Summer League: Knicks v. Thunder III

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

~~~(Date: July 19th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: On Court, Thomas & Mack Center)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:38 PM)~~~

Sedrick Barefield brings the ball down the court for The Thunder, and I'm covering my match-up, Scotty Hopson. To my surprise, I'm getting screened by their Center. De'Quon Lake. I just barely get past him to catch up to Hopson and contest his shot.

That was a great screen, but my defense is just too good. Hopson's shot bounces off the back rim and off into Dewan Hernadezes' hands. I immediately start running down the court. Kethan sees me as he gets the ball, and he's about to pass.

But that's when Barefield swipes the ball from behind him, and I'm left stranded deep in our half. I run back, but I watch as De'Quon scores the basket to give The Thunder their first 2 points.

Making the score 7-2 in our favor.

I shift toward offense as Kethan brings the ball down, and Hopson is trying to smother me. But he's too short to really give any hindrance. Jericho Sims, our Power Forward comes and give me a screen to get free.

I do just that, and I then screen Kethan. He drives toward the basket as I get locked up with his defender, Barefield. But they do a great job shifting. And I'm left getting covered by two defenders as the ball is passed to me.

Both Barefield and Hopson are guarding me right behind the 3-point line. And I look for the open man, but he's on the other side of the court in the corner. Meaning I'm left in a deadly situation with the shot clock winding down.

My back is turned to both my defenders and as there are 3 seconds left on the shot clock. I elevate and turn at the same time. A moving turn-around fadeaway from behind the 3-point line on the left wing.

As I release the ball, it soars through the air and sinks with a swish. Making the score 10-2 in the 8th possession. I've got 8 points, 1 block, 1 steal, and 1 assist so far.

The crowd is screaming at the top of their lungs, and I get it. The Knicks finally have a great player on their team. They have hope for something more than a mediocre season.

"Man, you know that's a bunch of bullshit. You ain't hitting that shot multiple times in one game."

Hopson talks to me as we lightly jog to the other side of the court for their possession. I don't react, but on the inside, I'm laughing a little. I can hit those shots consistently. But I should focus.

Barefield stops at the top of the 3-point line, and I watch as he lobs it up to De'Quon from there. I intercept and get free from Hopson. But he ties me up in his arms, and a foul is called.

"Offensive Foul of Number 32!"

Hopson immediately starts talking to the ref and trying to get out of the foul. What's great is the crowd that he's close to is mocking him.

Given that it was a personal foul on the offensive end, possession changes for our team, and I make my way down the court.

Several possessions goes by with me getting 2 rebounds and 3 assists. We're about halfway through the first quarter, and I've got 10 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal. The score is currently 25-14 in our favor.

I'm holding Hopson to 0 percent shooting, and he's already taken 5 shots.

We're on offense now, and I'm passed the ball on transition, and I dribble through two defenders with a spin move and a sham god. Making De'Quon fall to the ground with the masterful move. I leap up in the paint and slam the ball into the basket.

This makes the score 27-14.

I'm shooting perfectly, and that's putting a lot of pressure on the defense. Dice Toshimoto is using this to our advantage and has us passing the ball through me into the corners and paint from the top of the key since I'm drawing so much attention.

I've effectively changed from Small Forward to Point Guard.

But we're on defense right now, so I'll focus on that later. Right now, I'm guarding Hopson, shifting through the screens, and onto De'Quon. The ball is passed to him, and he tries to back me down. But he doesn't make me go far.

There are oohs and aahs, coming from the crowd as he slams into me. But I'm not moving. He tries a hook shot from outside the box, but I send it into the crowd with a hard block. The crowd goes crazy.

I feel bad for him. He's there Center, and I'm two inches taller than he is with shoes on.