Ricky Davis dribbled slow. Left hand, low rhythm, eyes locked on mine.
The gym went quiet.
"Best of five," Coach Lucas had said. "No help, no bailouts. One-on-one."
It wasn't just a drill. It was a statement.
For him: still the alpha. Still the guy.
For me: not just a camp name. Not just LeBron's shadow.
Ricky jabbed hard, then floated into a fade.
I read it. Leapt late.
Swish.
1–0.
No reactions. Not from the coaches. Not from LeBron. Just sneakers squeaking.
My turn.
I rocked a hesitation, drove right, snapped back to the left. Pulled up mid-post.
Soft net.
1–1.
Next one, he spun baseline, pump-faked, and dropped a soft banker.
2–1.
I took it back slow. Let the room feel it.
Named Tactic: Elbow Reverse
Hard bump off dribble, mid-spin to outside shoulder, fade to glass.
I hit it.
2–2.
Match point.
He squared me up. Started his dribble. Then stopped.
"What's your angle, rook?"
"Play ball."
He drove hard, tried to bump. I absorbed. Met him at the gather.
Strip.
Loose ball.
I dove. Got it. Kicked it ahead to the rim. Tossed it in.
Win.
The gym stayed quiet.
Then Bron clapped once.
Lucas nodded.
Ricky shook his head, grabbed a towel, and walked out.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Badge Milestone: On-Ball Hound (5/10) — Secondary Effect Unlocked: Positional Intuition
SP Gained: +3
Attribute Trait Unlocked: Competitor (Triggers Bonus SP on Win vs. Higher-Status Opponent)
SP Balance: 10
Post-drill stretch ran longer than usual. Nobody talked much. Not about the 1v1. Not out loud.
LeBron caught me in the hallway.
"Didn't flinch," he said.
"Had to answer."
He nodded. "You did."
The next morning started with tape.
Coach Silas queued up the one-on-one. Played it slow. Froze on every frame.
"What'd you see here?" he asked.
"Weight transfer. Read his plant foot."
"What else?"
"Shoulder drop. Over-pivot. Ball exposed."
He nodded. "That's not instinct. That's detail."
Then he said, "We can use that."
He turned to the room. "New rule: Wyatt shadows the scout team point. Every set. Every drill."
That wasn't a punishment. That was a role.
The rest of practice ran with tempo. I guarded every primary handler. Pushed tempo on every break. Called out switches before they happened.
The team felt it. The edge.
Late in practice, Bron pulled me aside.
"You ever play chase trap?"
"Only overseas. Not in the league."
"We're running it tomorrow. Come early. We'll go over it."
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Tactic Opportunity: Chase Trap
Condition: Master corner containment
Reward: Badge Unlock Path + SP Gain
That night, I didn't go back to the dorms. I hit the empty gym.
Shot 300 midrange. 50 floaters. 50 curls.
My legs ached. But my release felt automatic.
Upgrade Menu:
Floater Fade (3 → 4): 1 SP
On-Ball Hound (5 → 6): 2 SP
Attribute: Speed (2 → 3): 5 SP
Purchase Confirmed:
On-Ball Hound → 6 (SP -2)
Speed → 3 (SP -5)
SP Remaining: 3
Next day's practice opened with a new wrinkle: public scrimmage. Season ticket holders. Local press. The gym wasn't full—but it echoed.
I ran with the second unit.
First play, I called the trap. Bron covered baseline, I chased.
Corner trap sprung.
Turnover.
Fast break. Dunk.
Crowd noise hit.
Again. And again. We ran them.
By the time the scrimmage ended, I had 6 points, 4 assists, 3 steals.
I heard a scout say, "That kid's a rotation piece."
Lucas nodded after film.
"Wyatt's playing system ball. Smart, fast, simple."
Then Silas added, "And he's not afraid of the moment."
Back in the locker room, Ricky Davis wasn't there.
But a new face was.
Darius Miles.
"They brought me back to check the vibes," he said, grinning.
And just like that, camp reset.
END OF CHAPTER 5
STAT SNAPSHOT
Marcello Wyatt - Undrafted Rookie Invitee
SP Total: 3
Trust Meters:
Coaching Staff: Warm+ (5)
LeBron James: Strong (6)
Ricky Davis: Frozen (-5)
Badge Progress:
On-Ball Hound: 6/10 (Trait: Positional Intuition)
Floater Fade: 4/10
Communication Vision: Active
Playbook Familiarity: 4/10
New Attribute Levels:
Speed: 3
Midrange Shot: 4
Defensive Read: 2
MEDIA ECHO:
"Wyatt steals show at Cavs open scrimmage. Coaches praise his reads. Fans notice the confidence. A real shot at a two-way?" — Cleveland Plain Dealer