The gym at Cleveland State wasn't much. Concrete walls, bleach-bright lights, and a sour tang of sweat that never left the air. But it had one thing I didn't: a second chance.
Three hours after the draft, the Cavaliers' rookie minicamp began. They didn't waste time. LeBron James had gone number one. National news. But the rest of us? Just names on a clipboard.
"Wyatt," a voice barked. "Marcello."
I looked up. The assistant coach—Melvin Hunt, if memory served—waved me to the main court.
"You're up next."
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Mission Activated: Prove Offensive Value (SP Reward: +3)
Sub-Goal: Execute Named Tactic (Bonus Reward: Orientation Badge Progress)
Trust Meter: Cleveland Coaching Staff - NEUTRAL (0)
I flexed my fingers. No tape. No calluses. My legs felt springy. Weirdly perfect.
It had been 20 years since I felt this fresh. Or maybe two minutes, depending on how you counted.
"Ball," I called. The manager bounced it over.
LeBron was already done. Sitting baseline with a towel around his neck, watching the rest of us run. Kid looked like a man among boys. Then again, he was.
Coach Silas stepped in from the sideline. "ISO. Wing left. Let's see if Wyatt can do more than talk."
Talk? I hadn't said a word all morning.
The defender was Chris Hobbs, a bruiser from UNC. Strong base. Lazy feet. I remembered him—barely got a Summer League deal.
Perfect.
I jabbed right, drifted into a left-hand push dribble. He bit. I stopped short, half-step inside the elbow.
Then I showed him the first wrinkle.
Named Tactic: Floater Fade
Description: Off-foot dribble fade from midrange; counter to chase-down length.
Execution Grade: B+
Result: Make (2 pts)
SP Gained: +1
The shot dropped clean. Net barely moved.
"Again," Silas barked.
Again? I nodded.
Hobbs pushed up now. He didn't like getting cooked.
Same set. This time I dribbled hard middle, froze him with a step-in, then pivoted to the corner and launched a fade over his reach.
Miss.
"Good footwork," Hunt said. "Balance, too."
SYSTEM FEEDBACK
Combo Rating: Developing (2/10)
SP Gained: +0.5
Orientation Badge Progress: 45%
Trust Shift: +1 (Status: Neutral +)
I ran the set five more times. Two makes. Two misses. One foul drawn.
By the end, I was gassed. Not out of shape—just out of rhythm. It'd been years since I played with a body this... clean.
Then came the scrimmage.
Two squads. Me, Luke Jackson, and a few no-name guards vs. LeBron's team.
I was nominally the point guard. But I knew better. Facilitate. Keep tempo. Don't get in LeBron's way.
First possession, I pushed pace off a rebound. Wing fill. No help.
I took it all the way.
Layup. Contact. Bucket.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Drive Grade: A
SP Gained: +1.5
Trust Shift: +1 (Status: Warm)
Next possession, I ran motion off-ball, slipped a screen, caught it mid-post, hit the cutter for a lay-in.
SP Gained: +0.5
Playmaking Thread: Detected
Attribute Hint: Passing IQ
Trust Shift: +1 (Status: Warm+)
LeBron jogged over during a free throw.
"Where'd you play, man? Overseas?"
"Turkey. Spain. D-League." I left out the reincarnation.
He nodded. "You don't play like these other dudes."
I shrugged. "I played a lot longer than they did."
That got a grin.
Three plays later, I threw him a no-look bounce pass through traffic. He flushed it. One step, no dribble.
The gym reacted. Coaches. Scouts. Somebody whistled.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Milestone: LeBron Trust +5
SP Gained: +2
Trust Meter: LeBron James - WARM (5)
By the time the scrimmage ended, I had 8 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, and a quiet plus-minus that screamed adult.
Coach Silas pulled me aside.
"You're not on the roster," he said flat. "Not yet."
I nodded.
"But Bron likes you. And we don't draft friends here."
His eyes narrowed.
"Make it impossible to cut you."
SYSTEM UPDATE
Mission Complete: Prove Offensive Value
SP Earned: +5
Orientation Badge Unlocked: SYSTEM PRIMER (Basic Interface Access)
Attribute Scan: Initiated...
END OF CHAPTER 1
SYSTEM STAT SNAPSHOT
Marcello Wyatt - Undrafted Rookie Invitee
SP Total: 8.5
Trust Meters:
Coaching Staff: Neutral+ (2)
LeBron James: Warm (5)
Badge Progress:
Orientation: SYSTEM PRIMER (Unlocked)
Named Tactic: Floater Fade (Logged, 2/10)
MEDIA ECHO:
"Unknown guard turns heads at Cavs minicamp — 'He plays like a vet,' says LeBron." — Cleveland Plain Dealer