Chapter 37: 1v1 Against an Old G.O.A.T I
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: September 25th, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:41 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Rucker Park)~~~
I notice a problem, though, LeBron doesn't have any basketball appropriate gear. He's wearing serious swaggy clothes. He's going to have a hard time moving or doing anything. "I'd love to play you one on one, but I don't want to do it if you aren't in playable clothes. I'd feel like I'd have an unfair advantage." I'm wearing sweats right now, but that's much easier to move in that jeans. He shakes his head in a way that he doesn't mind. I guess we're doing this. I head out onto the court with LeBron right behind me.
Everyone sees this, and the arguing for who has next ends. Seeing that it doesn't matter now. "You can have the ball first young blood." He's going to regret giving me the ball first. I stand at the top of the key and check the ball to him. I get a message from the system, but I ignore it.
I'm too focused on this one-on-one to be distracted by a system message. LeBron immediately guards me close. He's much taller than the players I was just playing against, but it's nothing I haven't been up against before. I start pivoting and finding weaknesses in his defense.
There aren't any, and this is the first time I've encountered a player that was as good as a defender as LeBron. None of my attempts are working, so I will use my natural height advantage to get some buckets. I start dribbling to the left with my left hand, and when he reaches for it, I perform a behind-the-back going to the right.
I create just enough space to get a jump shot off from 15 feet. I shoot, and I sink the shot. The crowd is silent and intently watching the match-up. There are some cheers. It was a nice move, after all.
There are many huge fans of LeBron here. All of them probably don't want to see him lose. I'm glad he's retired. When he does lose, it won't hurt his reputation as much. "I'm going to have to take this seriously, aren't I, Youngblood?" I heard that LeBron is a notorious chatterbox. He loves to talk.
Be it trash or just a topic of random obscurity. I nod my head in confirmation. I'm going to 21 to 0 this old goat. I believe in there being multiple greatest of all times. Particularly at each position. I don't believe two players in separate positions should be compared to each other.
They play different roles on a team, after all. We check it back up, and he performs the same flawless defense. I start to pivot and attempt to lull him. However, it doesn't work. He starts to reach into my hands.
Trying to poke the ball out while still staying in front of me. I keep it away, and I find myself being actively challenged. I bring the ball over my head to my right side and dribble out and away from him. He keeps it tight, but my handles are just too good. I push his right side and get past him ever so slightly. I take a tough shot, up it goes in smooth.
That's 4 to 0. We are playing two's and three's to make the game go faster. Many are quiet and watching intently. Everyone has their phones out and is recording. The only voices are from official reporters that are here for ESPN. "Geez, Youngblood. You're not going to let me have the ball once?" He makes a humorous tone come out, and I chuckle as we check the ball.
His son is a rookie in the NBA. So he'll be my senior. Bronny is smaller than his father. Much to his disappointment. He isn't short, though, and he has the shooting touch his father doesn't have.
He locks me back up on defense as we check it, and he's barely letting me pivot. I stretch to my left a bit, and I jump. I take a shoot, and his hand is right below the ball, but I'm just too tall. I hit the shot making the score 7 to 0.
I firmly believe there isn't a single player on the planet that can beat me one on one. I hear Ellie cheer, and I can't help the small blush from appearing. I don't mind it, but it's a little awkward when she's the only one cheering for me. "I'll make the game quick, King James." He shakes his head and chuckles. I follow suit.
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