Starting Five

Six Months Later

Houston

Texas

USA

A few months had passed since the 2027-28 NBA season had begun. As usual, Baltimore was winning game after game. The San Antonio Rodeo were the best team in the Western Conference, followed by the Las Vegas Decks. The Los Angeles stars had just lost the third spot to Sacramento due to injuries.

But, the race for the playoffs wasn’t over.

The last spot, the 8th seed, was still open to contending teams.

The suspended players of the Houston Spacewalkers had returned one by one after their tenures of punishment. Danny Reynolds had been the first one to return, and had helped his team win a few games. But he alone wasn’t enough to make his team a legitimate threat. After Dan, Kobayashi Ichikawa returned from his suspension. With the two, Houston managed to win a few more games, but it still wasn’t enough.

Then, Odai Beckham Jr made his return. The presence of a lob threat and a slashing expert (1) suddenly bolstered the team’s strength. They won a few more games before other teams got used to it, causing them to lose a few games.

The last of the suspended players, Keon Jordan Jr, made his comeback after months. Then, Houston went on a winning spree that nobody would’ve ever imagined. Despite the opponents figuring out Keon’s tactics, they were still helpless against his sheer talent.

But, the Spacewalkers had lost too many games. They now had to win at least one out of their two last regular season games. Unfortunately, they lost by a mammoth margin to their old nemesis, the Baltimore Barrage. This now meant that they had to win their last game against Arlington in order to make the 8th seed of the playoffs.

The situation couldn’t be more perfect.

Their franchise player was set to return.

*

Lokesh Kumar couldn’t wait to see how his teammates had improved.

As per Coach Steven Walker, each and every member had spent hours of time to improve their individual skills. Lokesh couldn’t wait to see the results.

His knee had healed nicely. He didn’t need the metal brace anymore. He’d gotten his legs back and was able to move about like usual. But his two major improvements were his mental health, and something else.

He grinned embarrassedly as he remembered. Back in Mumbai, he’d told Neha Srinivas that he intended to return to the NBA, and win the championship. He told her about Dan, Odai, Keon, Kobayashi, Steven, Marcello Rodriguez, and everyone. Neha couldn’t believe how many people this guy knew, and such wonderful people at that. She’d agreed to be his friend again.

During one such meeting, Neha and Lokesh had gotten into a small argument about whether a guy and a girl could just remain friends. A random, pointless, argument.

“There are enough opposite-gender best friends!” said Neha.

“That’s not possible!” argued Lokesh.

“Why not?”

“For example, take us! I may grow interested in you some day, and ask you out!”

Silence.

“You’d ask me out?” said Neha.

“No! Not like that! But…”

“Are you asking me out?” teased Neha, a mischievous flint in her dark eyes.

“It’s not like that!”

“You know, I can’t help but think. This is the worst way I’ve been asked out in my life!”

“I didn’t…”

“Even worse than a guy who once asked me out like, ‘Do you like Star Wars? Because Yoda only one for me!’”

Lokesh frowned. “Someone actually said that?”

Neha laughed. “Stupid Alien!”

Lokesh grinned sheepishly.

“Seven-o-clock, in front of my place. Wear something nice, and don’t be late!” said Neha.

*

After taking Neha out a couple of times, Lokesh’s physiotherapist had confirmed to him that his knee had fully healed. Lokesh had grimly told Neha that he wouldn’t be taking her out much after that, because he had to get back to playing basketball again. His teammates were using their suspensions as an opportunity and were improving their skills. Lokesh had to do the same. He promised Neha that if he succeeded as an NBA player, he would support her desire to pursue neuroscience, financially, and mentally.

Neha couldn’t refuse.

So, finally, a much happier Lokesh arrived at Houston. He couldn’t believe that he had intended to leave the NBA, and his team. He was happy that he’d decided against it, because when he entered the arena, he finally felt he was home.

Lokesh’s arrival was met with a roar of delight and a rush of jubilation. His teammates crowded around their franchise player excitedly, ecstatic at his return.

“Welcome back, kid,” said Danny Reynolds happily, looking up at Lokesh.

Wait…looking up?

With a rush of surprise, and then absolute elation Dan figured out what had happened in the time he was away.

 “If you want something, put in ninety percent of the work yourself. The rest, the almighty will provide!” Lokesh's mother, Sujata, had said.

Lokesh had put his blood, sweat, tears, and very soul into the game, the almighty finally had to relent.

Lokesh's uncles, who stood at 6'2 and 6'3, despite making his life miserable, had finally helped him in other ways.

“He’s huge,” thought Dan.

He wasn’t wrong.

A massive late growth spurt had propelled Lokesh Kumar to 6 feet and 6 inches (198 centimeters) in height.

Not just that, Lokesh had added multiple pounds of muscle to his gleaming, ripped frame. “He’s so jacked!” thought his team.

Lokesh now had the right height and build for a small forward.

*

“Hope you all have improved as well!” said Lokesh excitedly.

Some of the progress was visible instantly. Keon Jordan Jr and Odai Beckham Jr had been hitting the gym too, apparently. They were now packing solid, muscular frames. Kobayashi Ichikawa had bulked up slightly too. But, Lokesh knew that he would be seeing most of the progress on the basketball court.

“One! Two! Three!” he called.

“END THE CURSE!” the team screamed, more motivated by ever.

“So, we just have to beat Arlington, right? Then we make the playoffs.”

“That’s right.”

“I see.”

“Hello, excuse me,” said Steven Walker.

“Hey, coach,” said Lokesh.

“You’re forgetting your punishment, Lokesh,” Steven teased. “Ten three pointers. From the door.”

Lokesh grinned. “Yes, sir.”

The day went smoothly. The team caught up with each other, their roster finally fully present. But, somewhere near the end of practice, the players wanted to talk to Danny Reynolds.

“What’s up, guys?” he asked.

Two men stepped forward. One was Zaire Roberts, the team’s starting point-guard. The other man was Don Ababio, a Ghanaian small forward and the team’s starting small forward as well.

“Dan,” said Don Ababio. “I’d like to humbly make a request. I want Lokesh Kumar to start the game instead of me!”

“Same here, sir,” said Zaire Roberts. “I want Kobayashi Ichikawa to start the game ahead of me!”

“But why?” said Dan, very puzzled. “Why would you want to give up your starting spots to someone else? Two youngsters, at that.”

“Sir, this isn’t about us, it’s about the team. This change would be beneficial for the team. It allows us to have our best five players as starters!”

“Do you know why Kumar and Ichikawa are coming off the bench, guys?”

“It’s because you’re scared they’ll turn arrogant. Am I right?” asked Kerubo Kimathi, a center from Kenya.

Dan blanched. “How did you…”

“Why else would you keep two guys with superstar potential on the bench?” asked Chad Brown, another youngster.

“Dan, we believe in Lokesh and Kobayashi,” said Lorenzo Marino, a power-forward from Italy.

“Lokesh is a man who’s firmly grounded to his roots,” said Mike McCarter, a shooting-guard.

“So is Kobayashi,” added Kurt Solomon, another shooting-guard.

“They’ll never, ever, turn arrogant, Dan,” said Kerubo Kimathi.

“For the sake of the team, these guys should start!” said Zaire Roberts.

“Lokesh is a guy who is a certified franchise player,” said Don Ababio. “I’m happy that he’ll be getting my starting spot!”

With that, they turned around and left, pleased with their efforts. Dan was stunned. He took a deep breath.

“This team is lucky, guys,” he said.

“Not many teams have players who are as selfless as you guys!”

One of the deadliest starting line-ups in NBA history was born.

Endnotes

1. Slasher: A slasher is a basketball player who primarily drives to the basket when on offense. They are typically a guard, but can also be a forward. A slasher is a fast and athletic player who attempts to get close to the basket for a layup, dunk or teardrop shot.