Chapter 40: All-Stars End 1

After the first day of All-Star Weekend, the second day was packed with fan-favorite events. First up was CJ's participation in the Skills Challenge. Although he managed to knock out Schroder in the group stage, CJ fell short against Brandon Knight in the semifinals. Just as in the original timeline, Beverley, known for his tenacity, clinched the skills title.

Jake stood on the sidelines, watching CJ look a bit dejected. Not one to let his friend stay down, Jake walked over to console him. "What's the big deal? It's just a skills challenge, not the championship," he said with a grin.

Caught off guard, CJ let out an awkward laugh. Jake threw his arm around CJ's shoulder and added, "We've got much bigger goals than a little competition like this. Don't sweat it." CJ nodded in agreement, his mood visibly brightening.

Next up was the dunk contest, which turned into a one-man show by LaVine. Each of his dunks was a spectacle, raising the bar higher with every round. His final dunk—a windmill executed with an assist from CJ—had the judges on their feet. Unsurprisingly, LaVine took home the trophy without contest.

The weekend culminated in the All-Star Game, the crown jewel of basketball's global showcase, taking place at Madison Square Garden. Celebrities and basketball legends filled the arena, and Jake wasn't one to be left out. He ditched his usual laid-back style for a custom-tailored suit, looking the part for the event.

In truth, Jake wasn't the flashy figure some might think. His work ethic was serious, a habit from his days with the Spurs. While others might know him for his flamboyant public persona, his diligence behind the scenes was well-known by those in the league.

This "showman" image he carried was something he'd picked up from his mentor, Popovich. Much like Pop, who played the media game with his sharp wit and quips, Jake understood the balance between creating headlines and doing the actual work. Pop's playful relationship with sideline reporter Craig Sager was legendary, another example of how media narratives could be shaped. Sadly, at this time, Sager was battling acute leukemia, and his absence from the court was deeply felt by the basketball community.

Jake found his seat in the crowded arena, a prime spot he'd managed to secure thanks to his boss, Vivek Ranadivé. As Jake sat down, he noticed Ranadivé already in place with his daughter, Anjali.

"Running late?" Vivek asked, giving Jake a quick glance before returning his attention to the game.

"Sorry, boss. First All-Star Game for me, and the traffic was insane," Jake replied, smoothing out his custom suit with a slight wince. This was high-end Italian craftsmanship, and he wasn't thrilled about wearing it to such a busy event.

"You've done good work lately," Vivek said unexpectedly. "The team has improved significantly this season, better than I expected."

Jake, quick on his feet, replied, "It's all thanks to your leadership. The players, the staff—everyone's moving forward in sync because of your guidance." His flattery was smooth, practiced, and it worked. A rare smile crept across Vivek's face.

"The team's in good shape," Vivek said, nodding. "Do you think you can keep this momentum going after the All-Star break?"

"Absolutely!" Jake responded, thumping his chest for emphasis. "We're on the right path. Nothing's going to slow us down."

Satisfied, Vivek nodded again before turning back to watch the game. With the conversation over, Jake finally exhaled, feeling the slight dampness on his shirt. Despite living two lives, dealing with his boss still made him nervous. After all, at his core, he was just a regular guy trying to make it in the world.

Jake took a moment to survey the star-studded audience. Everywhere he looked, there were familiar faces. A few seats over, he spotted Jerry West, the legendary "Logo," deep in conversation with Steve Kerr, coach of this year's Western Conference All-Stars. Further away, he saw Celtics executive Danny Ainge chatting with Kevin McHale, the Rockets' head coach. Even Hollywood stars and Grammy-winning artists peppered the crowd.

"If the boss heads out early, I might try to chat up a couple of those celebrities," Jake thought to himself with a mischievous grin, already planning his next move.

Just as Jake was lost in his thoughts, the arena started buzzing with excitement. Basketball superstars filled the court, warming up in front of the adoring crowd. This was Cousins and CJ's first time being selected for the All-Star Game, and while they were a bit overshadowed by the big names, they were still thrilled to be there.

As Jake scanned the scene, he noticed a group of reporters on the sidelines, hauling their equipment and keeping their eyes fixed on Cousins and CJ. The two players, after taking a few shots and loosening up, also noticed the attention. Being that their team owner was Indian and had close ties to China, the Kings' players had grown accustomed to interacting with the Asian press. They didn't want to inadvertently offend anyone who might have connections to their boss, so Cousins grabbed CJ, and they strolled over to the reporters.

"DeMarcus! CJ! I'm a reporter from China. It's your first All-Star appearance—how do you feel about it?" the reporter was eager to get a few words, and though he had only planned to talk to Cousins, he was delighted to get both players in front of him.

"Chinese?" CJ's demeanor shifted as soon as he heard Wei Ping's words. His expression softened. "I know our fans in China worked hard to vote us into the All-Star Game. We really appreciate the love," CJ said warmly.

Hearing that, he couldn't help but feel excited. "That's right! Your manager, Jake, has been campaigning hard for the Kings in China for a while now," he mentioned, knowing it would spark more conversation.

"Really?" Cousins perked up at the mention of Jake. "I've always wanted to visit China!" His enthusiasm was palpable.

"That's amazing!" he said, smiling wide. "You'll be more than welcome in China. We can't wait for you to visit!"