Knicks Vs. Sixers II (Page 199)

~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: October 27th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:12 PM)~~~

Less than three minutes remain in the first quarter, and the score is 28-7 in our favor. I lightly jog down the court with my teammates as we shift to defense. The crowd is staying quiet so their team can focus.

Looking at the Sixers players, it's clear they have no idea what to do to regain momentum. This is one of the games where you can see a team has lost in the first quarter.

Embiid tries to break free from me in the paint but can't lose me. When the ball reaches his hands, I shove my hand in anticipation of where he's put the ball. Knocking it from his hands for the third time this quarter.

Before I can start pursuing the ball, hands shove me in a perpendicular direction. The refs' whistles instantly stop the game as I slide across the ground. Now that I'm resting on my back, I look up and see Brunson and Jericho at the throat of Embiid.

I hold out my hand, and Robinson helps me to my feet. I take a few steps back but can't help the smug grin. It's on my face like a crack on a plumber's ass. It's not the best comparison, but that's how well my satisfaction appears.

"You're really goin' this far?"

The whispering voice of Robinson causes me to look at him for a split second. Seeing the severe edge in my eyes, he understands I'm here to destroy the fake-ass franchise known as The Philadelphia 76ers.

After the tempers settle down, the ball is inbounded to Barrett, and he brings the ball down the court. The foul from Embiid gave us possession.

I stand in the paint next to Embiid. I don't play against him the way he's trying to play against me. He's trying to get free and take a jump shot.

I'm going to destroy him the old-fashioned big-man way.

As the ball is passed to me, pressure is instantly applied. A double team rushes to me with the help of Maxey. Leaving Brunson open in the corner. I bounce pass it hard across the court, and it quickly reaches Brunson.

He takes the corner shot and misses off the brick. But I'm there to eat the boards. Embiid and I go up for it, and we grab the ball. On the way down, I rip it from his grip.

Once landed, I jump up again and slam it in his face. Causing him to fall and allow me to hang there for a second for the camera flickers I'm hearing.

The roar in the arena shakes the body. I let go of the rim and started jogging back on defense. Making the score 30-7 with less than a minute thirty in the first quarter.

I take in the vein-throbbing faces of loyal Sixers fans as they flip me off. All I do is grin. The Sixers begin their offense after inbound and try to get easy shots with screens. Robinson and Jericho are locking down the SF and PF positions.

The only ones to score so far are Maxey and Harris.

Now that we're on offense, I stay for the inbound this time, and I'm given the ball. As I slowly dribble down the court. I look at the group of guys that were flipping me off and cussing at me.

I lift my free hand momentarily and point directly at them.

"This is on you."

After those words leave my lips, I enter a new gear and burst forward with speed. Maxey and Harris try to stop me at the three-point line. But a double spin move to the left and into a sham god makes them both fall.

I elevate with freedom behind the line and sink the shot with perfect precision. The ripping of the net is music to my ears. The crowd is loud and booing. Fans are screaming for the Sixers to do something.

On my way back to defense, I look at the guys again and point at them. So everyone knows who it was that caused me to do that.

The score has now reached an embarrassing 33-7 in favor of us. This game is proving to be a slaughter-fest with no end for the Sixers. This will be my arena when I'm done with it tonight.

Everyone in Philadelphia will have nightmares of me tonight.

~~~(POV: Stephen A. Smith)~~~

~~~(Date: October 27th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:34 PM)~~~

The second quarter ends with misery for the Sixers. Entering halftime with no hope of recovering in the second half of play. The score has become 54-19, with the Sixers looking like they want to go to their beds and forget this day ever happened.

It's almost time for my exclusive interview with UK for halftime. I make my way to the court as the teams exit for the locker rooms.

The ESPN camera faces me as an assistant brings UK to stand beside me. I look like a little kid next to him. We've got ten seconds before the interview starts.

"You ain't got a merciful bone in your body, do ya?"

He gives me a half grin and folds his arms.

"Not for the enemy."

All I can do is look up into the corner of my eyes in exasperation. There is no way a 19-year-old kid has this kind of assassin mentality.

The cameraman gives the countdown, and we go live.

"Stephen A. Smith here. Doing a special field report in the Wells Fargo Center in Philly. UK has demonstrated a masterclass performance in the first half of play. Scoring 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. Collecting 5 steals and 4 blocks along the way."

It's astonishing to me that such a tall player can be built like a machine and move around and have the skillset of an elite guard and big man.

"UK, tell us your approach to giving your team such a monumental lead in the first two quarters of play?"

I move the microphone in his direction. I'm a little nervous since UK has a reputation for unfiltered responses.

"My approach has been killing Embiid at his own position. He's the heart of the Sixer. Break him, break the team."

Sweat has already been falling down my brow since this interview started. However, I can't deny that response made me sweat a little more.

"What did you say earlier in the first quarter that got the crowd so riled up?"

I already know the answer, and anyone who can read lips half decently can figure it out, too. I want to see how far he'll push the envelope.

"This is my fucking house. This court belongs to me. That's exactly what I said."

I can't help the broken chuckle breaking from my lips in the live interview. The microphone falls to my side as I start to laugh. Trying to contain myself. The cameraman instantly cuts the live broadcast.

The assistants and people from ESPN from behind the camera pinch their noses and look astonished.

This kid is gold for the league.

He's getting a fat fine for that.

~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~

~~~(Date: October 27th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Penthouse, Apartment, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:36 PM)~~~

"This is my fucking house. This is my court. That's exactly what I said."

Hannah spits her water as the live interview cuts, with Stephen A. holding back a laugh and breaking out in loud laughter before we're shown a guy behind a desk also trying to hold back laughter.

"Okay, seems like UK hasn't been told what he can and can't say on air."

The ESPN channel changes to a desk with a man sitting behind it. He's bald and has glasses. I don't know who he is.

"Hahahahaha! That's my boyfriend!"

Hannah is tearing up next to me at the words from both Ulysses and the bald guy. I can't help letting out a chuckle that breaks into a laugh, too.

Only he'd do something like that.

Memories of his antics to get into opponents' heads flood my mind. When he was in high school, I remember him using every chance he could get to upset the opposition.

Not to mention people he didn't get along with on his team before he became the leader of it.

"I know for a fact you won't be missing any more games, Ellie. You'll be traveling on that plane with him."

As our laughter stops, she reminds me of my change of plans. I don't want to miss any of his games, home or away. It might be hard to convince the front office to let me travel with the team, but I can try.

What can a mother do other than try to be a part of their kid's life for as long as possible. Ulysses is my son, and I don't want to stay home watching him on TV. My thoughts are taken from me as buzzing from my phone grabs my attention.

It's from someone in the Knicks Organization.

[That's not something the NBA will like. Ulysses could get in trouble for that. Please, when you see him again. Talk with him about language on live TV.]

I sigh as the text message tells me they want my help controlling Ulysses.

Like that's gonna happen.