missing the first two preseason games because of the swollen knee.

"As a free agent, you can't miss too much time," he said. "You've got to get out there, take every chance you can."

Young turns 29 today and has been working to get into the NBA ever since he was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks five years ago. Since then he has played in Japan and in the Philippines. He has been in the CBA, in the National Basketball Developmental League, and is in his second go-round with the Sonics, trying to convince the team he's worth a roster spot because of his sticker-bush defense, which is *****ly and impossible to ignore.

"He's putting his head in there, trying to fight and make this club," coach Nate McMillan said. "And he will do things that bother you."

Bruce Bowen was cited as a comparison, and the Spurs forward is the patron saint for players high on defensive effort and low on scoring. Bowen played two years in France after leaving college in 1994 and had stints with two CBA teams before he got into the NBA. He was with three teams before finding a home in San Antonio.



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Previously known as Battlestar.
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