Chapter 38: 1v1 Against an Old G.O.A.T II
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~~~(POV: ESPN Reporter)~~~
~~~(Date: September 25th, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:45 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Rucker Park)~~~
I watch as Ulysses performs amazing move after amazing move. I've never seen someone other than the best shooters ever hit shots like that. LeBron, one of the best players ever. He cannot do a thing to stop him, despite playing some of the best defense in the world. It's stunning, to say the least. I wonder what ESPN is going to do with this footage.
The crowd is as silent as I am. I watch Ulysses perform a crossover, and when I think he's about to drive. He performs a step back and hits the 18-foot shot. I was fooled by that brilliant move too.
There are a lot of players and fans here that look up to LeBron. It probably isn't easy watching him lose so badly. The score is now 9 to 0, and I don't think anything is going to stop Ulysses from getting a perfect win. "How in the fuck is this happening..." I hear one of the locals begin talking behind me. I sympathize. I really do.
Everyone watches as Ulysses pulls up right in LeBron's face after checking the ball and hits a swish. Some people put their hands on their heads and turn away for a second in disbelief.
That was one of the most disrespectful shots I've ever seen in my life. That makes the score 12 to 0 since that was a 3-pointer. This game is going to be quick, and I don't know how the internet or basketball sports, in general, is going to react.
There is a gap between the high school, college, and NBA levels. However, that doesn't exist for Ulysses. He's the best player on the planet at this moment. I know it in my heart and in my head. He moves too smoothly, shoots too amazingly. He crosses up people like a guard and plays a form of basketball I've never seen before.
Some of the biggest LeBron fans are on their asses right now, looking on in disbelief. They are expecting too much of a retired player, but it's their hero and role model. I get it. "Jeff, you're getting this, right?" I ask my cameraman if he's recording the one-on-one, and he nods his head in confirmation.
I would've beat the shit out of him if he wasn't. "This is the next all-time great player, isn't it..." I ask myself rather than anyone in particular. Everyone watches Ulysses post up LeBron on the Elbow. He turns and fades away. It's too far and high for LeBron to do anything.
The shot goes in, making the score 14 to 0. I watch them quickly check the ball, and Ulysses bursts to his left in high speed and flashes past LeBron. Dribbling the ball and picking it up. He leaps inside the key and throws down a hard two-handed slam.
That makes the score 16 to 0. Despite everyone's reactions to the current game. Ulysses and LeBron are laughing and having a good time. To them, it's just a friendly one on one. To everyone else, it's their hero versus the rising talent in the world. They are caring far too much than the players themselves.
They check the ball again, and Ulysses drives to his right and jumps right before crossing the 3-point line. He hits a moving fadeaway shot and swishes it. Making the score 19 to 0. "Oh my God... This is stupid..." I chuckle to myself at the words I hear behind me.
Fans hate seeing their favorite players lose. And LeBron has lost. They check the ball, and Ulysses crosses to his right, only to stop and spin left while still dribbling the ball. The move created so much space that he's at the top of the key, and LeBron is at the bottom of the basket. He shoots and hits the shot.
That ends the game 21 to 0, they are both smiling bright, and bro shake. They give each other one-armed hugs and break away. In respect, Ulysses places the ball on the ground and gives a bow to LeBron.
That alleviates some of the tension in the crowd. Not all of it, though. "That's my boy!" I look over and see the guardian and adoptive mother of Ulysses. Ellie has quite the story herself, and when Ulysses gets big, her story will blow up. They both walk off the court and return to the private section. I turn to Jeff, and he looks at me, stunned. I know, man. I know.
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