Three wins in a row.
Not bad for a team missing half its core rotation.
The preseason record didn't earn headlines, but inside the Mavericks' front office, it started to matter. They weren't just winning—they were executing.
Zoran Vukic sat in the far corner of the locker room, sneakers still laced, jersey halfway off. His stat line had already synced to his phone—6-of-7 shooting, 3 assists, 0 turnovers.
14 minutes. 10 points.
First time he'd hit double digits at the pro level.
No cameras. No questions. No spotlight.
Just how he wanted it.
[SYSTEM REPORT – Efficiency Review Complete]→ PPG: 5.4 → 7.1→ FG%: 68%→ Usage: 11.2% → 14.5%→ Turnover Ratio: 0.0Trait Stable: "Selective Strike" (Tier I)✓ Impact Boost: Maintained✓ Decision Layer Error Rate: 3.7%
They hadn't expected this.
Zoran was brought in to stabilize, to fill space while the starters rehabbed. Not to score. Not to lead.
But he was helping them win.
Quietly. Efficiently.
Without forcing a single shot.
At practice the next morning, Kidd called him over mid-walkthrough.
"Full quarter tonight," Kidd said. "You're running with Klay and Caleb."
Zoran nodded once.
"Don't let the pace drag you out of your game."
"I won't."
That was it. No extra talk. No fake encouragement.
Just a directive.
Next opponent: the Utah Jazz.
Long. Aggressive. Quick in transition.
Walker Kessler protected the paint. Markkanen could switch everything. Sexton defended like his contract depended on it.
Zoran had already studied their last three games.
Especially their third-quarter breakdowns. Loose coverages. Late rotations.
They played fast. They gambled.
He would do the opposite.
[SYSTEM SYNC – Opponent Profile Loaded]→ Key Defensive Gaps: Overcommit on slot cuts, late 2nd-side rotations→ Best Counter: Cross flare > swing > high slipSuggested Flow: Low-tempo, delay reads, minimize transition leakage
Zoran entered early in the second quarter.
Dinwiddie had two fouls. Christie's handle wasn't holding up under pressure.
Zoran called a delay flare. Klay ghosted the screen, drew the hedge. Zoran waited, half-beat, let the defense shift, then bounced it to Martin on the cut.
Easy layup.
Dallas 26 – Utah 23.
Next possession: same action. This time, the defense trapped early.
Zoran slipped it to Powell on the pop. Midlane dunk.
28–23.
He wasn't chasing numbers.
But the system didn't miss a beat.
[SYSTEM FLAG – Defensive Pattern Exposed]→ "Drift Option Available"→ Opponent Overhelp Tendency: Active→ Shot Type: Mid-range pull-up
He came off the same ghost screen, read the sag, and pulled up from 16 feet.
Net.
30–25.
He wasn't "hot."
He was exact.
Utah tried to answer. Markkanen scored on a fadeaway. Sexton hit a pull-up over Powell.
Zoran didn't rush the response.
He walked it up, shifted Klay to the weak side, dragged the screen, then paused.
The defender sagged again.
Zoran rose up.
Swish.
Timeout, Jazz.
Dallas 34 – Utah 29.
On the bench, Kidd was silent.
Sweeney gave him a nod.
That was enough.
Halftime.
Zoran checked the numbers:→ 8 Points (4-5 FG)→ 2 Assists→ 0 Turnovers→ Plus-Minus: +9
He sat alone.
Didn't look at the crowd. Didn't scroll his phone.
But he listened.
The coaches spoke just loud enough to hear.
"He's creating pressure without using clock.""Yeah, but let's see it when they switch coverages."
Zoran took note.
Second half. Jordan Clarkson picked him up. Bigger body. Smarter spacing. Tried to nudge Zoran off his angles.
Zoran didn't fight it.
He let him overplay, then slipped inside and floated a soft shot off the glass.
42–36.
[SYSTEM BONUS – Tier I Flow Chain Active]→ 4 straight possessions with scoring contributions→ Decision Speed: +9%→ Error Risk: Stable✓ Flow: Synced
Zoran wasn't running hot.
He was running clear.
End of the third.
Zoran subbed out with 10 points. Still no turnovers.
He didn't shoot in the fourth.
Didn't need to.
Dallas won by seven.
After the game, a local podcast tweeted something simple:
"Dallas quietly 4–1 in preseason. With half the rotation injured. Efficiency guys stepping up. #Vukic: 0 turnovers in 5 games. 👀"
Zoran saw it.
Didn't share it.
The less they looked, the longer he could work.
But he knew it wouldn't stay quiet for long.
[SYSTEM – SESSION END REPORT]→ Usage: 14.8%→ FG%: 70→ TO Ratio: 0.0→ Read Accuracy: 97%✓ Trait: "Selective Strike" Stable✓ Floor Autonomy Benchmarks: 3 of 3→ Trait Unlocked: "Independent Flow"
Zoran closed the report.
Then closed his eyes.
He was ready for more.