The NBA's Twilight Star System

"Gentlemen, what we're facing next is a true battle. The University of Kansas is a tough opponent, so don't underestimate them," Coach Calipari said sternly.

Jay tightened his shoelaces, adjusted his wristbands, and prepared to take the court.

This was the NCAA round of 64, with Kentucky facing Kansas. As the coach had pointed out, Kansas was no pushover, with a history of producing exceptional players.

Currently, their star player was none other than Joel Embiid, the famous "Trust the Process."

The game tipped off, and Kansas secured the first possession, immediately feeding Embiid for a powerful inside play.

On the ensuing possession, Jay brought the ball up the court, standing at the top of the arc and theatrically directing traffic.

Suddenly, he fired off an unexpected three-pointer. It went in! While Jay's three-point shooting wasn't strong enough to be his primary weapon, it served as a useful distraction to create space for Randle.

Back on defense, Embiid received the ball again and tried to dominate inside. But Kentucky's center rejected him with a block.

"Jay, run!" Randle shouted, grabbing the rebound and launching a pass down the court.

Jay was already sprinting past half-court. Catching the ball in stride, he finished with a swift layup.

Kansas responded with a well-executed play, their small forward using a screen to sink a three-pointer.

On the next possession, Kentucky ran their practiced play, clearing space for Randle. Once he had the ball, Randle went to work with his signature move: bump, bump, bump. A spin at the basket, and the ball was in.

The game went back and forth for several possessions until Kansas called a timeout.

Coach Calipari subbed Jay out, planning to have him lead the second unit.

A good point guard could change the dynamic of an entire team. Much like how the Nets transformed with and without Jason Kidd, Kentucky's roster needed a playmaker to orchestrate the offense.

Jay's role with the second unit wasn't just about keeping the score close—it was also an opportunity for him to score more points.

When Jay returned to the court, the score was 25–27, with Kentucky trailing by two.

Leading the second unit was relatively easy for Jay. As a starter, he had both the ball and command of the offense. This time, he didn't have to defer to Randle.

Using a screen, Jay drove into the paint, drawing the help defense. With a no-look bounce pass, he found an open teammate on the perimeter.

The shooter took a moment to set up before calmly draining the shot. Pointing to Jay, he acknowledged the great assist.

On the next defensive play, Kentucky forced a stop and quickly transitioned into a fast break. Jay sent a long pass down the court, leading to an effortless dunk by his teammate.

"Where did this kid come from? Wasn't he supposed to be some soft bench player? How is his passing so good?" the Kansas coach muttered, concerned.

"Uh… maybe Kentucky's secret weapon?" his assistant coach replied with a pained expression. You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? This kid barely played 10 minutes per game in the regular season, and now he's a starter?

Unaware that he'd already caught the attention of Kansas's coaching staff, Jay continued to shine, helping the second unit widen the lead. Once his job was done, Coach Calipari subbed him out.

In the end, Kentucky, led by Randle's starters and Jay's second unit, secured a victory and advanced to the round of 32.

Jay finished the game with 12 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds in 28 minutes. However, his stamina issues flared up again, leaving him frustrated.

"Jay, great performance out there. But the next game will be even tougher. Be ready," Coach Calipari said with a smile.

"Got it, Coach," Jay replied, smiling back. Earning the coach's trust meant more playing time, but he still couldn't figure out how to improve his stamina.

Feeling both happy and frustrated, Jay returned to his apartment.

Looking at the upcoming round of 32 matchups, Jay saw that Kentucky would face Wichita State.

He wracked his brain as a lifelong basketball fan but couldn't recall any notable players from Wichita State.

"Eh, whatever. We'll play how we play. Randle's the star, after all. If the sky falls, the tall guys will hold it up. I'm just a new starter—no one's going to pay attention to me," Jay muttered, giving up on overthinking.

Unbeknownst to him, Wichita State's coach had already taken note of him. After all, a "secret weapon" only worked once. By the second game, opponents would be ready.

This was why Coach Calipari had warned Jay about the tougher road ahead. In today's information age, nothing stays hidden for long. And as the team's engine, Jay was bound to be targeted.

Unfortunately, Jay was still too inexperienced. As a casual fan in his previous life, he lacked the professional awareness and preparation needed for these situations.

During the round of 32, the game was marked by intense physical play. Jay, however, sat on the bench, sulking as he glared at Wichita State's coach.

"That old man… What a jerk," Jay muttered under his breath.

Wichita State's coaching staff had identified Jay as a key player. While his impact was undeniable, his weaknesses—stamina and lack of physicality—were just as apparent. The plan? Turn up the intensity and wear him out.

As a result, Jay found himself benched early. Still, Kentucky narrowly won 78–76, advancing to the Sweet 16.

Jay's performance in this game was disappointing: 15 minutes, 8 points, and 2 assists. Whenever he had the ball, Wichita State's defenders smothered him with physical pressure, disrupting his rhythm.

His two three-pointers and perfect free throws accounted for all of his points.

"Jay, stop by my office tomorrow," Coach Calipari said after the game. The coach saw potential in Jay but knew he needed guidance.

"Got it, Coach," Jay replied.

Back home, Jay opened his system and saw that he had almost fully integrated Ray Allen's abilities. Comforted by the thought of drawing a new template soon, he finally fell asleep.