The NBA's Twilight Star System

At the end of the first quarter, Jay Sun shot 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, scoring 6 points.

LeBron was quite pleased with his new recruit. Precise three-point shooting, active defense, and no lapses in positioning—Jay was shaping up to be an excellent 3-and-D player.

However, Jay, unaware of LeBron's internal monologue, misinterpreted the king's approving looks.

"What's with the way he's looking at me? Oh, I get it. He's jealous of my three-point shooting."

After all, wasn't LeBron supposed to be the best in the league? Sure, he's great, but his three-point shooting can't hold a candle to mine.

Jay's self-affirmation served as a sort of therapy. In his mind, he was already poised to dominate the league.

Then, without warning, Tyronn Lue benched him.

Jay's expression became a perfect portrait of betrayal, his eyes filled with the sadness of someone abandoned. Lue, catching a glimpse of Jay's pitiful gaze, said nothing and carried on.

But when the third quarter began, Jay was back on the court alongside the starters. His face lit up with renewed vigor, and suddenly, even Lue seemed more benevolent.

The Cavaliers ran their offense through Kyrie Irving, who showed off an array of dazzling moves before passing the ball.

LeBron received the ball, barreled through the defense, and drew a double-team before kicking it out to a wide-open Jay in the corner.

Jay caught the pass and let it fly. Catch and Shoot activated.

Swish!

The ball sank cleanly through the net.

LeBron grinned, convinced this rookie was a perfect fit. Playing alongside Jay felt even smoother than working with Kyrie at times.

Of course, Kyrie was indispensable. As the team's secondary ball-handler, main scoring threat, and future cornerstone, his role was untouchable—unless he made trouble for himself.

Jay was still pondering Kyrie's secure status when Tyronn Lue called a timeout.

"What's going on? He's not subbing me out already, is he? I just made a three!" Jay thought nervously.

It wasn't Jay who got subbed out. Instead, Irving was benched.

Jay looked around in confusion. "Wait, there's no point guard now. What? You want me to play point guard?"

Jay's face contorted into a mix of disbelief and dread, but he managed to respond confidently to Lue, "Don't worry, Coach. I've got this."

The lineup was now Jay, Dion Waiters, LeBron, Kevin Love, and Tristan Thompson.

With the ball in his hands, Jay dribbled up the court confidently. Jose Calderon, guarding him, opted not to press too hard.

Jay, trying to appear calm, was anything but.

I'm here to compete for the starting shooting guard spot, not to take Kyrie's job! What if he holds this against me later?

Despite his inner turmoil, Jay noticed something. Calderon wasn't very tall, nor did he look particularly strong.

Maybe I can exploit this, he thought.

Feigning a tactical setup, Jay suddenly accelerated, catching Calderon off guard and gaining a step.

He drove to the basket, lowered his shoulders, and executed a fluid Euro step—one step, two steps—before finishing with a soft layup.

Calderon, thrown off by Jay's deceptive footwork, was left spinning in confusion.

If I had more experience, I wouldn't even need fancy moves. I'd just overpower you straight up, Jay thought smugly.

LeBron, watching the play unfold, couldn't help but be reminded of Dwyane Wade.

"Well," LeBron chuckled, "maybe a 60-year-old version of Wade."

Lue nodded approvingly from the sidelines. He had been considering Jay's potential as a backup point guard.

The Cavaliers' bench was thin at the position, with only Matthew Dellavedova as an option—a great defender but lacking offensive versatility.

Seeing Jay's ball-handling and passing, Lue's mind raced: What if Jay could moonlight as a backup point guard while starting at shooting guard?

After all, with the Big Three of LeBron, Kyrie, and Love, the Cavaliers would always have at least one star on the court. Jay's role as a "point guard" would primarily involve advancing the ball and keeping the offense organized.

By the end of the third quarter, Lue's conviction had solidified. Jay had racked up 3 assists alongside his earlier three-pointer and layup, finishing the quarter with 7 points.

Lue thought, Maybe the point guard experiment wasn't such a bad idea after all.

As expected, Jay started the final quarter on the bench.

Coach, don't you know I'm a clutch player? Jay fumed silently.

With five minutes left and the Cavaliers up by 15, Lue subbed out the Big Three and sent Jay back in at point guard.

Finally, Jay had his chance.

Rejuvenated after a brief rest, Jay attacked relentlessly. Utilizing his not-yet-refined Euro step, he repeatedly slashed through the defense.

Though not every attempt resulted in a basket, he consistently created scoring opportunities.

It was evident to all: this rookie had immense potential as a slasher.

The five minutes flew by, and before Jay knew it, the game was over.

Jay left the court feeling unsatisfied. LeBron was brimming with confidence. Kyrie appeared deep in thought. Carmelo Anthony stared blankly ahead. Tyronn Lue... smiled wryly.

Final Score: Cavaliers 115, Knicks 92

Jay finished with 18 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range—a stellar debut.

Despite his success, Jay was relieved that playing point guard wouldn't be a regular occurrence.

After the game, LeBron embraced Carmelo, consoling his old friend, "Don't worry, the future is yours."

Carmelo, glaring back at LeBron, thought bitterly: You're so smug. Surrounded by young talent, even that rookie scored 18 points. This isn't fair.

Back at home, Jay stared at his Wade card progress, which was advancing at a snail's pace.

What's going on? Jay wondered. I've been working so hard every day. Why isn't it growing faster?

Unable to make sense of it, Jay resolved to stay patient. Progress was progress, no matter how slow.

The Cavaliers faced a grueling four-game road trip: the Bulls, Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Nuggets.

Three of the four games were against Western Conference teams, and the latter two were back-to-back games in Utah's hostile arena and Denver's high altitude.

Jay braced himself. Can this rookie body handle it?