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Chapter 5: First game
🕑 Added 2025-04-20 10:44:42 +0000 UTCThere's something about the way the street looks when it's just rained~!"
"Russell, I swear to God, your singing is as bad as your three-pointer." Kevin Durant shot an exasperated look at Russell Westbrook, hoping the latter would put an end to his impromptu concert.
"Hey, Kevin, this is Taylor's new song. As her fan, I must promote it. Besides, I haven't fully adjusted to the NBA three-point line yet." Westbrook took off his headset, defending himself. However, he finally relented and stopped singing.
[NB: Westbrook is a fan of Taylor Swift. You learn something new every day]
"I heard Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma can dunk from the free-throw line. Dude has been making highlight reels every game.'" Jeff Green, wanting to avoid an argument, changed the topic.
"When it comes to dunks, I haven't met my match yet. But Kevin, you could grab a few more rebounds per game. And if you shot the ball the moment I passed it, I'd rack up more assists—giving me a better shot at a triple-double." Westbrook's obsession with triple-doubles went beyond the average player's ambition.
Durant waved him off. "I just wish you'd take fewer reckless shots. But Coach did say this year is about development. So fine, if you pass, I'll shoot. Happy?"
Westbrook dapped him up, conveniently ignoring the first half of Durant's comment.
Since relocating to Oklahoma, the team has rebranded as the Thunder. Their general manager, Sam Presti, was treating the rebuild like a fantasy draft. In 2007, they selected Kevin Durant with the second overall pick and insisted he play like a small forward. They gave him an entire season to adjust to the NBA, even though many believed he should move to the post. But to Presti, playing Durant inside would be a waste of his talent.
Durant had the speed of a guard, the wingspan of a center, and the height to dominate—an ideal blueprint for the NBA's future.
The next year, the Thunder struck again, selecting Russell Westbrook fourth overall. Miami, giddy with their selection of Michael Beasley, and Minnesota, pleased with O.J. Mayo, had let Westbrook fall into Presti's lap. With Westbrook in tow, the Thunder continued their development plan, allowing both him and Durant to gain experience—sometimes at the cost of efficiency. Perhaps this is how their frontcourt developed an uncanny ability to grab offensive rebounds...
Due to their struggles, the Thunder were in a position to secure a high draft pick in 2009. Oklahoma fans, having watched their team acquire two electrifying perimeter players, were eager for the team to add a dominant big man.
That man was Blake Griffin—an Oklahoma native and the NCAA's most dominant player.
Imagining Durant, Westbrook, and Griffin as the core of the Thunder's future was a thrilling prospect.
On this particular night, the NCAA matchup between the University of Oklahoma and Davidson College was set to take place. Coincidentally, the Thunder trio—Durant, Westbrook, and Green—had the night off and decided to attend the game.
Yes, this was the original Thunder "Big Three." Jeff Green, though overshadowed by the other two, was still a key player in Presti's plans. Even though his ceiling wasn't as high as Durant's or Westbrook's, he would go on to have a respectable NBA career.
"Davidson? Isn't that the team with Stephen Curry?" Durant asked, intrigued.
"He's just another J.J. Redick," Westbrook dismissed Curry, uninterested. His focus was on Blake Griffin. He loved explosive athletes, and Griffin fits that mold perfectly. Ironically, in the future, Westbrook would forget that he once underestimated Curry...
Durant, however, was intrigued. He had heard about Curry's NCAA Tournament heroics. Redick had been an elite college shooter, but Curry was doing things even Redick hadn't. With Presti pushing Durant to develop his three-point shot, he was beginning to see the value in long-range shooting.
Green followed along, playing the role of mediator between his two teammates. As they entered the stadium, Thunder fans erupted in cheers for them. But tonight, they weren't the stars of the show.
Among the roaring crowd, Oklahoma's golden boy, Blake Griffin, made his entrance. His chiseled physique and explosive athleticism were impossible to ignore. Reggie Miller, calling the game, remarked that Griffin already looked NBA-ready.
[Image of Blake Griffin]
"Man, he's unreal. I hope we get him next year. Look at that alley-oop in warm-ups! I could average at least five more assists with him on our team." Westbrook exclaimed.
Durant, meanwhile, remained quiet. He wasn't the biggest fan of Westbrook's reckless playing style, but he couldn't deny that Westbrook's scoring outbursts often energized the team.
"Wait, didn't you say Davidson didn't have a big man?" Green asked, noticing a seven-footer warming up on the Wildcats' side.
"An Asian guy?" Durant popped a piece of gum into his mouth.
"Not every Asian is Yao, Kev. Look at him—he's a f##kng stick. Man, I'd be worried about breaking him." Westbrook scoffed.
.................
On the other side of the court, Stephen Curry had just drained 15 consecutive three-pointers in warm-ups. Durant nudged Westbrook. "If only you could shoot half as well as him."
"Oh, c'mon, Kevin. A three-pointer isn't gonna get the crowd hyped like a dunk!" Westbrook protested. Although Curry and Westbrook were about almost the same height, Westbrook looked like a giant in comparison due to his broader frame.
As the game approached tip-off, Lin Yi took a deep breath as he noticed the Thunder trio in the stands. He felt both excited and nervous.
"Lin, aren't you going to take some threes?" Curry asked, jogging up beside him.
"Coach McKillop doesn't want our opponents knowing I can shoot from deep. Don't worry—I already put up an extra fifty in warm-ups." Lin smiled.
Curry nodded, hopeful. As Davidson's leader, he knew this game could impact his draft stock. NBA scouts weren't sold on his athleticism, and his draft projection was still uncertain. Since switching to point guard, he had made strides, but the doubts persisted.
While Curry was fighting for his NBA future, Blake Griffin was here to put on a show for scouts and fans alike.
............
"Blake looks like Davidson added a seven-footer," an Oklahoma assistant coach pointed out.
Griffin glanced at Lin Yi and smirked. "Relax. I could take on ten of him."
Not every big man with light skin is Yao Ming.
