A Scrimmage Game For the LA Lakers II
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~~~(POV: Jeanie Buss)~~~
~~~(Date: January 24th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: UCLA Training Facility, LA)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:45 PM)~~~
Ulysses has already scored 12 Points since the start of the game 5 minutes ago. He hasn't missed a shot. The score is 13 for Red Team and 28 for Black Team. Black Team is winning because of Ulysses. He's taken two 3-pointers and 2 Jumpshots for two and a layup so far. He hasn't missed a shot yet, which means he's 2/2 from the 3-point line and 3/3 from the field.
His efficiency is theoretically impossible, but he's proving that it's not. He's also got 4 Assists and 6 Rebounds. He hasn't gotten any blocks yet, but that might change. "Mind if I ask how long Ulysses has been practicing basketball?" Frank asks Ellie an important question. It's impossible to think he got this good in such a short amount of time.
Ellie was kind enough to answer his earlier question. Maybe she'll answer this one too. "Ulysses wouldn't like me sharing something sensitive like that, but you can ask him. He might tell you." That's an interesting response. It means something really personal happened. That's from my impression of what she just said.
My attention is taken from Frank and Ellie and back toward the game as Ulysses gets past Adebayo and drives to the basket. What impresses me is instead of letting an easy floater off or shoot for him, he passes it to the open man since help defense is coming to pick him up since Abedayo lost him. His willingness to pass the ball and improve his team is good... No, it's great.
Add that together with his offensive and defensive capabilities, and his value is higher than any player that's ever come out of high school. That makes it 5 assists now, and the score is 13-30 in favor of Black Team. I look at Ulysses, and I can see him locked in on the game. Focusing on the defensive rotation and moving to smother his match-up Tyreke.
I pray to the Basketball Gods that we're the ones that get the number one pick in The NBA Draft this coming offseason. We have one of the best odds, but the Knicks have a slightly better chance, and The Pacers are right behind us by a few decimal points. The Trailblazers are also tanking for Ulysses, and that's his home-state team. They have that going for them.
Ulysses easily shifts into the paint and blocks Abebayo's shot. Sending it out of bounds and halting the possession for Red Team. The inbound the back to Caris LeVert, and he takes an open jumper. The shot sinks, and the score is 15-30 in favor of Black Team. The First Quarter is coming to an end, and there is enough time for one more possession for both teams.
Ulysses brings it down the court, and he heat checks and launches the ball from beyond 36 feet. Hitting the back iron and going through the bottom of the net. "Jesus, Ellie... Your kid is going to be treated like royalty..." Frank can't help negating what Ellie asked, but he does it in a joking manner. Ellie gets it, and she lets out a small laugh.
That makes 15 points for Ulysses, along with 5 Assists, 6 Rebounds, and 1 Block. Red Team runs a final play as the clock for their quarter is running out, and Even Mobley puts up a final shot from 16 feel out and sinks it after getting from with a screen. Making the score 15-33 in favor of Black Team. The buzzer goes off, marking the end of the first 7-minute quarter.
~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~
~~~(Date: January 24th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: UCLA Training Facility, LA)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:52 PM)~~~
Ulysses takes a seat on the bench and starts talking casually with the players. He fell right into place with this team, and I think he'll do that for every team he plays for. "You can go talk to him if you want. It's a practice game." Mr. Vogel notices me staring at him, and I don't squander another second and make my way over to talk with him.
He sees me approaching, and his smile grows, and he stands up to meet me with open arms. "How was my first quarter performance?" He asks me with sarcasm, but the players that are around us give chuckles. It's nice to see him so welcomed to a team that he's never played with before. That he could make more friends since all his are... Gone...