Chapter 50:

Dan's Story

64


Fifteen Years Ago

Seattle

Washington

USA

“With the 60th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the Tallahassee Cascades select, Ernesto Ramirez, from Buenos Aires, Argentina!” announced the deputy commissioner of the NBA, wrapping up that year’s draft”

A young Danny Reynolds held his face in his hands and cried.

Nobody had picked him.

Danny Reynolds had gone undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft.

“Why?” he sobbed. “Nobody even took a chance on me!”

A door opened and his girlfriend, Eva Williams, walked out. She had a grim expression on her face. “What happened, Dan?”

“Nobody,” he said. “Nobody drafted me! I’m undrafted!”

“Oh, Dan. It’ll work out,” she said reassuringly. “You’re an amazing shooter! I’ve never seen you miss!”

He squeezed her hand. He didn’t know how to thank her.

“I have some news for you, Dan,” she said.

“What is it?”

She breathed. “I’m pregnant. With your second child!”

“What?”

“I’m not kidding.”

He squeezed her hand tighter. “That’s wonderful, Eva!”

“We’re having our second child, and you haven’t made the NBA yet, Dan. My job can only earn us so much. We need an NBA contract!”

“Eva,” he said. “You’ve stuck with me for all this time. Trust me now. I’ll make something happen!"

“I know you will.”

“Will you marry me, Eva?”

“What?”

“You’ve always been by my side. You’re with me even after I went undrafted. I can’t help but think, that you’re the only one for me!” said Dan.

“Took you long enough,” replied Eva.

“What?”

“Yes, silly!” she giggled. ”I’ll marry you!”

*

After the wedding, Dan was all motivated and fired up. He wanted a better life for his kids. He started working harder and harder at the gym. Soon, his efforts were rewarded. He was offered a contract by the Oakland Knights. This team desperately needed a sharpshooter, and Danny was their guy.

Danny made an impact instantly. He never seemed to miss! His shooting took Oakland all the way to the playoffs.

Then, it went wrong.

It was an elimination game. Oakland was down by two points. Danny Reynolds received a pass and took a three pointer.

THUNK.

The shot hit the rim and bounced off, as the entire Oakland team collapsed to their knees.

“NOOOOOO!” yelled Danny Reynolds.

But to no avail.

Oakland had been eliminated.

A few weeks later, Danny Reynolds was waived by the Oakland Knights.

For he had failed.

*

After his brief stint in Oakland, and with much encouragement from Eva, Danny resumed his efforts. He worked out for more hours at the gym, and even adapted a new diet. Once again, his skills as a shooter were in demand. He was offered another contract by the Las Vegas Decks.

For a few years, Dan adapted well to his role. But, he never managed to take his team to a championship level. Las Vegas soon signed a player called Lewis Ronald, who would go on to become their franchise player.

Danny was waived by the Las Vegas Decks.

“But why?” he asked. “I shot over 40% from three point range!”

“Your three point shooting stood out,” admitted the GM of the Decks. “But, so did your abysmal defense!”

“My entire game is centered on shooting!” argued Dan.

But to no avail.

He had failed.

Again.

*

Eva was really a wonderful woman. Despite his failures, she never, ever, left his side. Dan was unable to land an NBA contract for a year. He then signed with an NBA G-League team called Tacoma Tridents. Despite making a meagre salary, he still managed to clothe, feed, and shelter his family.

But a poisonous weed had emerged.

Dan was a well-connected player in the NBA. The partners of those many players would often boast about their lovers and their many championships. They would attend championship parties and parades. They would celebrate day and night with their NBA player partners.

Eva wanted to be there too.

But she couldn’t.

Dan was always either working out at the gym or trying to get a new contract. He never had time for his wife. His efforts never bore fruit, either.

He had failed as a husband.

As for his kids, Alice and Benjamin, they never saw much of their father. All they heard of after years of him being in the NBA was how he was a dressing room cancer and a failed basketball player. He could never make time for them.

He had failed as a father.

The name “Cancer Reynolds” was born.

He had failed as a basketball player.

*

Finally, the last straw came.

Dan was offered an NBA contract by the New York Skyscrapers. But, as soon as something good happened, a free agent by the name of Petar Varga signed with them. He was also a shooting guard, and a much better one. This man would play a few seasons for New York and then ditch them to go to Baltimore.

For a championship.

With Petar’s arrival, New York no longer needed another shooting guard.

Dan was waived by the New York Skyscrapers.

Without playing a single game.

Dan had failed.

Yet again.

“No, Eva! Please, don’t leave me!” yelled Dan as his wife packed her things. It was a rainy night. She had put her children in a car.

She was leaving him.

“I’m tired, Dan,” she said hurriedly. “I see my friends and their husbands winning championships! They party, drink, and celebrate their wins! I want to be there too!”

“I want a championship too!” said Dan. “Listen, Eva, be patient. It’ll work!”

“When?”

Dan couldn’t answer.

As Eva left, she started to cry as well. She had been with Dan for years. She wanted to be patient. She wanted to wait.

She couldn’t.

She vowed she would never love another man. Dan was the only one for her. She so badly wanted him back.

But she couldn’t have him.

Not yet.

Dan collapsed on his doorstep, bawling loudly. The light of his life had left him. His kids had left him. He had no wins, no respect, and now, no family.

He had failed in life.

After Eva left, Dan received a contract from the Baltimore Barrage, from where he was waived again as Stanley Smith and Deandre Washington didn’t want him there. That was the starting point of his journey from Baltimore to Miami to Houston.

That’s where he was now.

A failure.

*

Houston

Texas

USA

“So you see, kid?” said Dan to Lokesh Kumar. “I’m a serial disaster! A walking failure! But I still do my work and never, ever, give up. You know why?”

Lokesh didn’t answer.

“Because, even if I give it my all, maybe I’ll never win a championship! Maybe I’ll be a failure forever!”

But, if I do give up, I guarantee you, I’ll never win a championship. I’ll never be called a success. That, is the ultimate truth.”

“Agreed,” said Lokesh.

“So, what are you going to do, kid?” asked Dan.

“Can you hold out until I return?” asked Lokesh.

Karan grinned widely, and Dan sighed in relief.

“Yes, kid.”

“Good,” said Lokesh. “Be prepared, Dan. When I return, we’re going to win your wife back!”

*

Odai Beckham Jr walked up to Dan. “Hey,” he said. “I need a favor.”

“Tell me,” said Dan.

“I want to learn how to shoot.”

“What?”

“I’m afraid of shooting the ball,” said Odai. “I can’t even shoot free throws! But you’re the best shooter on the team! Please help me out!”

“On one condition,” said Dan.

“What?” said Odai worriedly.

Dan smiled. “Teach me how to play defense!”

*

Keon Jordan Jr’s phone rang. He lifted the call. “Hello?”

“Hello? Keon?” said Kobayashi Ichikawa.

“What’s up?”

“Teach me some of your footwork,” asked Kobayashi. “I can be a better point-guard.”

“Any day, bro,” said Keon. “In return, mind teaching me some of your handles and shooting?”

“Any day, bro!”

*

On that day, the five players took an oath.

“We’ll put in the work, and we’ll never give up!”

Because, when we come back, we’ll come back much stronger! We’ll be unrecognizable!”