Author's note
Hey guys! This is a test chapter. This would be how I would right the basketball games unless you guys have other suggestions.
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-Staples Center, Los Angeles-
-June 2027-
NBA Playoffs. One of the most-watched sports event in the whole world. Sixteen of the best teams in teams duking it out to see who is the one and only NBA champion.
In recent years, the NBA has a resurgence on the world stage. The NBA Finals alone has recorded 250 million individual viewers, half of the viewer's count of the World Cup, in the past six games.
The revitalization and growth of basketball in the last decade are due to one drastic move from the commissioner, Adam Silver. He encouraged individuals and teams from around the world to join the NBA. This, of course, caused a considerable uproar from the old-time NBA fans and players, forcing viewers to drop to 3 million. The NBA is virtually hanging by a thread, just having enough capital to keep themselves afloat. But three years later, this proved to be the right move. As of 2025, there are one hundred and twenty teams from around the world divided into eight conferences; Eastern America, Western America, South America, Eastern Europe (with Russia), Western Europe, East Asia, Middle East (with India and Africa), and Australia (with Oceania and South East Asia). Expansion teams are only getting added to balance out every conference.
The 2027 NBA Finals is expected to be hands-down the most-watched basketball game in history due to matched up the pushed each other to a game 7. The basketball juggernaut Los Angeles Lakers led by a retiring Lebron James, MVP Luka Doncic, and a prime Nikola Jokic versus The Athenian Titans with the Antetonkoumpo brothers who all flourished into 'freaks of nature.' A lot of basketball historians and analyst calls this the matchup made in heaven.
For those reasons alone, we find the Johnson family, a diehard Lakers fan, at the courtside of Staples Center. Johnson's family has six members. Janice Johnson, 36, and Kyla Johnson, 32, are both the head of the household. Everyone would consider them a power couple due to Janice being the youngest Female Chief of Medicine in America, and Kyla is a federal attorney that usually handles class action lawsuits. Both have a son and a daughter from their previous marriages, but the family joined together with minimal problems. The eldest, Maxine, 19, is Janice's biological daughter, followed by Alexandria, 18, Kyla's daughter. Kyle, 17, Kyla's son, and finally Zachary, 16, Janice's son.
Their Janice and Kyla's ex-husbands are long out of the picture due to some extenuating circumstances, but every one of the Johnsons can honestly say that they are happier as their family now. The Johnson kids can be considered overachievers. Maxine and Alexandria are both at the top of their class while still an Olympic athlete, football, and gymnastics, respectively. Meanwhile, Kyle is an NBA prospect while maintaining a 3.5-grade point. The only non-sport inclined Johnson kid is Zachary and not through a fault of his own.
Zachary Johnson or Zach can be considered a genius that can excel in any academic field he chooses. His perseverance and intellect had allowed him to be eligible for graduation even if he's taking three degrees at once.
If you ask him what his motivation, why is he pushing himself to take three degrees, it's always the same answer, 'I ain't got much time, so I got to do as much as I can.' Zach has been diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy. This rare autoimmune disease basically says that he'll die at 25 years old, 30 at the most. The CMD has also prevented him from doing anything strenuous due to his weakened muscles and organs. This also caused him to be tied down to a self-propelled wheelchair with an attached oxygen tank. That's why he focused on helping his brother and sisters to be the best athlete they can be, that is if they want to.
Zach took Sports Science, Applied Statistics, and Computer Science as his majors at Ohio State University. Even before he graduated, he already created a program to help Kyle to be the best NBA prospect ever since Lebron James himself. He, of course, didn't forget about his sisters and created a personalized exercise routine for them.
The Johnson Family is currently shouting their hearts out in support of the Lakers. With 22 seconds left on the clock and a tie game at 157 to 157 in triple overtime. Both teams not wanting to go home without the ring.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!" The lakers fan keep shouting.
Contrary to the norm, the lakers decided to do 3-2 zone defense instead of a full-court press since they are more worried about Giannis forcing his way into the paint.
Kostas (SG) inbounded the ball to his brother Alex (PG), who walked it past the halfcourt. The Titans look like they are going to use an Isolation play with Giannis (SF) from the top of the key. Alex (PG) handed the ball over to Giannis (SF), who is being guarded by Bam Adebayo (PF) with Lebron (SF) ready for help defense and Jokic (C) waiting near the paint.
Zach noticed something with the Titan's positioning on the court. Alex (PG) is being lightly guarded by Lebron (SF) due to Giannis's (SF) threat. The weird thing is, Alex (PG) is at the right-wing, just inside the four-point line, his preferred position.
"Giannis is going to pass to Alex! Guard Alex!" Zach shouted at the top of his lungs
Zach's family looked at him weirdly for a moment before shouting the same thing. They know how smart Zach is, especially with matters regarding sports. If he says that's the Titan's play, then that's their play. It looks like he's right, too, judging by the grimace that flashed through the Titans' players.
Either way, Giannis (SF) decided to continue with the Iso play. It's the best decision to make at this point since he still has an opportunity to score even if Lebron (SF) is now guarding Alex (PG) a little more tightly. Giannis (SF) did a short series of dribbling moves to gauge Bam's (PF) reaction. When he's satisfied with what he was seeing, Giannis (SF) made his move. He did a quick hesitation dribble before taking a step back just behind the three-point line. This move was just enough to cause Bam (PF) to follow Giannis (SF) and be able to contest if ever an attempt for a three pinter is made. But Giannis (SF) has other plans.
Giannis(SF) did a sharp crossover dribble to pass his guard quickly. This move was just enough to freeze Bam (PF) for a moment. Bam (PF) would typically not freeze with such a simple trick, but the triple OT and the pressure of the tied game seven finals must have finally got to him.
"Fuck! Come on, Bam!" Zach exclaimed before promptly stopping due to the stern glare flashed by both of his mothers.
Giannis (SF) drive his way through the middle of the court. Lebron (SF) followed close behind Giannis (SF), while Jokic (C) stepped just outside the restricted area. Giannis (SF) jumped up when he passed the free throw line, looking like he would try to posterize Jokic (C). But at the last moment, Giannis (SF) turned around mid-air and passed the ball to Alex (PG).
Alex (PG) stepped forward to position himself at the three-point line before catching the ball. The moment he received the ball, he started his jump shot. It looks like he would shoot no problem, but Bam (PF) suddenly appeared from his left and contested the shot. Alex (PG) panicked a little and rushed through his shot.
The ball is seemingly flying through the air in slow motion. It hit the backboard before dropping sown on the rim, bouncing left and right. Everyone in the stadium was silent, waiting for what would happen next. At the fifth bounce, the ball bounced to the left out of the rim.
Luka (SG) ran straight towards the Titans field goal before anyone else can react, with Lebron (SF) following a few moments later. Jokic (C) jumped high up the air, trying to rebound the ball. Giannis (SF), Thanasis (PF), and Francis (C) also aimed to rebound the ball. Jokic (C) is all alone in the paint, trying to get the chance to win the championship.
Jokic's (C) persistence finally paid off when he managed to rip the ball before Thanasis (PF) can get the ball and tossed a lead pass to Luka (SG), who is waiting at the top of the key. He drove towards the center and looks like he would do a layup. The only problem was Alex (PG) and Kostas (SG) are hot on his trail and looking ready to block.
However, at the last moment, Luka (SG) tossed the ball behind his back, sailing past the brothers, who are surprised by the sudden action. They turned their heads midair and saw a sequence of events that would break their hearts. Lebron (SF) high in the air and caught the ball one-handed before slamming it with his signature tomahawk dunk.
The emphatic slam dunk caused the ball to shot through the net to the ground at ridiculous speed, creating a loud sound at the same time as the buzzer sounded. For a brief moment, no sounds can be heard in the stadium, but the cacophony of cheers quickly broke the silence. Yellow and gold confetti dropped from the roof, covering the whole stadium.
Zach is flashing a full-blown smile. He had to give it to him. The King knows how to end his career with a bang. However, his smile was replaced by a frown when he suddenly felt exhausted.
"Ugh, I pushed my self for too long." Zach said before opting to close his eyes for a second, ignoring the celebration happening around him.
Nobody could have expected that the world would have lost another selfless soul to an unfair world at that very moment. Nobody, of course, except for the gods above.