November 2nd, 2024 — Dallas, TX
Zoran woke up in his new apartment with the city still half-asleep outside his window.
It was quiet. Not the kind of silence that meant peace—but the kind that hinted at something brewing underneath. The Mavericks were 4–0. Undefeated on the surface, but only barely. And he could feel it. Cracks forming beneath the veneer.
The Heat game had earned him a nod from Kyrie. A few extra mentions on ESPN. He even saw a YouTube video titled "Is Zoran Vranes the Steal of the Year?" with 120k views. But now? Now the cameras turned their lenses inward.
The Mavericks' internal rhythm was off.
Anthony Davis was still rehabbing, Kyrie still sitting out, and Gafford wasn't due back for another week. With each win, expectations grew heavier—not lighter. And Zoran's minutes didn't just increase—they became defining.
But now the veterans were starting to notice. Not in a friendly way.
At Practice
"Hey, rook." Spencer Dinwiddie's voice cut through the air like a knife. "You gonna call for the ball next time or just do your own thing?"
Zoran didn't even look at him. "Was the shot bad?"
"It went in," Dinwiddie said, wiping sweat off his face with his forearm. "Doesn't mean it was the right play."
Zoran nodded. "I'll think about that. You think about rotating on defense."
Max Christie smirked behind him, but said nothing.
Coach Kidd had noticed the tension. So had the assistants. But no one stepped in. The veterans were circling, and Zoran was starting to feel it.
SYSTEM PULSE
> SYSTEM"Emotional Adversity Detected: Locker Room Tension"Mental Resilience Check Passed.Temporary Buff: Focus Under Fire (24h) – Slight stat increase when teammates are frustrated.
He stayed after practice. Alone. Lights low. Just him and the ball, like it used to be.
No talking. No complaining.
Only shots.
Catch. Breathe. Fire.
Again.
Again.
Later That Night — Zoran's Apartment
The system reappeared while he ate cold rice and eggs off a chipped plate.
> SYSTEM"Efficiency Review – Past 4 Games"PTS: 14.8 | AST: 5.0 | REB: 4.2 | STL: 1.7 | FG: 56% | 3PT: 42%+ TEAM +/- AVG: +8.3
Projected Contract Interest: 5 TeamsHigh Interest: Utah, TorontoModerate Interest: Orlando, San Antonio, MemphisDallas Renewal Interest: Unclear
He stared at that last line for a long time.
Unclear.
He was delivering wins. Keeping things afloat. But with so many veterans nearing return, his spot wasn't guaranteed.
And that was the problem.
If Dallas didn't offer him a second 10-day, or a full-year deal… Would he even want one?
He'd gotten used to their system. Liked the staff. Liked the challenge. But he wasn't going to beg. That wasn't him.
He didn't say it out loud. But he thought it:
"If they don't see it, someone else will."
Next Morning — Film Room
"Zoran," Coach Kidd said, not looking up from the tablet, "your on-ball defense is elite. But some guys are feeling boxed out. Talk to them."
"I'm here to win," Zoran replied. "If they got a problem with that, they're playing the wrong sport."
Kidd raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Kyrie sat in the back, hoodie up, silent.
As Zoran walked past, Kyrie leaned in. "Pressure makes diamonds. Or cracks."
"I'm not made of glass," Zoran said.
Kyrie smiled. "Good. 'Cause I'm not passing the torch to just anyone."