Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Every seat in the massive arena was filled. The crowd roared like caged lions as the fourth quarter of the Game 7 Finals reached it's peak.

The score stood 118-117 in favor of the New York Nobles. The clock was down to 19.7 seconds.

The L.A. Lions huddled together during the timeout, none of them wanting to give up.

"Kai, it's on you," Coach Ethan said, pointing at the rising star. Even the experienced coach had resigned their fate to the youngest player.

Kai nodded, his heart pounding in his chest.

At 17, he was already one of the most talked-about players in the FBA.

Again, it was his first finals. However, he wanted to show to everyone why he was chosen by Ethan Henderson himself.

"Don't overthink it," his teammate Davis added, clapping him on the back. "Just play your game."

Kai glanced at the scoreboard and then up at the roaring crowd.

Somewhere up there, his family was watching.

As the players took their positions on the court, Kai felt himself enter a new zone.

This was a battlefield.

The Nobles' defense was solid. Kai could feel their eyes on him, ready to shut him down.

The referee blew the whistle. The ball was inbounded to Kai. The crowd's noise blurred as he dribbled down the court, Santiago Marquez, the Nobles' point guard shadowing his every move.

10 seconds.

Kai called for a screen, moving past his teammate and shaking off his defender. The Nobles' center stepped up to block his path, but Kai didn't flinch. He pivoted, faked right, and slipped past him with a spin move so smooth it left the crowd gasping.

5 seconds.

Kai was at the three-point line now, the ring glaring at him.

Julian Barker lunged at him, arms stretched wide, but Kai leapt into the air, cradling the ball. Time seemed to freeze as he soared higher, higher—higher than anyone else.

With a ferocious slam, he dunked the ball, the rim rattling as the buzzer blared.

The arena burst into chears.

The scoreboard flashed: L.A. Lions 119, New York Nobles 118.

They had done it.

Kai stumbled back to the ground, his teammates crashing into him, shouting and cheering as the confetti cannons exploded overhead.

Gold and purple streamers rained down like a storm of glory. Kai stood in the middle of it all, his chest heaving and his hands on his knees. He had done it. They were champions.

The celebration was chaos. Kai was lifted onto his teammates' shoulders, the trophy glittering in his hands as cameras flashed wildly around him.

Reporters swarmed the court, eager for some exclusive statements, but Kai could not focus at all. He was so lost in the moment, feeling like everything was moving too fast.

"YOU'RE A LEGEND, KAI!" someone shouted from the crowd.

He laughed, his smile bright and carefree as he lifted his fist high in the air. The crowd only seemed to get louder at that point.

Then, one moment later, flashes of his career played in his mind like a highlight reel.

At 17, he had entered the FBA as one of the youngest players in league history. People had doubted him then, saying he was too young and inexperienced, but he had proven them wrong time and time again.

At 21, he broke the single-season scoring record. Along with that, he represented his country for the Global Games and won their first ever gold medal.

At 23, he won his first MVP award.

And now, at 25, he was a five-time FBA champion.

The greatest basketball player in the world.

"Kai Guo!"

"Kai Guo!"

Everywhere he went, his name was being called.

"Kai!" another voice called his name. However, this one captured his attention.

He turned to see his family and friends pushing through the crowd. Grandma Bingbing was in tears, waving frantically, while Aiden grinned ear to ear, holding a massive sign that read, "OUR RICH LEGEND, KAI GUO!"

But it was Lina who truly caught his eye.

She stood at the front with serene smile on her face and a baby nestled in her arms.

"Kai," she said softly as she approached him.

He stepped forward, his breath catching in his throat. "Lina… Is that—?"

"You did well," she said, tears glistening in her eyes as she kissed him on the cheek. "You've always done well."

He looked down at the baby, and smiled. This was another victory of his—something that could never be replaced.

"Kai! Kai!"

The crowd continued chanting his name.

"Kai!"

His name jolted him awake.

His eyes fluttered open, the bright sunlight streaming through the airplane window momentarily blinding him. He blinked, disoriented, with his heart still racing.

"Mr. Kai?"

He turned to see the flight attendant smiling politely. "We've landed. Welcome to the U.S.A., sir."

For a moment, he didn't move. His dream still lingered in his mind. It felt so… real. Even now, when he closed his eyes, he could still feel the trophy, his family's presence, and the baby that was in Lina's arms!

He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. "Right. Thank you," he said, standing from his seat and grabbing his bag, still feeling a little bit dazed.

Kai was the last to leave the plane.

As he stepped off, his heart pounded in his chest—not with fear, but with anticipation.

The dream had been just that. A dream.

But now, standing on the threshold of a new chapter, he realized something.

Dreams didn't stay dreams unless you let them.

He looked up at the blue sky, a small smile playing on his lips. If he could imagine it, if he could dream it, then he could make it real.

Kai tightened his grip on his bag and took his first step into the world that awaited him.

"A dream, no matter how impossible it seems, is only the beginning. If you can do it once, you can do it all again. Make your dreams a reality—again and again."