Target for Destruction.

New York City

New York

USA

Keon Jordan Jr was tired of waiting.

He stood in front of his house, shuffling, shifting and growing impatient. His father’s friend and ex-teammate, Robert Carole, had promised to take the promising young center to an NBA game, where he claimed that Keon would learn a lot about the style of play and pace of the NBA.

But Keon was interested in something else.

He was only in this because Robert had promised to show him what a real franchise player looked like.

After an agonizing twenty minute wait, Robert pulled up in his car. “Sorry, kid. I’m late!”

Keon grunted. “Are we going to be late for the game as well?”

“No kid, we’ll get there on time,” said Robert. “The cops and the judges in the court are going to have a field day with me!” he grumped.

After a drive that seemed like one of Keon’ Need for Speed video games, the car pulled up in the stadium. Rob and Keon entered the arena and went to the seats that had been reserved for them.

“Kid, watch the game closely. Observe anything and everything. On the way home, I want to hear what you observed and what your takeaways are from this game.”

“Yes, Mr. Carole.”

Robert Carole smiled. “Call me Rob.”

*

BALTIMORE BARRAGE V/S NEW YORK SKYSCRAPERS

The announcer set out to announce the starting line-ups (1) for the game. He went with the visiting team, Baltimore, first.

“Guard, 6’3, number 2, Stanley Smith!”

Stanley Smith, one of the best point-guards in the league, ran out of the team huddle, waving at the crowd.

“Guard, 6’4, number 42, DeMar Anthony!”

Keon couldn’t help but think how many rumors were being floated around about DeMar Anthony. They all went along these lines: Baltimore was going to waive him, and then, the man would retire from basketball.

“Center, 7’2, number 72, Deandre Washington!”

Keon had heard many things about Deandre Washington. Mostly bad things. Many sources had called him a bully and a dirty player. Others had claimed that he and Stanley Smith spent a lot of time recruiting star players from other teams. They would manipulate the player into leaving his original team and join him to win a championship. Their latest acquisition would be playing today. And their next target, apparently, was the star player of the Skyscrapers, Petar Varga.

“It’s not fair,” thought Keon. “A team spends their time and money grooming a new player only for these guys to come and take them away!”

“Forward, 6’10, number 7, Patrick Gridner!”

“Ah yes,” thought Keon. “Another guy about to get waived.”

But then.

“Forward, 6’8, number 46, Josh Okongo!”

The latest acquisition of Stanley Smith and Deandre Washington ran onto the court, high-fiving his teammates and smiling.

Keon instantly felt it.

His hairs stood on end and a bead of sweat trickled down his face. The guy’s talent gave off heat like a raging hellfire. The inferno seemed to spread even to the audience and the opponents. They instantly knew their chances of winning were nil. His team seemed so inspired by him, they went at their routines with twice the gusto.

Rob sensed it too, he turned to Keon.

“That, kid, is a franchise player!”

*

Josh Okongo really lived up to all the hype.

His game was so effortless, Keon felt he could stare at it all day. The way he moved, dribbled, passed and shot was a treat to behold. He was so strong, he bumped off multiple defenders and scored over them while they tried to foul him. He was also so nifty, he slipped through the defenses and scored without any difficulty at all.

More than anything, his teammates were so inspired by his game that they too, performed their best. Each of their level seemed to be raised by his presence on the team.

Josh threw up a high pass to Deandre Washington, who dunked it over the heads of the helpless defenders. Then, he stared them down and started talking.

“Go back to your mom’s crib, you clowns! You all don’t belong in the NBA!”

The defenders were so offended by Deandre’s comments that they squared up and started throwing punches at him. The referees quickly dispersed the combatants and ejected the men. They handed Deandre Washington a technical foul but allowed him to stay on in the game.

As the game went on, it became clear that Deandre Washington was a dirty player, to put it mildly. He elbowed, pushed, and threw his arms at the defenders. He threw his legs and knees at any offensive player. He set illegal screens on players and got them hurt.

“IS THE REF BLIND?” yelled Keon. “THAT WAS A FOUL! THE GUY IS BLEEDING!”

The trio of Josh Okongo, Stanley Smith, and Deandre Washington absolutely dominated the game.

Baltimore won 130-57 against New York.

Petar Varga kicked a chair in frustration as he left the court.

*

“So, did you find your answer, kid?”

“Yes, sir. I did.”

“Really? So what makes a franchise player?”

“Impact on the team,” said Keon confidently. “He motivated his team to do better. He gave them speeches mid-game to boost morale. Everyone likes being around him. They look up to him.”

“Good, kid. You think you can be that guy?” asked Rob.

“No.”

“Huh, why?”

“Forgive me, Rob. But giving speeches and boosting morale isn’t my style. I prefer to speak with action, not words,” said Keon.

“Communication is key,” said Rob. “But it’s okay to speak though action and not words. But a franchise player is the guy that speaks with action and words. That’s what makes him the guy!”

“Agreed, sir.”

“So any other takeaways from the game?”

“Yes, sir. I thoroughly dislike Deandre Washington!”

“What? Why? He put up 20 points and 11 rebounds!”

“His attitude, sir,” said Keon. “Sure, he’s an amazing basketball player. But he’s a poor sportsman. Trash talking is okay, sir. Even I talk trash sometimes. But I never, ever, aim to injure my opponent. He was throwing attacks at them all game! I want to send them home, not to a hospital!”

“Hmm,” said Rob.

“Once I enter the NBA, I’m going to destroy Deandre Washington, sir!”

“What?”

“Yes, sir. I’m going to join whoever my franchise player is, and bring that arrogant beanpole to his knees!”

At that moment, Deandre Washington, while getting drunk with his teammates, was absolutely oblivious to the fact that one of the most talented players of his generation had marked him as his target.

For destruction.

Endnotes.

1. Starting Line-up or Starting Five: An NBA starting line-up is composed of five players, usually going with a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. These positions make up a standard starting line-up that a team will decide before a game tips off.

Author’s Note

I’d like to congratulate Indian badminton player PV Sindhu for winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Keep up the good work! You deserve it, queen!

Cheers

~srj5