Shooting Star (2)

Adrenaline surged through me.

Today's game had plenty of motivations for me. My pro debut, syncing up with high-level teammates in a real match—it all fired me up. But above all, there was a reason I had to build a huge lead.

At the end of the third quarter, we were up by 18 points. Even so, I didn't let up on the reins.

Today wasn't just my debut—it was Subin's too.

Shin Won-hyung even took vacation time to come watch.

I wanted Subin out there on the court if possible. To make that happen, I needed to stretch the lead as much as I could.

"Crazy, don't slow the tempo. I'll run as much as needed."

Micic must've thought I was just hungry for points, because he nodded and said he'd handle the ball more.

"No problem, right, coach?"

Coach Milojevic, wanting to see more of my offensive options, gave the green light.

And so the fourth quarter began. I gritted my teeth and charged. Cut-ins, easy drive-and-jump shots, rebound putbacks—you name it.

Surrender already. Give up at this point...!

With that burning resolve, I poured every ounce of energy into it. When we hit a 21-point lead with six minutes left in the fourth, Cibona started prepping to sub in their entire bench. They were waving the white flag.

"Haa! Haa! Haa...!"

I gasped for breath and glanced at our bench.

Perfect!

Coach Milojevic was already signaling the garbage-time guys to get ready, matching their move.

Then, with 5:37 left, I patted Subin's back as he headed to the court and returned to the bench. Clap clap clap—the fans' applause and cheers rained down.

"Leeee—!!"

"Where the hell did you come from?!"

"That was straight-up magical!"

Coach Milojevic shook his head with a wry smile as he welcomed me back. The other players looked at me with newfound respect in their eyes.

That's when Jokic handed me the stat sheet from the coach.

"You were straight-up insane today."

My 29 minutes on the court earned me not just game MVP, but also Adria League Round 14 MVP. My name was now firmly etched in their minds.

.

.

.

Seojun's emergence sent shockwaves through the league.

The crushed Cibona players couldn't hide their dismay. Saric looked like he'd just bitten into something foul.

Getting ankle-broken by Seojun was humiliating enough, but he was kicking himself for not recruiting him more aggressively.

I should've pushed harder!

If he'd join a team like Mega Vizura, luring him to a bigger name like Cibona should've been a breeze.

Either way, Mega Vizura just became a team to watch out for.

He clenched his teeth slightly and turned to Coach Spaija.

"Coach, next time we face those guys, it'll be playoffs. We need to prep starting now."

"...Yeah."

Coach Spaija agreed. Their home-and-away league games against Mega Vizura ended today—the only shot at a rematch was playoffs.

Sure, Vizura sat at 8-6, still far from top four. But Saric and Spaija believed they could climb there.

With this, Mega Vizura's got their Big 2.

The top four teams in the Adria League each had star anchors. KK Cibona had Dario Saric. KK Cedevita had Jusuf Nurkic. Crvena Zvezda had Boban Marjanovic. KK Partizan had Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov. They carried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their teams to victory as reliable scorers.

Mega Vizura? Just one "big" name: Serbia's top point guard prospect, Vasilije Micic.

But Micic wasn't a scorer. Great leader and passer, but his athleticism capped him.

That changed tonight. A monstrous Asian dropped 34 points at over a point per minute.

With Seojun, Micic would thrive too.

Mega Vizura's rising. Fast—scary fast.

Basketball shifts dramatically with one key addition. Coach Spaija smacked his lips, dreading a stronger Vizura next time.

...But one thing Spaija hadn't foreseen: Nikola Jokic.

He grinned, pleased with the blowout.

Today's game was a blast. With Seojun handling defense, I could relax?

Less defensive burden let Jokic flip his mindset.

Next time, go all-out aggressive.

Jokic itching to unleash his offensive gifts. Mega Vizura evolved from Big 1 to Big 3 with Seojun aboard. That storm would rock the Adria League.

December 23, one day before Christmas Eve. The Shin family threw a small home party celebrating Subin's pro debut.

Subin's line: 5 minutes, 3/3 FG for 4 points. Modest stats, but he was thrilled.

His dad, Shin Won-hyung, felt a quiet bitterness. Doubts about the stage.

"Subin, you liking team life?"

He had to ask. Following Seojun to Europe was one thing, but the Serbian league felt alien. He'd never even heard of the Adria League—Europe meant EuroLeague to him.

His son playing garbage minutes there? Worrying. Maybe college starter would've been better. Regret hit late.

But Subin answered firmly.

"Love it, Dad. Glad I came."

"Really? How so?"

"Players are next-level. Way above our college scene."

"C'mon, not that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠much higher."

"For real."

Subin recalled a friendly against a top-10 college team months back. They couldn't contain Seojun, hitting garbage time by halftime. Embarrassed, they called it off.

Subin figured those college guys matched him. Fresh off weights with Seojun, he felt confident—even cocky about Serbian league.

Training shattered that. Serbian pros blew past expectations. College guys? No comparison.

"Feels higher than our pro league by steps."

"Nah! Not a top Western ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠league—fringe circuit. Our KBL holds up in Asia."

"I know, but trust me!"

Subin hadn't gotten Seojun's Serbia plan at first. Europe was Real Madrid, Barca, CSKA—not nobodies like Serbia.

Training with some high-potential "Nikola"? Bizarre. He tagged along just to stick with Seojun.

But he saw it now. Why Seojun chose here.

"Micic, Jokic—they're NBA talents. Playing with them? Thrilling. I feel myself growing."

"Hmm..."

Subin kept going.

"And get this: Seojun hyung's on their level. When he said NBA Draft next year, they laughed at first. Now? They buy it. Coaches say he's draftable."

Shin Won-hyung figured Subin was starstruck.

If Seojun gets drafted? Mind-blowing... but too quiet for that.

Seojun was a nobody domestically. Shock stats in nationals got buzz, but switching to SF tanked volume from center days—buzz died.

Then poof to Serbia. No traces. Basketball forums went silent on him.

Sudden Draft pick? Unimaginable. That'd be front-page news.

"Hope so... but NBA scouts in this backwater? Haha..."

"What? They were here yesterday!"

"Huh?"

"Five for Saric. They must've flipped seeing Seojun hyung smash him. 'Shooting star prospect' vibes."

"Haha... nice!"

Shin Won-hyung shook off worries, smiling. Still skeptical on league level and scouts, but Subin's fire? Enough.

"Right! Grind hard—KBL Draft next year, Subin."

Then his wife, Kim Yun-mi, peeked from the kitchen.

"Subin, where's Seojun? Out late?"

"Dunno. Call him?"

"Yeah. Lunch's ready."

Call dropped. Subin stomped in frustration.

Optional with Jokic and Micic? No way.

"Dad! Heading out!"

"Lunch?!"

"Not now! Back for dinner—have fun with Mom!"

He grabbed clothes and bolted to the gym.

I pocketed my phone and hit the court.

Gym rented out December 23-25 for Christmas break. Just us.

Jokic, Micic, and coach Greg there. I rallied optional training; coach assigned Greg to keep it productive. Core guys—no slacking.

We chatted basketball casually. They saw it as light warm-up; I didn't.

Make it mine, whatever it takes.

Two months observing: Jokic's edges boiled down neat.

Defense? Nothing to steal yet. Future him? Who knows—but now...

Center skills? Useless—bodies too different.

Rest? Three gems: court vision, passing, finishing touch under basket.

Micic aced them too—hence dragging him in.

"Passing? Nothin' special. Just toss it."

Jokic mastered overhead feeds. Height advantage—tough to contest.

Simple is best. Micic differed.

"Lee, what's passing's core?"

"Dunno... passing lanes?"

"Important, yeah—especially PGs. But for your style? Something bigger."

Psych warfare.

"NBA-bound? Nail your triple threat."

Triple threat: stance ready for drive, jumper, pass. Unpredictable.

"Yours telegraphs. Worked yesterday—no film. Next? They'll read you. Drive or shot—they'll react."

"True..."

"Yesterday's catch-and-shoot was extreme, so okay. But jab steps? Tells too."

Fix the stance.

Micic nailed my top fix. Then theory: fingertip finish, eyes, shoulders.

Finally, finishing touch.

Jokic grinned.

"Wanna drill hook shots with me?"