Chapter 133: Summer League: Knicks v. Thunder I
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: July 19th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Knicks Locker Room, Thomas & Mack Center)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:25 PM)~~~
Ellie and Hannah are sitting in front row out there, and I'm sitting in the locker room with my team. Dice Yoshimoto is our coach for the duration of the Summer League. It's a span of 10 days and 1 or 2 games a day.
Dice Yoshimoto has a great reputation and record for the NBA Summer League, and he's done a great job for the teams he's coached in the NBA Summer League.
"Okay, boys. The arena is packed tonight, and Oklahoma is here to fight. Luckily, none of the Thunder's main NBA roster is playing. It's just other players at the same level as all of you."
It's a coach's job to try to make all the players feel at the same level on a team. But the reality isn't as simple. Coach Yoshimoto looks at me, and so do my other teammates.
"Ulysses, you'll be the focal point of our offense, and you'll also be their primary defensive target. Not only will you be attracting a lot of attention, but you'll also help your teammates score by doing so."
That's as good a plan as any.
The starting five include Kethan Savage at Point, MJ Walker at Shooting Guard, myself at Small Forward, Jericho Sims at Power Forward, and Dewan Hernandez at Center.
I'm the tallest on the team, but since I'm able to do the things I can, that means I can fill any position. These four teammates are the people I'll be playing with for the next 10 days during Summer League.
"Does this mean Ulysses will be the primary ball handler?"
Kethan is the one asking this question, and it makes sense since he's a Point Guard. I have no problems bringing the ball down the court, but I suspect Coach Yoshimoto has a different idea. He doesn't do things the standard way.
"No, Ulysses is playing his position at Small Forward, and won't be the primary ball handler. But our offense will be constantly shifting through screens and picks. We've got a tall team, and we're using it."
I respect Coach Yoshimoto. He's a brilliant coach, and why he hasn't become an NBA head coach is beyond me. But I'm a player, and it's my responsibility to make sure I do my part.
"Hernandez, you'll be backing up Jericho with the screens for our guards. When Ulysses gets the ball, he'll either score or pass to one of you off the screens and shift. If not, our guards will be open."
There are far more technical terms for the plays we're using, but we're all so familiar with them that it's faster to explain it like this. The reason why is no two plays are the same in the NBA. Going standard means you lose, but adaptation equals wins.
"Alright, boys, let's go out there and get a win to start Summer League."
The game starts at 3:30, and it's time we make it out of the locker room and onto the court. We're playing the G-league roster of the Thunder. That's where my team has its players from, the Westchester Knicks.
[A/N: Look up all this information yourself, not putting most of it in the story.]
~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~
~~~(Date: July 19th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Front Row Seats, Thomas & Mack Center)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:32 PM)~~~
Ulysses and his team jog out of the locker room and toward the court. Warm-ups are starting soon, and the schedule is a little confusing. Ulysses probably thinks the game should be starting, but it's actually warm-ups.
Watching him with Ellie means a lot, and he looks over at us and smiles. It's one of the biggest days of his life, and I'm here to see it!!
"How do you think the game will go..."
I lean over and whisper to Ellie. She's more nervous than I am, and it's probably from seeing all the hard work she's done paying off for Ulysses. And for herself. It's something I can't really relate to, but she knows the feeling all too well.
A few more minutes pass, and warm-ups end. The players go to their benches and start taking off their warm-up gear over their playing clothes. I see Ulysses walk out onto the center court with his team and get into the Small Forward position.
This is it.
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