Target Center – Coaches' War Room
June 25, 2016. 12:41 p.m.
The door was closed.
The blinds were drawn.
The voices were sharp.
Inside: Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Player Development Lead, and the GM.
On the screen: footage from that morning's practice.
Elias—blocking, rotating, passing, never speaking.
"He doesn't call switches."
"He doesn't celebrate."
"He doesn't even look at the bench."
The GM leaned forward.
"But he doesn't miss rotations. He doesn't foul. And he doesn't lose his man."
The room went quiet.
The Breakdown
The assistant coach pulled up the metrics.
• Defensive coverage: 100%
• Help-side reaction time: 0.3s
• Pass deflections: 7
• Touches per possession: 1.2
• Points allowed while on court: 0
"He's not playing defense," the player development lead muttered.
"He's deleting offense."
Outside the Door
Elias stood in the hallway.
Not eavesdropping.
Just listening.
He heard every word.
Not with offense.
With clarity.
"We don't know how to use him," the head coach admitted.
"He doesn't fit any of our sets."
"Then maybe we build new ones," the GM said.
"Around him."
Elias closed his eyes.
Not to rest.
To remember.
Memory – Grandfather's Voice
"If they don't know how to use you,
don't shrink to fit.
Stand still—and let them adjust."
The Knock
Elias knocked once.
The room fell silent.
The GM opened the door.
"You need something?"
Elias stepped in.
Looked at the screen.
Then at the coaches.
"I'm not asking for minutes.
I'm asking for matchups."
The head coach blinked.
"You want to guard someone?"
Elias nodded.
"Give me the best scorer in the gym.
If I fail, bench me.
If I don't—
stop trying to fit me into your system."
He turned.
Walked out.
The room stayed silent.