NBA: Built to Dominate

Georgetown University Basketball Arena

Team training day was alive with anticipation as Coach John Thompson called the team together. With a confident smile, he introduced their newest addition.

"Let me introduce you to Alex Mo," Thompson began, gesturing toward the towering freshman. "He's our newest team member, a freshman—and the only one promoted directly to the regular roster this year."

The room fell silent as the players sized up Alex. At 6'11", with arms that seemed to go on forever, his imposing frame didn't just command attention—it demanded it.

"Oh, so this is the guy who destroyed the freshmen during tryouts?" a voice murmured.

"Yeah, the 'Celestial Monster.'"

"I heard he made a couple of guys quit basketball entirely!"

Laughter rippled through the group, especially from Jerome Williams and Othella Harrington, the team's two inside players.

"Jerome," Othella teased, nudging his teammate, "if you try to guard him, you might end up crying, too."

"Speak for yourself," Jerome shot back. "His arms are longer than your legs!"

The two exchanged jabs, but deep down, both were relieved. After last year's NCAA Championship loss, where Tim Duncan had dismantled them inside, Georgetown desperately needed a dominant big man like Alex.

"Welcome to the team."

Allen Iverson stepped forward, extending a hand to Alex. "I'm Allen. You've probably heard of me. Let's work together and bring home the championship."

Alex shook his hand firmly. "Looking forward to it."

Iverson liked Alex's energy. His confidence wasn't cocky, it was earned. And with Iverson's endorsement, Alex immediately sidestepped the typical freshman hazing.

Two Days Later – North Carolina

The team arrived at the University of North Carolina for a preseason warm-up game.

Walking onto the legendary Dean Smith Center court, the energy in the air was palpable. The stands were packed with fans clad in North Carolina's signature blue and white, their chants echoing throughout the arena.

"Vince! Another dunk!"

"Let's see the windmill!"

All eyes were on a young player wearing North Carolina's No. 15 jersey: Vince Carter.

At just 18 years old, Carter was already a showman. His pregame dunks were a spectacle, ranging from windmills to 360-degree spins and even between-the-legs slams.

"Man, this crowd is eating it up," Jerome muttered, watching Carter perform.

Alex stood at half-court, watching with a neutral expression. "That's cute," he said, loud enough for his teammates to hear.

Jerome snickered. "You gonna show them how it's done?"

Alex cracked a small smile. "You'll see."

A Warm-Up to Remember

Without removing his warm-up jacket, Alex stepped to the centerline and caught a pass from Iverson.

With two measured dribbles, Alex crossed the three-point line. Two more strides brought him to the free-throw line.

And then—he launched.

His long arms swept the ball into a windmill motion, and with a thunderous slam, he drove the ball through the hoop.

BOOM!

The basket shook violently under the force of the dunk, and then—

CRASH!

The backboard shattered, glass raining onto the court.

For a moment, the arena went completely silent. Vince Carter stopped mid-dribble, his eyes wide as he turned to stare at the destruction.

Alex landed lightly, brushing shards of glass off his warm-up jacket as if nothing had happened.

Jerome was the first to break the silence, doubling over in laughter. "Well, I guess that's one way to get their attention!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, a mix of awe and disbelief. Even North Carolina fans couldn't help but applaud.

Setting the Stage

The destruction of the backboard set the tone for the rest of the game. Alex had sent a clear message: Georgetown wasn't here to play, they were here to dominate.

Coach John Thompson clapped Alex on the back. "Great job, Alex. Just remember, the real work starts now."

Alex grinned. "Don't worry, Coach. That was just the warm-up."

The team erupted in laughter, but deep down, they all knew one thing: with Alex Mo on their side, this season was going to be legendary.