As Aleksandar and Nikola stepped through the towering double doors of the arena, they were immediately swallowed by a maze of polished hallways, security checkpoints, and metal framed passageways. The deeper they walked, the more the quiet anticipation built, echoing in their footsteps.
Then, without warning, the corridor opened up and they entered the heart of the arena.
Their breaths caught in unison.
Before them stretched a court that felt less like a gym and more like a monument. The gleaming hardwood seemed to shine under the lights like polished glass, and above it all hung a massive, state of the art scoreboard that dominated the center like a floating monolith.
Rows upon rows of seats rose around them in steep tiers thousands of them. VIP lounges with glass walls lined the midsections, and luxury box seats gleamed in the upper levels. Even empty, the space felt alive. It buzzed with a kind of electricity, like it was always waiting for the next big moment.
Nikola slowly turned in place, eyes wide.
"Bro... this place is huge," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loud might shatter the illusion.
Aleksandar didn't respond. He was too mesmerized. His gaze was locked on the center of the court, imagining himself under the spotlight, every seat filled, every eye watching. It wasn't just a basketball court. It was a stage. A battlefield. A dream, made real.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
After a few moments of quiet awe, Aleksandar and Nikola began to truly take in the scene before them. Just past the sidelines of the court, a large crowd of players easily around a hundred had gathered. Some were stretching, others bouncing a ball, and many simply stood nervously, waiting for instructions.
But amidst the sea of hopefuls, Aleksandar's eyes caught a familiar figure.
Standing near the baseline, clipboard in hand and eyes scanning the group like a hawk, was Assistant Coach Kumstrim. Flanked on both sides by other staff members in sleek team tracksuits, he exuded an air of quiet authority. The way the other coaches positioned themselves around him made it clear he was overseeing the entire operation.
Nikola let out a low whistle.
"So this is my competition, huh..." he muttered, hands on his hips. "Alright, guess I better head over there. That's probably where I'm supposed to be anyway."
Aleksandar gave a silent nod, watching as Nikola prepared to throw himself into the fire.
But just then, a voice called out from behind them.
"Morning, you two."
They turned to find Hao approaching with his usual calm expression, though a hint of focus sharpened his eyes. He greeted them both with a nod.
"Nikola, good luck out there. Give it everything you've got."
"Thanks, man," Nikola grinned, giving him a thumbs up.
Then Hao turned to Aleksandar.
"You and I will be watching from the stands. Come on, I'll show you where."
"Yeah, alright," Aleksandar replied, still slightly dazed by everything around him.
And so, as Nikola headed off toward the crowd of players already beginning to blend into the sea of competitors Aleksandar followed Hao toward the spectator seating.
After finding their seats in the upper rows of the arena, Aleksandar and Hao settled in, their view perfectly angled toward the court below. The tryouts were already starting to buzz with movement players warming up, staff members arranging equipment, and a quiet sense of tension spreading through the air like static.
Aleksandar's eyes wandered across the stands. Scattered throughout were small clusters of players, most of them from the team. He even spotted one of the veterans he had met at dinner the night before, sitting alongside another man who looked equally seasoned.
"Looks like some of the guys from the team are here too," Aleksandar murmured. "Hey, is Vinnie coming?"
Hao didn't turn his head, simply resting his elbows on his knees and answering in his usual calm voice.
"Vinnie and the team captain are in the VIP box. They're part of the selection committee today. Coach Luciano put them there alongside Kumstrim."
Aleksandar blinked, caught off guard.
"...Oh. Really?"
He leaned back slightly, trying to process the new information. Vinnie hadn't mentioned anything about being part of the selection committee. Aleksandar had just assumed he'd be watching casually maybe even sitting with them.
But if Vinnie was helping decide who moved on... didn't that mean Nikola had a better shot?
That thought gave him a bit of comfort, but it didn't answer the real question that had started to itch at the back of his mind. Why Vinnie? He had only been on the team for a single season, right?
Curiosity got the better of him.
"Why him though?" Aleksandar asked. "He's only been here a year, hasn't he?"
This time, Hao gave a small shrug before answering.
"During last season, the coaching staff noticed how much time he spent helping younger players. He corrected their form, gave them drills, even stayed late with some of the rookies. Kumstrim said he had the instincts of a mentor... like someone who sees the whole picture."
He paused, then added with a knowing smile, "But no one really knows why he does it."
Aleksandar narrowed his eyes slightly, thoughtful.
"I see..."
His thoughts drifted back to the night before, to when he had asked Vinnie why he had taken the time to train him all summer. Vinnie had simply replied:
"Who knows?"
Aleksandar looked down at the court, his expression pensive. The questions swirled in his mind, but he knew deep down that pressing Vinnie for answers wouldn't get him far.
Meanwhile, down on the court, Nikola had merged into the crowd of players, his face focused, eyes scanning the unfamiliar competition around him. There was no room for nerves now only preparation.
At that moment, Assistant Coach Kumstrim stepped forward.
His presence was immediately felt. Even among a hundred players, his calm authority commanded silence. With a microphone in hand, he raised his voice firm, clear, and unmistakably in control.
"Good morning, everyone. I want to thank you for being here today."
The murmurs in the crowd faded into complete silence.
"My name is Kumstrim. Alongside the training staff and coaching personnel, I'll be overseeing today's tryouts. The first stage will begin now: height and weight measurements. Please line up in a single file and follow the staff's directions."
The large scoreboard screen above the court lit up with the TRYOUTS DAY 1 header, and several staff members began directing players to one side of the court.
Nikola exhaled slowly, then stepped into line with the others.
Up in the stands, Aleksandar leaned forward in his seat, eyes following his friend from a distance. He felt the tension building not just in the gym, but in his chest too.
This was it.
The beginning.