Questions From The Media

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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Press Room, Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:06 PM)~~~

The 30 seconds the guys in the studio needed are up, and the press secretary gives the green light for the reporters to start asking question. All the hands in the room shoot up. I release a sigh, and a feeling of mocking dread overcomes me.

I call on the reporter from ESPN, and she looks down at her notepad. Obviously, she's got questions pre-prepared.

"Ulysses, Milly-Rose from ESPN. How would you describe your feelings about tonights officiating? There were several calls against you, and many are wondering what your thoughts are on the subject."

Figures the first question would be about the refs and their situations. There are topics I could discuss regarding my thoughts about it. But I know if I do say anything that's considered rude, it'll come back to bite me in the ass.

This is a moment where less is more. I know just the thing to say.

"It is what it is. In the end, it won't stop me."

Everyone looks down at their notepads and starts writing down the quote. A few more hands shoot up, and I call on a guy in the back.

"Jake Clark from Sports Illustrated. You were 100 percent from the field, 3-point, and free throw line tonight. This is the second game in a row where you've shot less than 25 shots and scored more than 40. How are you capable of this kind of scoring?"

That's a question I wasn't expecting to get, but it's welcomed. I could say something arrogant and egotistical. But I don't see how that would actually answer the question. Maybe I should go for a more... Prodigal approach.

I'll have to choose my words carefully. I don't want to mess this up.

"It's a switch in the back of my head... I've had it ever since I touched a basketball... I can flip it, and after I do. I play the way I play. I don't know what you'd call that. But that's the only way I can describe it."

Which is total bullshit, but it'll make for a good story for people on the shows tomorrow. I can't say how long they'll be talking about my game. But maybe it'll spark something that can help with these refs calling bad shit against me.

Everyones heads are down as they write down my words. After a couple of seconds, hands shoot up around the room, and I call on a reporter in the middle of the room. She sticks out due to her blond hair.

"Jeesi Wilder from Sports Center. Your first road game is coming up in two days. You'll be heading to Milwaukee to face Giannis and the Bucks. How do you think you'll fair against the three-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP?"

I was hoping I'd get this question. There aren't many players in the league I'd say actually pose a threat against me. There is Giannis, Luka, Embiid, Morant, Tatum, and Jokić. After those top guys, no one can score against me semi-consistently.

What I do know is everyone is looking forward to the matchup. We'll be facing them 3 more times after our first meet-up this season.

"Milwaukee is a great team with championship aspirations this season. I'd say they're looking to put me in a place where rookies typically belong. They'll be in for a rude awakening."

There are still about 25 minutes of questions to go through, and I'm not sure if these will be the slowest 25 minutes of my life.

~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~

~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Penthouse Apartment, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:52 PM)~~~

Ulysses plops down on the couch and releases a long sigh. Hannah comes out of their room and immediately makes her way to Ulysses. I'm in the kitchen, giving them their privacy. Bianca and William couldn't make the game tonight.

But she texted me and told me they'd be there at the next home game. My mind is on what the media will say tomorrow. There is nothing bad they can say about Ulysses. But what they say might affect the refs.

If the media starts pulling them apart, they could take it out on Ulysses, which is the worst-case scenario.

It's going to be an interesting day tomorrow.