February snow blanketed Boston in silence. But inside TD Garden, the storm was just beginning to build.
The Celtics were 39–16, locked in as the #1 seed in the East coming out of the All-Star break. The vibes were good. The wins were stacking. But the locker room… it was changing.
Kyle felt it.
The Rising Stars performance had boosted his minutes—up to 24 per game now. He was closing some nights. Earning trust. Earning praise. The fans chanted his name when he dove on the floor or pinned a shot on the glass. "KY-ON-IC! KY-ON-IC!"
But not everyone was celebrating.
Malcolm Brogdon pulled him aside after a shootaround. "You're playing well, kid. But you better keep your head down. Fame's a hell of a drug in this league."
Kyle frowned. "I'm not chasing that."
"You don't have to," Brogdon said, nodding toward the cameras. "It's chasing you."
Their next game was against the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis. Dame. Defensive war.
