The 2025 NBA Draft.

Minneapolis

Minnesota

USA

“Here we are, son,” said Keon Jordan Sr. “This is where you’ll be at next year!”

Keon Jordan Jr entered the arena and gazed at the lights, cameras, people, and gigantic screens. “Yeah, dad. This is cool!”

Rochelle Jordan entered after her son, smiling. She’d paid quite a lot of money for her family to watch the 2025 NBA draft (1). This was finally a chance for some family bonding. Something which, in Rochelle’s firm opinion, her family lacked. A part of Keon Jr’s childhood had been lost because his parents were playing the games. Only after retirement did the couple finally get a chance to spend time with their son. But, by then, it was too late.

This was an opportunity for Keon Jr to get excited about his future draft, and for his parents to reimburse the nights of their own drafts, and relish the memories.

Keon Sr and Rochelle expected their son to at least be a top 3 pick. Not because of overconfidence, but simply because their son, after just joining the University of Manhattan, had taken the NCAA tournament by storm. They had literally cakewalked into the finals, where Keon Jr once again lost to his old nemesis…

The guy who beat him in a finals game before, Jared McRod.

Keon Jr had inherited the best aspects of both his parents’ games. He had his dad’s incredible footwork, touch under the rim, and post up moves. He also had long arms and could play above the rim, making him deadly in the pick-and-roll. He’d also inherited his mom’s incredible shooting. He was a deadly combination of both his parents. A near-perfect stretch-center (2). But it still wasn’t enough to beat Jared.

Jared McRod, who graduated from Holy Cathedral High School, Atlanta, Georgia. He now attended St. Marks Methodist College in the same city, Atlanta. Jared once again led his team past Keon Jr to win the finals.

“Oh I hate that guy,” grumped Keon.

Jared had turned 19 much before Keon, so he was eligible for the draft. But that wasn’t the reason Keon was here.

He was here because the one guy who was his friend, a guy called Odai Beckham Jr, was also getting drafted tonight.

Keon Sr and Rochelle were pleased to see how the friendship between Keon Jr and Odai Beckham Jr had developed. Odai somehow managed to convince Keon into attending his classes, being nice to his teammates, and limiting the time he spent on video games.

Odai was the only guy who could talk to Keon Jr without getting scoffed at.

He was the only one who could guard Keon Jr 1 on 1. Even if only partially.

*

The 2025 NBA draft class was considered one of the most powerful draft classes in history. They had a wide assortment of players who specialized in different aspects of the game. Any player drafted between one and ten was considered a legitimate star in the making.

Keon Jr was eager to see the players he’d be going up against.

The NBA Commissioner arrived at the podium with a card. The logo of the Baltimore Barrage flashed on every screen.

He was about to declare the first pick, the best player of the draft.

Keon Jr knew that Baltimore didn’t actually get the first pick. They had traded away every role player and every future pick they had to Motor City Hotrods, a team based in Detroit, Michigan, for the first pick.

“With the first pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Baltimore Barrage select-“he read the card. “Jared McRod, from St. Marks Methodist College, Atlanta!”

A loud cheer erupted from the crowd as Jared got up from his table, hugged his family, walked to the stage, wore his Baltimore Barrage draft cap, met the NBA Commissioner, and walked away waving enthusiastically to be interviewed.

“Stop glaring at him, son,” warned Keon Sr.

Keon Jr couldn’t help it. He was thinking about how he’d beat both Deandre Washington and his nemesis Jared McRod in one swoop, now that they were both on the same team.

After five minutes, the commissioner appeared again with another card in his hand. He was going to declare the second overall pick.

“With the second pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Stars select-“he read the card. “Jozef Biely, from Bratislava, Slovakia!”

Jozef went about repeated exactly what Jared McRod had done.

“What the unholy abomination,” breathed Rochelle. “Is that guy?”

Both the father and the son had to agree. Jozef Biely was massive. Even for a basketball player. He looked to be strong and tough as well.

Keon Jr tried searching for a Jozef Biely on Google. He nearly dropped his iPhone in shock.

“7’8!” he said, amazed. “He’s seven-foot-eight!”

The Slovak Lumberjack went off the stage for his media interview.

After the initial shock of seeing Jozef Biely, the Jordan family calmed their nerves, and waited for the third pick. The NBA commissioner once again walked onto the stage.

“With the third pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Houston Spacewalkers select, “ he read the card. “Odai Beckham Jr, from the University of Manhattan!”

“YES!” screamed Keon Jr happily as he watched his friend get up and go about the usual draftee routine. He put on the Houston Spacewalkers draft cap, met the commissioner, and went away.

“Houston got a good one!” said Keon Jr. “he may even end the Spacewalkers Championship Curse!”

After the fourth and fifth picks, Keon Jr lost interest in the draft. He sat there browsing the internet on his iPhone. He looked up just in time to hear another pick.

“With the 29th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Houston Spacewalkers select,” there was a pause as the commissioner read the card. “Chad Brown, from Galveston Tech!”

A small cheer as Chad got up and went about the routine as usual.

“Oh, I’ve heard of him,” said Keon Jr. “Odai seems to really like and respect him. Now they’re teammates!”

“That’s good. They can be a great duo then!” said Rochelle.

Keon Jr shook his head. “They’re both power-forwards. One is going to come off the bench.”

“I see.”

Suddenly, Keon Jr’s iPhone started to ring. He answered the call. “Hello! Odai! Congratulations man! You’ll be great in Houston!”

“Thanks, Keon,” said Odai. “Wow! Chad Brown is my teammate now! That’s weird!”

“That’s nuts!” said Keon Jr.

The two talked for a while. After the conversation, Keon Jr started a live stream on Instagram where he spoke about Odai Beckham Jr in Houston.

“Humph! Instagram! Blasted little app! Wonder which genius created it!” grumped Keon Sr.

“Dear, I’m sleepy,” yawned Rochelle. “Let’s leave, please.”

“Alright,” said Keon Sr. “Hey son! We’re leaving! Come on, hurry up!”

Keon Jr left his seat and walked out of the arena into the city of Minneapolis. They barely paid attention to the fact that the second round of the draft had started. The Deputy Commissioner of the NBA read the card.

“With the 31st pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Houston Spacewalkers select, Kobayashi Ichikawa, from Tokyo, Japan, and Galveston Tech!”

Endnotes.

1. NBA Draft: The NBA draft is an annual event in which the teams from the National Basketball Association (NBA) can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These are typically college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted. The minimum age to get drafted is 19.

2. Stretch-Center: A center who is capable of not only handling the area under the basket but also capable of shooting three-pointers.

Author’s Note

Before I sign off today’s chapter, I’d like to congratulate Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 57 kg category. He’s a real fighter and a never-give-up type athlete! Wishing him much success in whatever is to come!

Alright, guys, it happened. Odai, Kobayashi, and his friend Chad Brown, have finally been drafted into the NBA by the Houston Spacewalkers. Can they end the curse? Let’s find out!

Cheers

~srj5