Rookie Lakers player Quincy Olivari got choked up talking about Steph Curry gifting him a pair of autographed shoes after a preseason game.

The NBA preseason doesn't always provide the best basketball, but it never fails to produce heartwarming stories. While stars and established players are tuning up and shaking off the rust, dozens of other hopefuls are fighting and battling every minute in an effort to fulfill their NBA dream.

Olivari latched on with the Lakers after going undrafted out of Rice, and he did enough to prove that he was worth a longer look, which led to him getting a two-way deal. In four preseason games, he averaged 8.8 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor.