Summer League: Knicks v. Thunder IV
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: July 19th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: On Court, Thomas & Mack Center)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:45 PM)~~~
It's almost the end of the first quarter, and I've got 12 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Now that I've got 2 steals, that leaves the points, assists, rebounds, and blocks left to complete for my mission.
We're coming out of a timeout on The Thunder's end, and that means we're on defense.
The score is 41-30 in our favor.
I'm guarding Hopson, and I look toward Hannah and Ellie. Giving them a smile and wink. The girls around them squeal and cheer.
Making Hannah frown and look at them. I roll my eyes just a little and focus on Barefield bringing the ball down the court.
I move as Hopson does since I'm the one guarding him, and I shift on the screen and convert Barefield. He tries to use his smaller size to get around me or go faster. But that doesn't work for me. He passes it to De'Quon, and I shift back to Hopson, and Kethan takes Barefield.
Jericho Sims does his best to stop De'Quon from bullying him, but he's not doing good. I make my way over as he's about to take another hook shoot. He doesn't see me, and I block him again.
Giving me my third block. And the crowd roars. De'Quon isn't happy about it, but that's not my problem.
It's led to a possession change, and I'm rushing down the court. There is enough time on the clock for one possession for each team. But I intend to change that. I call for the ball and in transition. Once it reaches my hands, Hopson is in front of me as I'm at the logo on the left wing.
I pull up moving and shoot it in his face. He tries to react, but he's too slow and didn't expect it. It soars through the air and swishes through the net. Still 100 percent from the field and 3-point. But on my way down, Hopson is in my landing space.
Causing me to fall, and the refs blow the whistle.
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME WITH THAT BULLSHIT, MAN!!"
Hopson is immediately in the face of the ref, that called the shooting foul.
When you block a player's landing spot, it's considered a shooting foul. Giving me a chance for a 4 point play. I've got 15 points now from that, and I'll be getting 16 from my free throw. Hopson calms down, and the free throw is set up.
I hit it with no problem, and I get that 16th point. And making the score 44-30 in our favor.
Due to shooting so soon in the shot clock, my team will be getting the final possession of the first quarter.
I'm already back on defense, and I'm covering Hopson and his bad attitude now. The Knicks fans in the building are making themselves heard, which is most of them. Wearing number 24 in Knicks colors is giving fans hope.
Hopson has the ball passed to him, but he immediately gets rid of it and passes it to De'Quon.
~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~
~~~(Date: July 19th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Courtside, Thomas & Mack Center)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:46 PM)~~~
Hannah has her mood thoroughly soured by the girls that thought Ulysses was winking and smiling at them. But that's not stopping me. I watch Ulysses shift on defense and cover Barefield as he goes in for a layup.
He knocks it off the back glass, getting his fourth block of the game. That's impressive for anyone, but it's normal for Ulysses.
There are only 16 seconds left on the shot clock. And Ulysses is the one bringing the ball down the court after his block. He's slowly walking, and the crowd is getting louder. As he crosses half court, there are only 7 seconds left, and Hopson, along with De'Quon, make their way toward him.
To everyone's surprise but my own, he does a spin move toward De'Quon but changes directions with a cross toward Hopson. Then making his way into a sham god. Causing both of them to fall down.
With 2 seconds on the clock, he launches from behind the 3-point as no one can react after that play. And he sinks the shot at the buzzer, and the crowd screams. The building evens starts to shake.
That's 19 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals in the first quarter. My son is making sure the world knows he's coming. I can see it in his eyes.