The NBA's Twilight Star System

Kentucky successfully advanced to the Final Four, leaving Coach Calipari suddenly overwhelmed with work. Previously, the mindset had been "do our best and see how far we get," but now that they had made it this far, the championship was within reach.

No team makes it to the Final Four without aspirations of taking the title. Coach Calipari was now meticulously studying Wisconsin, their next opponent, determined to capitalize on even the slightest chance of victory.

In the semifinals, Kentucky was slated to face the University of Wisconsin. While Wisconsin didn't have many standout individual players, they boasted a cohesive and well-coordinated team dynamic. Players like Frank Kaminsky, the 9th overall pick in the 2015 draft, and Sam Dekker, the 18th overall pick, were notable talents but not Kentucky's sole concern.

Wisconsin's strength lay in their unity and execution—a team-first mentality that emphasized precise collaboration over star power.

As Kentucky prepared for their matchup, the media buzzed with excitement about the game.

Game-winners, underdogs, and thrilling upsets—the defining elements of March Madness—and Kentucky's Cinderella run as the 8th seed checked every box. Their buzzer-beater victory against Michigan had been a dramatic high point.

Headlines screamed:

"Kentucky's #5 Hits Game-Winner Against Michigan! Advances to Final Four!"

"The Buzzer-Beater Kid! Who Is He?!"

"Mysterious Player's Clutch Three Sinks Michigan!"

While the world debated the identity of this enigmatic #5, Jay and his Kentucky teammates focused on preparing for the next game.

Thankfully, Coach Calipari had banned social media use before the Elite Eight, shielding the young players from distractions and creating an ideal environment for training.

"Listen up, kids. I know you're all excited after that incredible game," Coach Calipari said firmly after practice, "but remember: the war isn't over. Until the final buzzer sounds, anything can happen. Keep fighting—for the championship, and for your future!"

"Yes, Coach!" the team replied in unison.

Jay, equally fired up, thought to himself, Coach Calipari's pep talks are so good—maybe he should bring this to the NBA someday.

Over the past few days, Jay had been diligently acclimating to the Gary Payton template card's bonuses. He noticed a marked improvement in his defense and had picked up a surprising new tool: an unexpected, close-range floater.

Although he wasn't fully proficient with it yet, his progress was rapid, and he believed he'd master it soon. For now, it was just a sneaky trick he could pull out once or twice.

Time flew, and the Final Four game day arrived.

The semifinals brought with them elevated stakes, complete with all the bells and whistles. Jay, now more experienced, methodically warmed up to minimize the risk of injury during the game.

As the referee blew the whistle, the game began.

Kaminsky won the tip, giving Wisconsin the first possession.

Their point guard brought the ball up and passed it to Kaminsky, who had moved to the high post. Kaminsky, known for his versatility, took his time assessing the court.

After a series of cross-screens and off-ball cuts, Dekker darted inside, pulling two Kentucky defenders with him. This defensive lapse left an open man on the perimeter. Kaminsky dished the ball to the open shooter, who drained the three.

On the ensuing possession, Jay brought the ball up slowly, observing Wisconsin's fluid teamwork. "This won't be easy," he muttered to himself.

Jay passed the ball to Randle and ran off-ball to create space. Randle backed his defender down in the post with two powerful bumps before spinning for a layup, scoring easily.

For the rest of the half, Jay deferred to Randle, focusing on off-ball movement to disrupt Wisconsin's defense. By halftime, Jay had just 5 points and 3 assists but felt far less fatigued than usual.

The second half began with Randle on the bench to rest after carrying the offense in the first half. Kentucky led 37–35, a slim two-point margin.

Jay took control, facing off against Dekker at the top of the arc. Calling for a screen, he used Stern's solid pick to drive toward the basket.

Dekker quickly recovered, chasing Jay down and colliding with him at the free-throw line. Despite the contact, Jay pushed forward, stumbling into the paint.

Finding his path to the hoop completely blocked by Dekker, Jay pivoted away, faking a turnaround jumper. Dekker bit on the fake, shifting his focus momentarily. Jay ducked low and slipped under him, releasing a floater.

The ball bounced twice on the rim before falling in.

"Gary Payton's floater!" Jay thought with a grin.

Dekker's expression darkened as he glanced at Jay, his mood clearly soured.

A few possessions later, Jay found himself guarding Dekker on the perimeter. Dekker caught the ball in triple-threat position, glaring at Jay.

"Kid, still holding a grudge? Come on, be a man and take me one-on-one," Jay taunted, flashing a mischievous grin.

Dekker's brow twitched. He jab-stepped left, then executed a crossover to his right, charging forward with brute force. Clearly, he planned to overpower Jay physically.

But Jay was ready.

Anticipating the move, Jay slid into position, cutting Dekker off. As Dekker attempted to power through, Jay's Clamps badge activated. Watching closely, Jay swiped at the ball, and his Pickpocket badge triggered.

The ball popped loose. Jay snatched it up and sprinted toward the opposite basket, with Dekker hot on his heels.

As Jay entered the paint, Dekker caught up, colliding with him. Jay jumped, releasing another floater just as the whistle blew. The ball arced gracefully through the air and dropped cleanly into the net.