The arena didn't feel like a battleground. Not yet.
Preseason crowds were thinner. No fireworks. Just overhead lights, squeaky sneakers, and the low hum of scouts and season ticket holders muttering over overpriced nachos.
Zoran sat at the end of the bench, hoodie on, earbuds in. Not for music—he wasn't playing anything. He just wanted the noise to stay outside.
Tonight wasn't about hype.
It was about proving he could keep things steady when the game started moving fast.
[System Online – Game Mode: Passive]Performance tracking begins upon entry.Objective: Execute high-efficiency rotations and maintain offensive flow.Coach priority: Minimize mistakes, stabilize tempo, read the floor.
He watched the game unfold like a film he'd seen a dozen times.
The Mavericks were running without half their core. Klay was on a minutes cap. Davis suited up but stayed on the bench. Dinwiddie ran the offense, Martin and Christie rotated through the wings. The pace was uneven. Fast one trip, stalled the next. Spacing broke down twice in a row, and the ball started sticking.
Zoran leaned forward, elbows on knees.
The Clippers had two guards fighting for roster spots. One of them was quick but erratic—a volume scorer who missed weak side rotations. The other was stronger but slower laterally. Zoran had studied them both.
He wasn't the fastest guy on the floor. But he didn't need to be.
He needed to be right.
Second quarter, six minutes in. Down by four.
Coach Kidd pointed down the bench. "Vukic. You're in."
Zoran stood. No excitement in his face. Just focus.
He stripped off his warm-up and stepped into the game without a single extra motion.
First possession, he didn't touch the ball.
He just moved.
Filled the weak side gap. Stayed two feet above the break. When the drive came from Dinwiddie, the help rotated late, and Zoran was exactly where the next pass needed to go.
He caught. Didn't rush. One hard dribble, side-step. Pass to the corner.
Extra swing.
Three points.
Didn't show on the stat sheet. But the bench noticed.
Next possession, Clippers ran a double drag.
Zoran didn't chase. He pre-switched. Called it mid-possession. Stole the passing lane clean.
Breakaway? No.
He slowed, waited for a cutter, dished a no-look behind him to Marshall for the layup.
Simple. Fast. Clean.
[System Update]Defensive Recognition: 98%Passing Decision Time: 1.1 secondsImpact Rating: +6 (Per 100 Possessions)
No adrenaline rush.
Just confirmation.
He belonged.
Midway through the second, the Mavericks went to a five-out set. Zoran ran the show.
He didn't force shots. He didn't over-dribble. He called motion, waited for the switch, dragged the defense with a slow curl, then hit the roller in stride for a floater.
He made the offense breathe again.
The bench stopped shuffling.
The second unit held the lead until the starters came back in.
By the half, Zoran had:
4 points (2-3 FG)
3 assists
1 steal
Zero turnovers
A +9 on-court rating
No highlight plays.
Just rhythm.
In the locker room, Kidd said very little. He pointed at Zoran, then nodded once.
"Ball doesn't stick with you. That's why you're here."
Zoran said nothing. Just sipped water and sat back.
The others around him—vets, rookies, two-way guys—gave him space now. Not out of awe. Out of acknowledgment.
He wasn't noise.
He was structure.
[System Update – Trait Level Increased]"Quick Study" now tracks in-game synergy per teammate.→ Christie: High pace chemistry.→ Martin: Strong off-ball cutter sync.→ Dinwiddie: Moderate tempo link.→ Davis (projected): Unknown.
Next Goal: Sustain impact in 3 games to unlock "Tempo Control" – affects team pacing through floor reads and early adjustments.
Zoran leaned back, closing his eyes.
The court wasn't overwhelming.
It was information.
And as long as he kept reading, he knew he'd stay on the floor.